Tualatin Timberwolves are a serious threat: Offense

The Tualatin Timberwolves have one of the best rosters in the state, thanks to its blend of talented seniors and emerging young classes.   But will the group arrive this year compete for a Three Rivers League and state title, or will their youth rear its ugly head against elite competition?    “I'm excited to see It,” Tualatin coach Dom Ferraro said. “Our guys have been working really hard in the offseason, gaining weight. We've had this battle cry. This last couple years we've lost the weight room battle to Lake Oswego, West Linn and Lakeridge. Guy are doing an awesome job. We're always going to have high aspirations for our kids. I've got a ton of respect for the coaches and programs in our league, but we always want to compete for a league title and a state title. We're going to do our best to get there.”    Here's a look at the Tualatin offense:    Quarterback   A quarterback battle is brewing in Tualatin, but the T-Wolves have some good options.    Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2088802' first='Carter' last='Powers'] is a 6-foot-4 1/2, 195-pound signal-caller who has some varsity experience.    In fact, Powers was in the rotation last season, but suffered an injury and missed time.    He's back and ready to roll.   “Carter is a tremendous athlete,” Ferraro said  “One of his big strengths is that he can take a broken play and turns it into a positive. When protection breaks down you always think he has a chance. He can turn things from a bad into a good.”    Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1614894' first='Lincoln' last='Keeney'] (6-4 1/2, 210) is also strongly in the mix, and has taken major strides since last year.    He carries a high ceiling.   “He's had a tremendous offseason in the weight room gaining 15-plus pounds and his performance in the playoffs last year was very impressive,” Ferraro said. “He was unfazed by the moment coming off the bench at the start of the fourth quarter and forcing overtime.  “   At the lower level, Keeney threw 36 touchdowns and just two interceptions.    Sophomore Cade Campbell (6-3, 185) is a third quarterback who carries intrigue.   While he was hurt all of last year, he's a promising young player to watch.    Running back    Tualatin may have the most loaded running back room in the state, but you can't quite get Ferraro to admit that.    “We've got a loaded room, for sure,” Ferraro agreed, stopping short of any proclamation. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='937241' first='Cole' last='Hachmeister'] (5-9, 175) is a blazing-fast Swiss Army knife who can take any play to the house.    “Cole, you start with his speed,” Ferraro said. “He's a 10.9 100 kid and he gives you that home-run ability. He's got great vision as a running back. With our inside and outsize zone schemes, he sees daylight really well. The biggest thing for him is that he can turn any 4-yard run into 60. He's got great hands out of the backfield and we've talked about splitting him out at some receiver to allow Rule or Grubb to come in. He's very shifty out wide.”    Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1609595' first='Iden' last='Rule'] (5-11, 200) had to share the workload last year, but managed to accumulate 940 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 115 touches.    If he had to be a workhorse back, he could be a 6A offensive player of the year contender.    “We've got great kids,” Ferraro said. "Iden is a tremendous athlete and started for awhile while Cole was banged up. He was an all-league linebacker and running back. He's a downhill, physical runner with good football knowledge and vision. He's sneaky-fast. You don't think he is, but he had several breakaway runs and a long receiving touchdown.”   The biggest parts of Cole and Iden's game may be that they are complementary pieces and unselfish about the spotlight.    “Like Cole, he'll do anything you ask him to do.”    Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2079648' first='Easton' last='Grubb'] (6, 185) ran 42 touchdowns last season as a freshman - a school record - and will be a star with the program soon.   “The first thing that stood out to me… we moved him up to varsity practice for the playoffs,” Ferraro said. “He made the depth chart on special teams. That's how much he impressed us that week. He runs angry. He's seeking contact when he's running at you. He reminds me of (LaMarcus Bell) from Lake Oswego. I don't know if he has that ceiling or not, but he has that same dynamic.”    Wide receiver    Tualatin is loaded with athletes and several players with factor into the receiver corps.    Hachmeister will be a big-play slot receiver who can provide explosiveness even when it's not his turn to tote the rock from the backfield.    Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1609636' first='Brock' last='Estes'], a track star, has grown to 6-foot-5 1/2 and weighs 170 pounds.    As he adds weight, he could emerge as a big-time prospect, and has already added more than 20 pounds to his frame from last year.    “Brock is extremely rangy with a large catch radius, excellent ball-skills and great speed,” Ferraro said. “He finished third in the 110 hurdles as a freshman and could be the state champ this year.”   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2054697' first='Carter' last='Lemon'], a free safety starter last season, is a “glue guy” and is a key multi-sport performer for Tualatin.    “He started on our state championship basketball team and is always a solid, solid performer in everything he does,” Ferraro said. “He rotated in last year, but when Hachmeister went down last year he played some running back. He's a do-everything guy.”    Senior [player_tooltip player_id='937174' first='Houston' last='Lillard'] Jr. will play slot and was an honorable mention all-league selection.   He received an offer from Boise State in late January.    “He's got great ball skills and is super smart,” Ferraro said. “He understands the game and is tough.”    Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1265462' first='Miles' last='Evans'] played special teams on varsity last year and made some big catches during the season, but could be a starter at outside linebacker/safety.    “He's got good quickness and is a solid athlete.”    Senior [player_tooltip player_id='937026' first='Zane' last='Lindsey'] is another player to watch given his experience and commitment.    “He's super tough, super smart and a really hard worker,” Ferraro said. “He's a glue guy.”    Junior Roderick Smith (5-8, 150) is part of a crowded group, but brings special skills to the depth chart.    “He's an electric athlete and has some of the best ball skills I've ever seen,” Ferraro said. “He tracks it really well and flirted with varsity time at defensive back last year. We're hoping for big things from him this year.”    Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1126329' first='Luke' last='Bergmann'], who was injured last season, could be yet another playmaker to watch.    “Luke started for Sunset as a freshman, and he broke his leg,” Ferraro said. “He had a tough time coming back from it, but he's healthy again and he sure is fast.”   The program also has a handful of solid sophomore receivers, but given the incredible depth at receiver, it may take time for them to emerge.   [player_tooltip player_id='1720607' first='Colton' last='Potter'], a hybrid wide receiver/tight end, is among those sophomores to watch.    Tight end   Class of 2028 tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1609596' first='Brady' last='Knips'], an athletic 6-foot-5 playmaker with big hands, has a chance to emerge as a national recruit.   “He's not afraid to block and put his hand in the dirt,” Ferraro said. “He's an excellent route runner and he can really stretch the vertical seam.”    Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2088792' first='Zane' last='Carley'] was a second-team all-state defender last season and is a great athlete who can make plays.   Damian Olvera, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound raw playmaker, is an athlete that's worth monitoring.    ‘He's been more of a hoops kids, but he's told us he wants to put the time in to football.”    Sophomore Brandon Pomerleau is a hybrid tight end/offensive lineman with soft hands who is still carving out his role.   There's potential that he plays some H-back to utilize his versatile skillset.   Offensive line   Tualatin returns two starters from last season's offensive line, and it will be a young group.   If they can come together, Tualatin has the weapons to be unstoppable.   The group will go a long way in determining how far Tualatin can go in the postseason.   Senior Anthony Fernandez (5-10, 250) was a starting right guard last season.    Senior [player_tooltip player_id='937240' first='Isaiah' last='Ormond'], a transfer from Mountainside, brings stability to the interior of the offensive line.    “He's a pretty dynamic athlete and can play guard or center,” Ferraro said. “He's got a great frame and his athleticism jumps out at you.”    Senior Josiah Hering has been with the program for some time, and provides depth with his hard work ethic.    Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2106063' first='Rocco' last='Grady'] is the younger brother of Michigan Wolverines basketball player Winters Grady and has athletic upside.    Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2106065' first='Mason' last='Powarczuk'] (6-4, 230) started at right tackle last season and will likely move to the left side this fall.   Junior Jake Mitrano isn't the biggest lineman on the team, but has the right mentality.    “He's a little undersized at O-line, but he is a tough, physical kid,” Ferraro said. “He's probably an interior guy…guard.”    Colby Wofford is a player to watch.    “He's a big, strong kid and will play some guard as well,” Ferraro said.

The Tualatin Timberwolves have one of the best rosters in the state, thanks to its blend of talented seniors and emerging young classes.