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Blue Thomas and Troy Lewis Get Their Chance As Eastlake Plays Skyline

At Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Washington these past few years the kids have been developing and getting better. The Wolves players are getting looked at by college coaches on a regular basis now thanks to guys like Ryan Lewis

Blue Thomas and Troy Lewis Get Their Chance As Eastlake Plays Skyline

As a Coach and a fan of the game I never know what to expect when I go out and watch the game of football.  In both roles some of what I think I know is proven right and some is not.  With or without the top talent I always hope to see the best in players and get the most out of them.  But you never know what your going to get when the ball is kicked off into the ether of Friday Night.

 

Troy and Drew Lewis of Eastlake flank their Mom Kim Lewis at a UW Game this year!

Troy and Drew Lewis of Eastlake flank their Mom Kim Lewis at a UW Game this year!

At Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Washington these past few years the kids have been developing and getting better.  The Wolves players are getting looked at by college coaches on a regular basis now thanks to guys like Ryan Lewis who graduated a couple years back before moving on to Pitt where he is now playing on special teams and as a DB.

With new Head Coach Don Bartel and Offensive Coordinator Kyle Snell coming over from powerhouse Skyline the Timberwolves are enjoying a great start to the year and seem energized to make another run at the Dome.  Now at 2-0 after two big wins the team takes on Skyline and should be ready to give the Spartans all they can handle because the kids are giving all they have.

We are seeing some of the best stories and best efforts this year so far out of this squad.

While a few guys are really standing out it is the play of a couple of top kids that we want to review and get them some attention for all they are doing.  Those guys are Blue Thomas and Troy Lewis.

Thomas is a 6’0″ 185 pound Junior QB who is really coming into his own as the season has taken off.  “Blue” as he is known is the oldest son of former UW Husky Running Back Richard Thomas.    He is also the son of Christie Thomas who is from Covington, Washington and Richard’s High School sweetheart.

Those of you that read our recent story on the Thomas family know what is happening. Those that did not need to know that Christie and the Thomas Family are  hoping for miracles to bring her back to health after a life threatening brain trauma.  Something the young QB thinks about every waking moment.

Blue Thomas is a Junior QB at Eastlake.  He is inspired by his Mom and tearing up the grid iron.

Blue Thomas is a Junior QB at Eastlake. He is inspired by his Mom and tearing up the grid iron.

“I think about my Mom all the time.  Every play, every down, she is with me.  This season is for her and I am going to continue to play my best because that is what she wants and needs me to do,” said Thomas who says he sees his Mom on at the hospital on weekends and sometimes on Wednesday nights.

This was the season Christie and Blue wanted to be together – she in the stands and being her supportive Super-Mom self and he the budding star looking to capture his shot at the future while taking a walk in his Father’s famous footsteps.

While Christie struggles to return from the far-far-away her brain trauma has put her in Blue has played on and so has the family and the clock.  But she is showing signs of improvement and with  her husband Richard holding her hand just before kick off a couple of weeks back she uttered some of her first words in the past two years.  And they were powerful ones.

“Go Blue……”.

That is what she said to the love of her life.  And so Blue has gone.

“She said that to my Dad and he told me right away.  It means she knows what I am doing and is trying to come back and getting a little better,” said Blue.  “It means a whole lot to all of us and we are all praying and working towards the day she comes back.”

Thomas has had a big start to 2013.  In game one he was 14-18 for 255 yards and 3 TD’s.  He also ran for 52 yards and 1 TD.  That was quite a night and he led them to the 41-7 win over the Lakes Lancers.

In game 2 against Eastside Catholic, who are a top rated 3A squad, he went 18-23 for 206 tough yards and he ran for 152 yards and 1 TD on the ground.    That and some stout defense led the Wolves to a 26-21 win taking them to 2-0.

“I’m a lot stronger this season, bigger, and way more confident in my ability,” added the pure athlete who has now amassed over 650 yards in total offense going into tonight.

Tonight he will face a very good Skyline defense and a rising team who is coming off a huge road win in Couer d’Alene.  The Spartans still smarting from the opening beat down at the hands of Bellevue surely want this one against Eastlake as both teams are Top 10 squads.

“We have a good game plan for these guys and have to play mistake free to win.  I think we can and our Coaches have us prepared.  We are all working so hard and watching a lot of film.  This past week alone I have watched 15 hours of film and other guys are close to me in that.  So it is not just the talent we have we are all working so hard to be a great team.”

Blue runs very well and is fast to a point.  He has a nice arm and is making good decisions.  In the crowded house that is the 2015 NW Prep QB class Blue does stand out.  The key will be if the QB spot is best for him or if all that talent can be put to use elsewhere.  All of that will have to figure it self out later on and it surely will but he has shown early on he is one to watch for any college.

Blue credits Drew Lewis (UW Commit – 6’3″- 195 lb Safety-RB-ATH), his identical twin brother Troy Lewis (6’2″-205 lbs RB-OLB) and guys like Jeff Feinglass (ATH) for helping things get going in the right direction early on.  Overall he has nothing but praise for his team mates and likes their chances.  He gave super high praise to Bartel and Snell and said they are doing a superb job and teaching he and the team what they need to know to succeed.

So expect Thomas to lead this very tough squad for the next 2 season.

Then there are the Lewis boys.  Drew is the older one by 6 minutes.  His recruitment took off last season and has never slowed down.  The lanky explosive Safety/Athlete has several offers but not long after the UW offered to make him a part of the family by offering him he accepted.  He is an Impact guy both sides of the ball.

Troy Lewis is like his brother Drew in almost every way with a  few differences.   One he is bigger and more powerful according to Thomas who said, “These guys are amazing.  Drew is so fast and will just explode on teams.  Troy has the same sort of features but is bigger and more physically punishing.”

That is a fair assessment says Troy.

“Yes I think he is right on.  Maybe Drew is a little faster but I am close.  I am bigger and I think my style is a little more physical,”  he said.

I said there were a few differences.  Beyond a little different skills set Troy lacks the experiences Drew has.  Mainly because he did not play much of his Sophomore year thanks to a Concussion nor any of his Junior year.  So maybe the only difference in these two explosive Lewis boys is that Troy is an unknown.  Based on his first two games that is about to change.

Drew and Troy Lewis; Then and Now.  Both kids are in full beast mode at Eastlake!

Drew and Troy Lewis; Then and Now. Both kids are in full beast mode at Eastlake!

Troy is a legit talent.  He is a beast of a kid on the field and very very talented,” said Drew who realizes that people are going to find out that his Identical twin is as talented as he is.  “He has had a great year so far.”

In game one Thomas connected with Troy on 3 TD passes.  In game two there were several big plays and again the younger brother shined.

“I line up on one side of Blue and Drew on the other side a lot in the spread.  That gives us a powerful backfield and some great options in terms of run and pass plays we can execute.  It sure looks like we can have a great season if we keep working hard,” offered Troy.

Early on in game 1 against Lakes he says he was used as a power back taking repeated carries over the middle and pounding away at the heart of the Lancers defense.

“That was hard work but fun too.  I love that physical style of play.  Once we made them defend the middle and respect that we hit the edges and were able to get outside and that was effective too,” Troy added.

Missing his Sophomore year with a concussion and choosing not to play last year Troy was asked what was the best part about being back in the fold?

“This right now is the funnest thing ever.  These are all my guys and we have all been together since we were young.  It was not until I got out here this year that I realized how very much I have missed it.  I just want to work hard and help the team and Coaches succeed,” he said.  “The Coaches are amazing and are the only Varsity guys I have ever played for so I could not ask for anything better.  It’s great!”

Now imagine if you will what might have been or could have been for this kid had he played.  His oldest brother is at Pitt and a proven entity (Ryan Lewis).  His Twin is going to UW on a full ride.  And his father Will was in the NFL and CFL and is now the player personnel director for the Kansas City Chiefs.  A position he took just recently after moving on from the same job with the Seahawks the last few seasons.  This Lewis bunch is a football family of epic proportions and his Mom Kimmberly Lewis is running the show now that Dad has to work so far away.

Troy reflected on this, “My Mom takes care of all of us and is our biggest fan of course.  My Dad was supposed to be here and it was kind of shocking when he told all of us he had to go to KC for work.  He really surprised us all when he walked out right before our first game.  He flew in and watched us which was amazing.  We will make it one way or the other but it would be great if he was here.

So the big question is will schools be watching Troy Lewis knowing that Ryan and Drew and Will all have the right stuff?  We think so.  This is the biggest Lewis of all of them and it appears he has the speed and size and football acumen that the others do.  So why not?  A couple more games like the ones he is having and Troy can move right on.  While we did discuss the fact he can probably get another year of High School through a hardship request or move on to a prep school he probably will not have to.  He is making an immediate impact and making up for lost time.

Best of Luck

Tonight Blue Thomas will take his team and his Mom to Skyline and he and Troy and the Wolves will do battle with the Spartans.  This should be a terrific game and we expect both teams to make a serious run to the Tacoma Dome again this season.

Blue Thomas is on our Best Of 2015 Prospect Watch List and Troy Lewis is moving onto the Best of 2014 Prospect Watch List; both of which can be found right below this story.


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NW Regional Analyst Rivals.com – Editor OregonPreps.com & WashingtonPreps.com

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 17 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.

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