I had a busy week and sorry if I missed some updates. Having a family issue like a grandson born too early will do that to a guy. So will having a young man we cover have their story Go Viral. Tony Picard the massive RB from White Swan had out story and film go Viral which led to hundreds of emails and calls wanting info and access. Tomorrow he will be on CNN and Good Morning America. I hope you will watch and support him. His story was a great one and he and his coaches and team up on the Yakima Res deserve all of this attention for the good things they are doing and have done.
While all that happening I was so honored to be at Roosevelt High School on the North Portland Peninsula this past Friday. The Roughriders had quite a year winning their first playoff game in 16 years and the team took another step in the process of rebuilding. With 5 or 6 Division 1 athletes all working their way into colleges this year and next these kids are a special bunch. Head Coach Christian Swain is changing lives and making young men we can all be proud of. He and the staff and teachers at Roosevelt have doubled down to make sure these boys have a chance to succeed and move on. The success on the field is being matched by the classroom work. Some of these boys are honors students and will have a chance to move on to major academic institutions. That is a real win for everyone.
And Coach knows he is just hitting his stride. These guys are loaded and will be back next year and the next as a winning program. They fell Friday to an Ashland team that was 10-0 coming in and proved they had what it takes. The game was 13-7 at half. The game would end at 13-7 after a second half where neither team gave an inch. The hitting was so violent at some points all we could do was cringe and hope they would all get up. In the rain and wind the Riders and Grizzlies rose and fell. And rose again.
We wish Ashland the best as they move on and were most impressed by Mason Montgomery and the defense. This folks is a sound football team who shut down the big time Roughrider play makers of Kimane Domena (2015 QB) and Billy Nelson (RB/WR). Domena, who many believe to be the #1 QB in the Region in 2015, missed the 2nd half after being put out with a dislocated shoulder. That hurt the Riders; no doubt. They will be back next season for sure.
As for the Rough Riders.. well it’s like the attached Video says. Rider’s On 3!