Bellevue just reloads. The Wolverines have some dynamic seniors, but the junior class is especially noteworthy, and this year's team will look to keep its winning streak going.
Photo by Jeff Napier
Sept. 11, 2010: The date of the last high school football game that Bellevue lost, a 28-21 setback to Skyline and future USC quarterback Max Browne.
Since then, the names and faces have changed for the Wolverines, but the program's success under head coach Butch Goncharoff has remained constant, winning 54 consecutive games and four straight state titles during the same stretch.
The Wolverines are perhaps the nation's most consistent program and though the 2014 Bellevue team lacks the star power last year's squad enjoyed with blue-chip recruit Budda Baker, it will showcase solid senior leadership juxtaposed with a junior class that is among the best in program history.
Henry Roberts, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound tackle, is not only attracting most of the recruiting attention for the Class of 2015 but will also serve as an offensive leader for a team that features
Alec Palander, another starter from a year ago.
They'll be tasked with protecting new quarterback
Justus Rogers, a 6-2 junior who also plays linebacker and already holds an offer from Washington State. Rogers takes over for Tim Haehl, now at Harvard.
While Baker is gone, Rogers will have the luxury of getting the ball to junior
Isaiah Gilchrist, who some have likened to Baker. He already checks in as the No. 71 overall recruit in the
Top 247 for the Class of 2016. Gilchrist will spell feature back Sam Richmond, a second team Class 3A all-state selection, and the team's probable workhorse this fall.
The offense may take some time to jell, so the defense may carry the team at the start of the season. The unit will be big, physical and per Bellevue tradition, very well-coached.
Rogers will double as a linebacker, joining
Mustafa Branch, who is mulling several Pac-12 offers, and
Ross Connors, an all-state pick with an offer from Cornell.
The line will miss the presence of defensive tackle Marcus Griffin, but junior
Omar Dyles should step up and pick up some of the slack. The unit also brings back
Ryan Bowman, a disruptive junior end. Classmate
Isaac Garcia, a 6-3 junior, may see some action at end. The unit should be able to get after the quarterback with more regularity than last year, but sans Griffin's size, could struggle against power run attacks.
Gilchrist will help in the secondary, as will returner
Jack Michael, who also took home special teams player of the year honors for the Wolverines.
Bellevue is once again dipping its toe in the interstate waters, taking on a very talented Serra (Gardena, Calif.) squad that will serve as a good barometer for whether Bellevue is merely just the top team the state of Washington or one that is truly deserving of a high national ranking yet again.
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