Hodson named Cascade Conference’s Coach of the Year

When you go from a losing season to a winning season in two years, good things happen.

In 2005, the South Whidbey football team lost every single game; last season, they won three games.

In 2007, the team went 7-3 and on Friday, Falcon coach Mark Hodson was named “Coach of the Year” by his Cascade Conference peers.

The Falcons’ David Monell was named most valuable player in the league on defense, while six Falcon starters were named to the All-Conference first team.

First team for the offense included running back Levi Sawyers, wide receiver Parker Barnett and outside linebackers Patrick McLean and Trapper Rawls.

Making the second team on offense was running back Hunter Hawkins while quarterback Kyle Hoch and kicker Juan Fernandez received honorable mention.

Cascade Conference defensive MVP was Monell, whose hardcore defense on the line allowed the Falcons to stay competitive in every game right to the end.

Monell had 30 tackles, led the conference with seven sacks, making tackles for a loss and fumbles caused.

“Last year, teams threw on us 104 times, but because of David’s pressure in stopping the run, they threw 170 this season,” defensive coordinator Damian Greene noted. “He made life miserable for a lot of those offenses and really deserves this honor.”

For the defense, Hodson and Boenish made the first team and Darrin Britton the second.

Linebackers Hoch, Barnett and Nick Tenuta were given honorable mention.

For the season, Sawyers had 203 carries for 1,411 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hawkins carried the ball 92 times for 988 yards and nine TDs. Sawyers averaged 6.7 yards per carry; Hawkins, 6.3 yards.

Hoch attempted 83 passes, connected on 51 for 661 yards. He had six passing TDs and four rushing TDs. He was intercepted four times.

For the defense, Hoch made 55 tackles and Barnett had 44, followed by Boenish (32), Monell (30), Hunter Rawls and Danny Zuver (26 each) and Sawyers with 23.

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