Double threats: Offensive leaders with defensive strength

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

It's hard to argue that the Viking's football team has had anything but a challenging season. However, it is easy to see that the team improved immensely this year from last season.

That is, no doubt, a result of the hard work and dedication of the players, including senior Garrett Pewe and sophomore Travis Knoll, who led the team in rushing yards, and also found the energy, and heart, to play on defense as well.

"It's a lot more trying, obviously," said Knoll, who only played defense last year. "It's hard when you turn the ball over, or you don't get it done and you have to stay out there and make more plays. I'm glad though. I really wanted to play offense last year and didn't get to. I prefer to play on both sides than to have breaks though really."

Pewe, who played both sides when he was a sophomore, said he also likes the duel role.

"I understand what's going on during the whole game," Pewe said. "When you're on the sidelines you see it, but it's not the same as being out there. It really helps me and I can report back to the coaches about what's going on out there. Also, I play well on both sides, so it's good for the team."

Pewe was the team's leading rusher with 93 carries for 407 yards and one touchdown this season. He also had three catches for 43 receiving yards and was second in punt returns for the team with nine for 114 yards.

Knoll had 55 carries for 285 yards and one rushing touchdown and nine catches for 201 yards and one receiving touchdown. His numbers are the second highest on the team for receiving and rushing. His two touchdowns make him the second highest scorer on the team, second only to senior Cheyne Valentine who scored 30 of the team's 70 points this season.

As a first-year running back, Knoll said that he has learned a lot this season both for his offensive and defensive roles.

"Over the year I've gotten better at running the ball and reading the holes," Knoll said. "On defense I'm a lot more aggressive. Last year I was a freshman and I was a little hesitant about hitting guys, but this year I'm out there flying around tackling people. I'm able to read the quarterback a lot better this year too."

Bigfork head football coach Bruce Corbett said that he decided to add Knoll to the offense this year because of his athleticism.

"He's a two-way starter as a sophomore, and I think that says it all," Corbett said. "He has a lot of athletic ability and continues to grow and develop as a player. He's a very calm, reserved, yet effective player. He isolates himself and finds the ball. These are traits you usually find in an older player. He's a very mature player."

Corbett points to Pewe's athleticism as his key to success as well.

"He has big play ability and speed," Corbett said. "He is just a smart football player. He makes good decisions on the field. Many of the big plays he made this year on offense and defense weren't things we taught in practice. They were just big plays that a good athlete makes."

Though he took last year off from football to play soccer, Pewe was voted by his teammates to be one of the captains.

"Both the players and the coaches really respect him," Corbett said.

That respect seems to have gone both ways this season for Pewe.

"This year I improved at running hard and trusting my teammates to make sure there's an open lane for me to run through and trusting that everyone will do their job," he said. "I just ran hard this year and fought for every yard."

Both Knoll and Pewe, who will be teammates again on the basketball team and on the track team, agree that the team's record isn't an adequate reflection of their season.

"Our record doesn't show it, but we've improved a lot," Knoll said. "We grew in numbers and in depth this year, but we didn't win a game this season. Winning was our biggest goal. We've done a lot of good things this year, but it just didn't show in the win column."