Scappoose returns home to 4A Cowapa League
By Paul Valencia | Photo by Taylor Balkom
SBLive Oregon will break down every 6A, 5A and 4A team in the state leading up to the 2022 football season. Here’s our look at Scappoose of the Class 4A Cowapa League.
HEAD COACH
Sean McNabb, 24th season (186-70)
PAST 4 SEASONS
2021 (fall): 5-5 overall, 4-3 in 5A NWOC West (lost in first round)
2021 (spring): 4-2 overall, 3-2 in 5A NWOC West
2019: 7-4 overall, 5-1 in 5A NWOC West (lost in quarterfinals)
2018: 8-3 overall, 5-1 in 5A NWOC West (lost in quarterfinals)
ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED
Luke McNabb, QB (POY), DB, P
Colin Stoddard, WR, KR
Malcolm Harrison, WR
Austin Verbout, OL, LB
Owen Bogert, OL
Luke Frugia, LB
Quorey Bays, DB
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aimar Cancinos, kicker, senior
A soccer player who handles kickoffs and the long field goals for Scappoose football on Friday nights. In his first season of football, he earned all-league recognition.
He’s a weapon on kickoffs for his ability to kick deep and his true aim to kick it to the deep corner of the field. As far as field goals: “He’s the kind of guy, you get inside the 25- or 30-(yard line), you have a chance to score,” McNabb said. “With some work, he can kick at the next level.”
Johnny Clothier, wide receiver/defensive back, senior
This will be Clothier’s third season as a starter. He is stronger this year after a committed workout schedule in the weight room. He has the speed to get behind the defense and is one of the team’s more polished receivers.
With all that experience, he is going to enter the season with a ton of confidence. Clothier earned all-league honors on defense last year as a cornerback. He will be a free safety this season.
“We’re moving him because he understands the defense and what we’re trying to do,” McNabb said. “He’s a good athlete, but also he’s a really good football player.”
Trey Dieringer, running back/defensive back, senior
Dieringer is a three-year starter who excels on defense.
“Not easy to block, and he’s got a nose for the football,” McNabb said.
Dieringer also will be in the mix at running back. He has the ability to break free on an 80-yard touchdown run — a downhill runner, McNabb said. Dieringer also is a state placer in wrestling, which means he has no problem taking on a would-be tackler straight ahead, using his power.
Wyatt Anicker, wide receiver/linebacker, senior
Anicker is a three-sport athlete who demands to be on the field with his commitment to the game. He was undersized last year at linebacker but he got used to playing the position. This offseason, he crushed it in the weight room, so he’s not so undersized anymore.
On offense, he played what Scappoose calls the H-back, but this year, Anicker is headed to a receiver position. He is a good blocker and has good hands, McNabb said, and as a wrestler, he’s not afraid to get physical.
“He’s going to come in with a lot of confidence,” McNabb said. “A really smart kid. He’s going to do really well for us.”
Leland Boswell, quarterback, junior
The backup to the league’s player of the year last season, Boswell did not get a lot of snaps on varsity … until the playoffs. Luke McNabb got hurt, and Boswell had to play under quite a bit of pressure.
“He did a good job of going out there,” Sean McNabb said. “I thought he played well.”
This season, Boswell is in a quarterback competition with sophomore Max Nowlin. Boswell has a strong arm, and he is feeling comfortable with the offense, the coach said.
Max Nowlin, quarterback, sophomore
Nowlin was hurt last year, so that makes him a bit of an unknown. How will a guy who missed his freshman season perform, at such a challenging position, on varsity as a sophomore?
He throws a great ball and has an understanding of the offense, the coach said.
“It’s going to come down to who executes better and who moves the chains better,” McNabb said of the position battle.
Don’t be surprised to see both playing quarterback in September.
“It’s a good competition,” McNabb said. “Both can do some really good things.”
D’Angelo Macedo Becker, running back/wide receiver/defensive back, senior
He played his sophomore year and showed glimpses of greatness with his speed and change of direction. A broken ankle crushed his junior year. Now healthy, Macedo Becker could be a candidate for league player of the year honors, his coach noted.
“Every time he touches the ball, he has an ability to score. He’s that kind of kid,” McNabb said.
He will line up as a receiver on some downs and as a running back on other downs.
“We’ll do some things to create pressure on the defense and get him the ball,” McNabb said.
Macedo Becker also plays defense and excels on special teams with the return game.
Warren Haatia, H-back/linebacker, junior
The coach said H-back is a glorified tight end in the Scappoose offense. Look for Haatia to get plenty of opportunities to find glory on Friday nights. He won’t be just a blocking specialist.
“We’ll find ways to get him the ball,” McNabb said. “Really, really good hands. He’s a tough kid, too. Runs hard.”
David Brown, offensive line/ defensive line, senior; Elijah Ritter, offensive line/defensive line, senior
While Scappoose scored a lot of points last season, the offensive line was kind of patched together, the coach said. He is thrilled to have Brown and Ritter back. He calls them the anchors of the offensive and defensive lines.
“Those kids work really hard,” McNabb said, noting that the year away from the weight room during the pandemic hurt the whole program. “We weren’t very strong up front last year. Having a full year in the weight room, these kids have come around.”
OUTLOOK
Scappoose graduated seven all-league players from last season, including Luke McNabb, the coach’s son and the offensive player of the year in the 5A NWOC West.
But this is Scappoose. This program just looks to reload.
“We have some big holes to fill, no doubt about it,” Sean McNabb acknowledged.
But he also sees a strength in this year’s group.
“To be able to win games, you have to be able to run the football and you have to stop the run. I feel we will be better at that,” McNabb said. “We’re more experienced up front, and we’re stronger up front.”
The run game will open the passing game for the new starting quarterback.
The big Scappoose news from last year to this year is reclassification. Scappoose was a Class 5A program the past four seasons. McNabb said he knew when Scappoose moved up to 5A that the school would eventually return to the 4A ranks.
“We played against some really good competition up there. Our kids competed well,” McNabb said. “We’re excited about being in the 4A level again. I’m excited about being back in the Cowapa again. I know our kids are, and our community is, too.”
The goal is to win a league championship and make a run at the state title, the coach said. Of course, he understands there is a lot of competition. But he also likes his team’s chances at a successful 2022.
“I feel we have some good players coming back with a lot of confidence,” McNabb said. “We have experienced linemen back. We do have more depth this season than we’ve had and younger kids who will fit in nice.”
COACH SAID
“There was a time before the pandemic, I would think I would retire after (son) Luke graduated. But I love what I do. I don’t ever look at what I do as work, and I love what I do. Scappoose has been a great place to be because we’ve had great kids. When you have great kids, you have supportive parents. I’ve been fortunate to work with (administrators) who love sports. We’ve had a lot of support in our community. That’s what has kept me here and what keeps me going.” — Sean McNabb, entering his 24th season as head coach
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