Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009

PREP FOOTBALL: Kashubin puts team first

When something gets in David Kashubin's way on the football field, the Mount Baker senior knows he can lower his shoulders and likely barrel through it.

When credit or appreciation comes his way for what he's been able to accomplish, he prefers to swiftly dodge or deflect it.

"Honestly, I don't really like talking about myself because everybody on the team has been responsible for what we've done this year," Kashubin said in a phone interview. "It's not just me. Our offensive line has done a great job. Our receivers have done a great job. Our quarterbacks, our defense, our coaches, really just everybody."

Kashubin's modesty is as commendable as it is well placed. After last making a trip to the postseason in 2005, the Mountaineers appear poised to once again be playing a meaningful game in Week 10. Mount Baker (4-2, 3-1) faces another big challenge on Friday, Oct. 16, when it travels to Lynden.

While there's no doubt it's been a great team effort to turn things around, Kashubin has also been a big part of it. He's rushed for 637 yards and eight touchdowns so far and been a workhorse of a running back with 101 carries. He's also a three-year starter at linebacker and an anchor on both sides of the ball.

"David does everything we ask him to do," Mount Baker coach Ron Lepper said in a phone interview. "He doesn't complain at all and he never misses a practice or a lifting session. If he makes a mistake, he does it going 100 miles per hour."

After struggling to keep pace with the Lions the last two seasons this will be a good test for the Mountaineers to see where they stand.

"Any time you get to play one of the top teams in the state it's exciting," Kashubin said. "It's a good chance for us to see how we measure up against that. I always look forward to playing Lynden because they are such a good team."

Mount Baker enters the game coming off one its more exciting wins in the last two years. The Mountaineers knocked off the Cubs 23-20 in overtime last week. It was especially nice because they had been on the wrong end of some close contests last season.

"We had a lot of heartbreak last year," Kashubin said. "We lost a lot of close games and that made last week was really exciting. But I think we have some more exciting games. We still have three big games to play."