He’s a double threat and is leading the defending EWAC champs Burbank Coyotes

There has been a lot of success in recent years both on the fields and courts for Columbia-Burbank boys varsity sports.

First it’s because Burbank has a strong, talented group of athletes attending school.

But a common denominator is also Michael Lenke, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior who would rather smack you with a snot-slobbering tackle then score touchdowns.

OK, maybe we’re just talking about football here, as Lenke is a fine young man.

The Coyotes football team is off to another rousing start this season with a 4-1 record.

The defending 2B Eastern Washington Athletic Conference East Division champions have a 1-0 conference record entering Thursday’s league road game at Warden.

A constant in the team’s success, as it has been for the last three seasons, is Lenke.

Burbank head football coach Trevor Curtis praises Lenke whenever he can. As he well should.

“He’s just an athlete. You put him anywhere, and he shines,” said Curtis. “He’s a leader who is both vocal and shows it by example too.”

And Curtis needed a leader — and a quarterback — last season for the 2021 team.

Lenke was the logical choice.

“We needed a quarterback. He’s a dual-threat who can throw and run,” said Curtis, now in his sixth year as Burbank’s head coach. “I feel comfortable with him at quarterback. He looks for the mismatches all of the time.”

Last year, in his trial by fire, the other EWAC East coaches noticed. At the end of the season, Lenke pulled off a rare double: he was named by those coaches the choice as EWAC East MVP on both offense and defense.

Now, Curtis and Lenke himself will be the first to admit the Coyotes standout has a lot to learn as a QB.

“His arm strength could be better,” said Curtis. “But his legs are his strength. He can turn things into a running play if the passing play breaks down.”

Lenke himself agrees he’s still learning.

“I’m feeling a lot more confident,” he said. “I used to be a running back. The hardest thing is just being able to get the ball out on time, trusting my receiver.”

Still, this year’s numbers are stupefying through the first five games, of which the Coyotes are 4-1:

• Lenke has rushed 41 times for 286 yards, and scored 7 touchdowns.

• Through the air, Lenke is 41 for 73, for 873 yards and 14 TD passes against just 4 interceptions.

Even though he’s dominating again at quarterback, he has a first love that doesn’t involve offense.

“It’s definitely tough, but I have to say linebacker is my favorite position,” Lenke admits. “I think I could see myself playing college on defense. Defense hypes things up. Everyone gets up for defense.”

Curtis said that Lenke’s quickness helps him to get to the opposing ball carrier first a lot of times, where he wraps those players up for the tackle.

Curtis also needed a leader, and that’s been Lenke — who embraces the role.

“I feel like I’m a leader,” he said. “I feel like I can motivate people. When guys are down I pump them up.”

Led by the senior, the Coyotes found themselves in the weight room a lot more this past summer, as well as throwing the football around more often.

It’s helped.

“Our biggest strength is our chemistry,” said Lenke. “Everyone is family here.”

That includes the small high school that Burbank has.

“I know everyone in the hallways. I like that at a small school,” he said. “I had a friend who came back from a bigger high school, and he said he didn’t know who half the students in his classroom were. I like hanging out with my friends, and we play a lot of basketball.”

Ah yes. In addition to the football team, the Coyotes also boast a strong boys basketball team that should be one of the best 2B teams in the state this winter.

“I think we’re just all so competitive,” he said.

And they learn.

The Coyotes opened this season at Okanogan — a team that beat them 50-0 in the 2B state quarterfinals last year.

Burbank still lost its opener, 47-6, at Okanogan.

“But that Okanogan game was a blessing,” said Lenke. “I think it was actually great to open the season against them. I felt we had some plays. Our offensive line made some good plays, and we moved the ball.

“Last year, in the playoffs, they killed us. They wanted to eat me alive,” Lenke added. “This last game, I learned I needed to throw the ball quicker. After that game, everything has got to be quicker.”

Football has been a joy for Lenke as he winds down his prep career — a career that should continue after high school somewhere.

“I love playing in front of the crowd, and laying a good hit on a running back,” Lenke said. “But it’s mostly the crowds. I love our crowds, and having friends and family watching us.”

Lenke envisions his dream play.

“I think a big hit, making a kid fumble as he’s headed out of bounds, is better than throwing a TD pass,” Lenke says with a smile. “But really, I love both (positions).”

And the Coyotes will need him at both spots if the team is to play deep into November, and possibly December.

“That’s the goal: a really deep playoff run,” Lenke said.

Notes

▪ Big Mid-Columbia Conference contests this weekend will include Chiawana (5-0 MCC, 5-0 overall) visiting Hermiston (2-2, 2-3) on Thursday at 7 p.m., and Kennewick (3-1, 4-1) visits Richland (4-1, 4-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Fran Rish Stadium.

▪ Hanford (1-4, 0-5) is at Pasco (0-5, 0-5) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Edgar Brown Stadium. The winner of this game has the inside track for the MCC’s final 4A postseason berth, with a play-in game with the Greater Spokane League’s No. 3 team on Tuesday of Week 10.

▪ Perhaps the biggest game of the weekend will happen in Othello on Friday night, when Prosser visits the Huskies.

The visiting Mustangs are 2-0 in 2A CWAC play, 5-0 overall. The host Huskies are 3-0, 4-1, with their only loss a 14-0 verdict at the hands of 1A power Royal.

Prosser boasts a lethal 1-2 punch of quarterback Kory McClure, as well as two-way star Neo Medrano.

But Othello answers with star running back Sonny Asu, and sophomore two-way lineman Mason Perez.

▪ Liberty Christian is in the middle of a busy week.

The Patriots defeated Garfield-Palouse 62-6 last Saturday night.

Then they beat Tekoa-Rosalia 74-8 on Tuesday night, in a game that was re-scheduled from a few weeks ago because T-R didn’t have enough players eligible.

Now, on Friday, LC heads to St. John for a 7 p.m. kickoff against St. John-Endicott/Lacrosse.

If you’re counting, that’ll be three football games in seven days.

The Patriots are 4-0 in Southeast B-8 play, and 5-0 overall.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.