ALL-PENINSULA FOOTBALL MVP: Port Angeles’ Daniel Cable did a lot of everything for Riders

PORT ANGELES — If prep football had a fantasy draft, Port Angeles’ Daniel Cable would provide an extreme amount of value at multiple positions.

There was the 860 rushing yards and nine touchdowns Cable produced from his primary offensive position of running back. Add in 506 receiving yards with four more scores through the air. Then sprinkle in kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns on special teams.

Defensively at safety, teams wised up and declined to throw at Cable’s side of the field for much of the year. But the ballhawk still racked up five interceptions, returning three more to the end zone to go along with 68 tackles.

Oh, and he threw for 200-plus yards and two more scores on offense, drawing the defense’s attention before making the correct call to throw the ball.

All while dealing with a lingering muscle injury in his back that likely would have sidelined a lesser competitor.

These were many of the reasons why Cable earned the Olympic League Offensive MVP award and first-team defensive back and second-team kick returner honors from league coaches.

Cable also is the Peninsula Daily News’ 11-man All-Peninsula Football MVP and heads up the 2021 All-Peninsula 11-man Football Team (see related story).

Heading into the season, Cable was confident.

“I knew I was going to be good because I had put in the work,” he said. “I was working out every single day, hitting the field, the track, going to the gym for two hours and then hitting the track for two hours. I’d also go to Sequim to train with Nikki Julmist at SportsFit Training Center and work out with her.”

Offensively, teams strategized to stop Cable.

“I loved it; I knew they were game planning for me because I would get the ball and 11 people would be coming for me,” Cable said. “When they were busting in on me, we had [another running back] Jaziel [Livingston] there, too.”

Defensively, teams shied away from throwing at his side of the field.

“I feel like I have a good sense about knowing where the play is flowing and where the ball is going,” Cable said. “And something Coach (Dustin) Clark emphasized is to watch the quarterback’s eyes. Our defensive line was a big part of it; they didn’t give the quarterbacks too much time to do head feints. As soon as the quarterback looked one way, I knew he’d throw it that way so I’d shoot in that direction.”

In the Roughriders’ first home game this season against East Jefferson, first-year Port Angeles head football coach Clark reveled in the roar from the Civic Field grandstand Cable provided at kickoff.

“My first play as a head coach at home at Civic Field, and he takes it back for a touchdown,” Clark said of Cable’s opening return.

Daniel Cable takes the opening kick to the house for Port Angeles. PA 7, East Jefferson 0 #wafbscores pic.twitter.com/rcAzBsA173

— Michael Carman (@MikeCarmanPDN) September 11, 2021

He added to that with an interception return for a score and a rushing TD as the Riders went up big on an eventual Nisqually League-champion Rivals squad.

Clark said that Port Angeles’ 27-7 win over Class 3A Bainbridge was his most impressive performance.

“In the game, we started off at our 4-yard line, and our first play was pitch option pass,” Clark said. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to run it down there so close to our goal line and asked [quarterback] Parker [Nickerson] what he wanted to do. He said, ‘Daniel will get it, let’s go.’”

And the result? Cable taking the pitch back from Nickerson, uncorking a deep bomb to an all-alone Beckett Jarnagin for a 96-yard catch-and-run.

“He did everything,” Clark said. “Threw for a TD, ran for a TD, caught a TD pass.”

Cable appreciated that game the most because it kept Port Angeles in the hunt for a playoff spot.

As for his future, Cable said he would like to play football at the next level and is eyeing options that include an invited walk-on with a larger school such as Washington State, or going the small college or junior college route.

“I just need to keep my options open,” Cable said.

All-Peninsula 11-man Football Team

• All-Peninsula 11-Man Football MVP: Daniel Cable, sr., Port Angeles:

• Lars Wiker, soph., Sequim: First-team All-Olympic League pick at QB completed 93 0f 145 passes (64 percent) for 1,410 yards, 12 TDs and seven interceptions.

• Logan Olson, sr., Forks. QB/DB was a steady leader for Spartans completing 87 of 167 passes for 1,315 yards, 14 TDs and 9 INTs. Also ran for 423 yards on 90 carries with seven TDs. Led Forks in tackles on defense with 79 and added six interceptions. Earned Class 2B North Division First-Team All-League honors at defensive back, second-team for quarterback and honorable mention at punter.

• Nate Dahlgren, soph., Forks. Two-way standout at RB/LB carries on family tradition of starring for Spartans. First-Team All-North Division running back and linebacker. Ran for team-high 1,256 yards on 208 carries (6 YPC) with 17 touchdowns. Had 55 tackles, eight tackles for loss and a fumble recovery defensively.

Logan Massie, sr., East Jefferson: RB/LB Class 1A Nisqually League MVP ran for 1,170 yards and 10 TDs in nine games. Finished fourth on league champion and state-playoff bound Rivals in tackles and second in sacks.

• Dalton Kilmer, sr., Forks: WR/DB was Olson’s primary target at wide receiver to the tune of 48 catches for 731 yards and eight TDs, got some burn at running back (18-241 and five TDs). Led Spartans in interceptions with seven, including three against Goldendale in the state playoffs. First-Team All-North Division WR.

Kobe Applegate, sr., Sequim: WR: Second-team All-Olympic League wideout averaged an amazing 18 yards per catch in totaling 632 yards on 28 receptions. Caught eight TDs along with two 2-point conversions.

• Austin Graham, sr., Forks: OL/DL: Spartans top lineman on both sides of the ball. First-Team All North Division pick as an offensive and defensive lineman. Posted team-high 14 tackles for loss, including two sacks.

Ayden Holland, soph., Sequim: OL/DL First-team All-Olympic League pick is well on his way to becoming a four-year starter along Wolves’ offensive line.

• Marshall Graves, sr., East Jefferson: OL/DL: Rivals lineman was a first-team All-Nisqually League selection.

• Cole Johnson, soph., Port Angeles: Center played every offensive snap for Roughriders. Second-team All-Olympic League pick.

Beckett Jarnagin, sr., Port Angeles: Hauled in 397 receiving yards and six TDs.

• Siamanu Auseuga, jr., East Jefferson: TE/DE: Led Rivals in tackles with 68, totaled four sacks and blocked a punt. Also caught four passes for 94 yards and a TD and ran for a score.

• Isaiah Moore, jr., Sequim: WR/DB totaled 515 yards on 29 receptions with two TDs. Had eight catches for 100 yards in Sequim’s Rainshadow Rumble rivalry win over Port Angeles.

Blake Peterson, sr., Port Angeles: Second-team All-Olympic League defensive line pick fought off constant double teams to be “our best defensive lineman,” according to coach Dustin Clark. Posted seven sacks, 22 tackles.

• Jason Hawes, sr., Port Angeles: Second-team All-Olympic League linebacker posted 78 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

• Jaziel livingston, sr., Port Angeles: Recorded 17 sacks and 73 tackles at defensive end to earn first-team All-Olympic League selection. Also ran for 620 yards and five TDs offensively.

Specialists

• Brandon Wagner, sr., Sequim: Punter earned first-team All-Olympic punting honors and was second-team at place kicker.

• Hector Dominguez, sr., Forks: Converted 35 of 44 extra-point tries and had four touchbacks to earn second-team All-North Division honors.

Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladaily news.com.