PORT ANGELES — The man in the middle defensively for Port Angeles also handled a position switch offensively while contributing to the Roughriders’ special teams success.
Jason Hawes was a dominant force as a junior at middle linebacker, running back and as an upback on punt and kickoff return units for Port Angeles.
A first-team All-Olympic League selection on defense, Hawes earned the Roughriders’ Team MVP award and has been selected by the Peninsula Daily News sports staff as the 2022 All-Peninsula Football MVP.
http://www.hudl.com/video/3/14875431/6367e5babd6b0009b429a35d
Hawes led Port Angeles in tackles with 135 in 10 games, added nine sacks, forced six fumbles, recovering two, including one returned for a touchdown and added an interception.
Middle linebacker is the position he’s played the most since picking up the sport competitively for the first time in seventh grade.
“Honestly, I enjoy the versatility at that spot,” Hawes said. “I can get out and guard a wide receiver or tight end or a running back on a pass route, or I can hit the hole and plug a running back or blitz the quarterback. And I love coming downhill at full speed and making the play after reading it from film study and knowing what’s coming pre-snap. Getting hits in the backfield is one of my favorite things to do.”
A physical specimen at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds during the season, Hawes also returned two punts for touchdowns, one a 70-yarder for a TD against Kingston, and he added a 40-yard kick return to spark the Riders to rally past the Buccaneers.
“I had more and more fun every game,” Hawes said. “I think against North Mason, all-around, I felt like that may have been my best game. I had a lot of tackles for loss and sacks, and we won.”
Other season highlights include his blitz and strip sack against Blaine in the season opener. Following the sack, Hawes got to his feet, scooped up the fumble and rumbled in for an important touchdown as the Riders opened with a win.
“His play at middle linebacker, calling the defense, we couldn’t ask for more at that spot,” Port Angeles head coach Dustin Clark said. “He’s just a ball hawk, a really good tackler, obviously, and he’s developing into that leadership role and really starting to understand his leadership role — both by example and verbally.
“By example, he’s one of the best players on the field every time he steps out there, no matter who we play. But he’s also understanding how to speak to his guys and elevate their games.”
‘Best dudes’
It was an easy decision to move Hawes from the offensive line, where he debuted last fall, to running back, Clark said.
“He’s one of our best dudes, and we were trying to get the ball in his hands,” Clark said. “He really learned how to be a running back throughout the year.”
Hawes enjoyed the challenge to trim down and speed up during the offseason.
“I immediately got into the weight room even more, running more and more to slim down and get faster for the season because that’s where I knew it would help me the most. I memorized all the plays so it would just be instinct.”
Hawes’ play at middle linebacker also helped him figure things out at running back.
“On defense, it’s my job to dissect the offense, look at the guards to see if they pull, watch the wide receiver motion, those kind of things,” Hawes said. “It helped me at running back as I could pick up blitzes and tell it to our QB. When I would get the ball, I could adjust and run through a different hole if I saw something.”
Hawes is still focused on all-around improvement, getting his 40-yard dash time even faster and getting a little bit more muscular before his senior year. He runs the 100 and 200 sprints for the Port Angeles track team and is a member of the 4×100 sprint relay team, so he’ll have the opportunity to boost his speed.
I just want to get better at everything right now,” Hawes said. “Freshman year I was slow, sophomore year I was better but too big. I was 210 at linebacker last season, so I want to try to get bigger, hit the weights more and trim the time on my 40. Staying more explosive and able to take on linemen and pulling guards with more power.”
Clark, an all-state Player of the Year at Elma in his high school career, recognizes Hawes’ next-level abilities.
“He has an opportunity to do some special things,” Clark said. “A hurdle for him is understanding the game a little more because he is still relatively new to it. That will come with more film study. But he has the size, speed and the heart for it, that’s for sure.”
2022 All-Peninsula Football Team
MVP: Jason Hawes, jr., Port Angeles: Standout at middle linebacker totaled 135 tackles, picked up first-team All-Olympic League honors and also learned a new position at running back.
Quarterback
Parker Nickerson, jr., Port Angeles: Injury cost him some games but Nickerson was on his way toward an all-league season.
Julian Carrick, sr., Neah Bay: Ran for 1,097 yards, threw for 509 more with 27 total TDs to lead Red Devils to state championship game.
Running back
Aiden Gockerell, sr., Sequim: First-team All-Olympic Leaguer was consistent for Wolves all season. Also ran for 204 yards and two TDs in Sequim’s Rainshadow Rumble rally past Port Angeles.
Nate Dahlgren, jr., Forks: Consistent runner for Forks. Produced 187 yards rushing against Sequim and had a 200-plus-yard game against Rainier.
Kason Albaugh, jr., Port Angeles: Second-team All-Olympic League selection became Riders’ primary ball carrier.
Gunner Rogers, jr., Forks: Took the snaps at quarterback for the Spartans’ running offense and picked up a second-team All-Central 2B North selection. Also honorable mention at linebacker.
Jodell Wimberly, so., Neah Bay: Ran for nearly 2,000 yards (1,864) with 25 total touchdowns.
Wide Receiver
Offensive/Defensive Line
Ayden Holland, jr., Sequim: Third-year starter earned All-Olympic League first-team honors.
Tanner Flores, jr., Port Angeles: Riders’ center and nose guard earned second-team All-Olympic League honors.
Conner Martin, so., Port Angeles: Second-team All-Olympic League pick as a sophomore.
Gerald Lindsey, sr., East Jefferson: Two-way All-Nisqually League selection at offensive tackle and defensive end. Led Rivals with 115 tackles, 17 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Matthew Wallerstedt, sr., Forks: High-performing athletically and academically, Wallerstedt named second-team All-Central 2B North offensive lineman.
Brody Lausche, so., Forks: Second-team All-Central 2B North pick on the defensive line and honorable mention on the offensive line.
Tight End/Defensive End
Siaumau Auseuga, sr., East Jefferson: Nisqually League Defensive MVP tallied 111 tackles, 17 sacks, blocked a field goal, forced two fumbles and recovered another. Also All-Nisqually League first team offense after catching 12 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 18 times for 215 yards and three TDs.
Defensive Line
Tom Arand, sr., Port Angeles: Produced a second-team All-Olympic League season at defensive tackle.
Linebacker
Deakon Budnek, sr., Quilcene: Had second-straight 100-plus tackle performance for Rangers.
Austen Hammer, sr., East Jefferson: Totaled more than 100 tackles to earn first-team All-Nisqually League honors.
Landyn Jones, jr., Port Angeles: Second-team All-Olympic League pick.
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Blake Sohlberg, so., Port Angeles: Broke through as a sophomore with a first-team All-Olympic League selection.
Gary Zambor, jr., East Jefferson: Big-play guy in the passing game and return games for the Rivals. Second-team All-Nisqually League pick.
Ryan Rancourt, sr., Forks: Injury cut short his season but Rancourt still made second-team All-Central 2B North as a defensive back.
Kicker
Jack Henninger, jr., Sequim
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
Port Angeles’ Jason Hawes is brought down by Blaine’s Riley Ihde and Mallory Messenger, left, in second quarter play on Friday evening in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
