CLALLAM BAY — Clallam Bay’s Cal Ritter would like to have the problem many high school football coaches face at this point in the preseason — a lack of turnout.
Ritter’s has the players, all eight of them, with one more likely to turn out when school starts this week.
The issue he faces? A scant 12 boys are enrolled at Clallam Bay High School.
And none are enrolled in eighth grade, which is another issue as players at small schools like Clallam Bay can play varsity sports as eighth graders.
That spells future trouble for a program that will attempt to make what it can out of this season.
“We are trying to do what we can to salvage the season for the kids and the community,” Ritter said.
“Nobody wants to see it go away. I’d hate to do away with it. There were lots of improvements from the beginning of the season to the end [last year].
“If we don’t have a season we have to worry about what it would take to get it back.”
Ritter said the school is trying to figure out a lineup of games.
“We are going to try and piece whatever we can for a schedule,” he said.
“Whether it can be six-man or eight man, I’d just hate to dump the program for the kids who are here and working hard.”
Ritter mentioned playing a six-man game against Lake Quinault, but was told that game won’t occur because the Elks also are dealing with low numbers and canceled their season last week.
A pair of six-man games with Tulalip Heritage also are tentatively planned, and an 8-man game against Crescent.
Ritter said feelers have been put out to Muckleshoot. But the Kings also are facing a shortage of players and may cancel their season.
“That seems to be the story all over the place,” Ritter said.
“Tulalip’s having trouble getting kids out. Muckleshoot may have to cancel. We are in trouble. And now Lake Quinault.”
Despite the shaky footing, Clallam Bay has been proceeding as usual — but practicing a new form of football, the six-man variety, which is predominately played in Texas. A few other states like Nebraska, Florida and Colorado also field teams.
Six-man football is traditionally played on an 80-yard long by 40-yard wide field, instead of the 11-man games’ 100-yard long by 53 1/2-yard wide gridiron.
It takes 15 yards to pick up a first down instead of 10.
“It’s a little bit different,” Ritter said.
“Everybody is eligible to receive a pass, so the linemen like it.”
Ritter said the preseason focus has been on conditioning.
“It’s even faster than 8-man, and there’s a lot more scoring,” Ritter said.
“I’ve been going online and checking out what some of those schools in those other states do.”
If the Bruins are able to get some games in this fall, sophomore Clayton Willis, the Peninsula Daily News All-Peninsula Boys Track and Field MVP, will lead them.
Willis is a talented athlete who possesses great speed, field vision and toughness from his running back and linebacker positions.
Sophomore Ryan McCoy is getting the snaps at quarterback and also will play defensive end.
“We’re trying him out there at QB and he’s done pretty well so far,” Ritter said.
“He’s eager to learn and wants to play that spot.”
Freshman Ramon Tinoco also is back after playing as and eighth-grader. Ritter said Tinoco would play running back in eight-man games and receiver in six-man contests. He’ll play defensive back on defense.
Other players include Cayton Smith (WR/DB); Kailin Duncan (OL/DL); Eric Strid (OL/DL); Ryan Strid (WR/DB) and Jamari Signor (WR/LB).
Ritter said his players would likely have the option to play for rival Neah Bay since they are in the same school district, or for Forks. But he doesn’t see that happening.
“No, nobody wants to play anywhere else,” Ritter said.
“It’s either here or nothing. That makes you feel proud as a coach. We have a pretty loyal group of kids.”
Willis said playing for Neah Bay would “never happen” back in July.
“This season is just about having fun, keeping the kids safe and keeping the kids interest in football,” Ritter said.
“I’d have to have the kids lose interest and have some new kids enroll in the school and have no teams.”
“It says a lot about their character and how they care for each other as teammates, that they are out here working hard.
There’s lots of uncertainty right now but that effort is good to see as a coach.”
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
