SEQUIM — If sprint boat races, the grueling four-stage Big Hurt contest, the Wooden Boat Festival and NW Cup downhill mountain biking aren’t your preference on the most crowded sporting weekend of the year — head to Sequim tonight for Friday Night Lights as the high school football season kicks off statewide.
Forks takes on Sequim tonight at 7 p.m. in the most intriguing matchup of week one.
The Wolves have designated the game as the program’s Salute to Service.
All personnel from Clallam County Fire District 3 (Sequim), including firefighters/EMTs and support staff, are invited to the football game
The football team players and coaches plan to honor those staffers on the track at halftime.
“Our team would be grateful for the opportunity to shake hands and personally thank each of you for the invaluable service you provide to our community,” assistant coach Erik Wiker said.
District staff are asked to be at the game by 6:30 p.m.
“Additionally, we would love to have a few fire vehicles parked on the east side of the track, near the visitors’ stadium seats. Drivers can stay with their cars/trucks. It would be a great honor to have the vehicles use their lights during the pregame ceremony and to celebrate our touchdowns,” Wiker said.
With the season set for kickoff here are five area football players to watch this fall, listed alphabetically:
• Jameson Henery, Jr. RB/TE/LB, East Jefferson: Henery is known for his booming punts and a penchant for quality tackling on the defensive end. He was an All-Nisqually League selection at punter and tight end.
“Jameson is an athlete who needs to be on the field,” Haddenham said. “He could play anywhere, really. He can play tight end/running back/linebacker, he can cover and he can bring the physicality.”
The question mark: Will East Jefferson need to use Henery’s leg as much this season?
If Henery is punting fewer times this season it means the Rivals’ offense is more productive.
• Bubba Hernandez, So., QB, Forks: Phenomenal debut as a freshman: 900 passing yards and 14 touchdowns and another 700 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Add to that another 120 yards returning kicks and that’s more than 1,700 all-purpose yards and 24 touchdowns.
The question mark: Can the Spartans develop a running attack to take the pressure off Hernandez’s arm?
• Zeke Schmadeke, Sr., QB/DB, Sequim: Schmadeke moves over from wide receiver and gets the nod at quarterback for the Wolves under new head coach Ian Henley. A solid pitcher on Sequim’s state baseball team, Schmadeke will be counted on as a dual threat to run or pass.
The question mark: Can Schmadeke make quick strides as a passer to keep opposing defenses honest?
• Blake Sohlberg, Sr., WR/DB, Port Angeles: First-team All-Olympic League wide receiver as a sophomore and junior and second-team defensive back last fall is capable of making explosive plays from all over the field. Witness his 10-reception, 246-yard, four touchdown performance in a 48-26 win over Olympic last fall.
The question mark: Who will throw Sohlberg the ball this fall?
• Jodell Wimberly, Sr., RB/DB, Neah Bay: Red Devils senior has been a mainstay in Neah Bay backfield for four seasons. He rushed for 1,839 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior and did that while also being a terror in the defensive backfield with five interceptions and 180 interception return yards.
Neah Bay also has 1,000-yard, 22-TD rusher Tyler Swan and receivers like Adan Ellis and Makyah Cambers.
The question mark: Red Devils plan is to divvy up the carries more equally between Wimberly and Swan. If successful, will that plan provide the extra energy for a push through the Class 1B state playoffs?
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladailynews.com.
