PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Chimacum filling gaps and plugging holes

CHIMACUM — When you’re low on numbers and lacking linemen, high school football teams have to adopt an “all hands on deck” mentality.

That’s the case again this year for Chimacum, stocked with plenty of running back and wide receiver types, but light along the line.

“Patching holes in the ship,” is how fourth-year Cowboys head coach Mike Dowling describes what has become an annual tradition.

“The team is really, really young and last year we were young. We don’t have any older experienced guards or centers.

“We have quite a few freshman turned out, a couple of bigger guys, but ideally we don’t want to play freshman on varsity because the learning curve is so steep that I’d rather not go down the road with freshman starters.”

To avoid those mismatches, Dowling plugs in players like senior Ryan Caldwell and junior Kai Dickerson.

“Ryan Caldwell is a tailback/fullback and has played some guard as well,” Dowling said.

“Our line is so depleted, he may start on the line for us.

“Kai Dickerson played slot [receiver] for us and tailback, and probably has the best hands on the team. He’s playing center for us right now. He played line years ago, he’s talented at that spot, so he may be our starting center for the first game or two.

“We ask a lot of all our kids because we don’t have the numbers. Fullbacks are like guards for us.”

There are a number of positives for the Cowboys, who enter 2017 saddled with a nine-game losing streak. Chimacum returns plenty of skilled backs and receivers — and are getting some players back from injury and a study abroad trip.

“Logan Shaw is back, he started for us as a freshman and sophomore [at running back and in the secondary],” Dowling said. “He went to Europe [Norway] as an exchange student last year.”

Junior Aaron Serrato is likely to play some linebacker and compete for a starting spot at guard after taking last year off.

“He started in our opener at guard as a freshman two years ago and was hit on a kickoff and got a concussion that kept him out all season,” Dowling said.

“Matthew Bainbridge gets a concussion in our opener last year against Neah Bay and missed the whole season. He’ll be a slot receiver or wideout and he was our starter at middle linebacker last year.”

Junior quarterback Cole Dotson returns to helm Chimacum’s double wing offensive attack, a system designed to utilize misdirection and deception to break off chunks of yardage.

“Cole has been a QB since he was playing C squad in little league,” Dowling said. “He’s a talented running back and if we can get him outside the pocket he’s a dual-threat to run or throw.”

Wyatt Pennington, a sophomore who missed last season after suffering a knee injury, will provide another option at quarterback.

Senior Peyton Hundley will get lots of carries in the Cowboys’ backfield.

“Peyton Hundley is by far our most natural running back, he’s elusive.” Dowling said. “He can run a little quarterback, and play wide receiver if we go spread.

“And on defense he’ll play safety or corner. He’s so good at reading stuff. He’s just a natural athlete, plays point guard in basketball.”

Junior Logan Storm started at fullback for Chimacum in the latter half of 2016.

“He was converted from receiver and he’s bulked up in the offseason,” Dowling said.

Dowling also holds a high opinion on his tallest player, sophomore lineman Jake Williamson. “He’s 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and will probably play left tackle for us,” Dowling said.

Dowling also mentioned senior Devyn Winkley and Ben Anderson as potential starters on the line.

Snapping that losing streak and picking up some wins in the Olympic-Nisqually League will be tough, Dowling said.

“For us, everybody will be tough,” he said.

“Coupeville got a lot more kids out with their new coach. [Dan] Erickson at Klahowya has got a ton of kids out and they will be tough.

And we haven’t beaten [Port Townsend] in five years. No easy game in our league, we will have to play all four quarters to get it done against anybody.”

Chimacum Capsule

• Last Year: 1-9 overall, 0-7 Olympic-Nisqually League.

• Offense: Double wing.

• Defense: 4-4-3 base.

• Contributors:RB/WR/DB Peyton Hundley; RB/WR/DB Logan Shaw; QB/DB Cole Dotson; OL/DL Jake Williamson; RB/WR/LB Matthew Bainbridge; OL/DE Devyn Winkley; RB/WR/OL Ryan Caldwell.

• Key newcomer: Shaw returns to the team after a study-abroad trip to Norway during his junior season.

• Expected team strength: Cowboys have plenty of running backs and receivers. Dowling thinks Chimacum’s offensive line will be a team strength later in the season.

• Question mark: Can Cowboys pick up first Olympic-Nisqually League win?

• Game to watch: Cowboys are looking to snap nine-game losing skid and host South Whidbey, the last team Chimacum defeated, in game two Thursday, Sept. 7.