PORT TOWNSEND — A humbling 2023 campaign provided offseason motivation for East Jefferson football players hoping to avoid a similar winless fate this fall.
“For us, this season is about trying to find out who we are as a program once again,” coach Tony Haddenham said. “With the amount of underclassmen we had, it was difficult. Going 0-9 last year we are hoping to climb up out of the basement, win some games and get back to some of the success that the seniors had when they were freshmen and we went 6-3 [and won the Nisqually League title] in 2021.
The Rivals put in more work, and more productive and focused efforts, by participating in the summer passing league attended by nearly every Kitsap County high school team along with Port Angeles and Sequim.
“We were all in with it this summer,” coach Tony Haddenham said. “We participated in 7-on-7 league, we went to a 7-on-7 camp at Bainbridge that taught us what were doing well and what we needed to work on.”
The Rivals are ahead of where they were last season.
“We installed pretty much all of our coverage defenses in the summer and our pass offense,” Haddenham said. “It’s been easier for them to pick it up at practice.”
East Jefferson will go with sophomore Silas Morford at quarterback.
“Silas is our No. 1. He’s left-handed, and when he’s on he brings some serious moxie and swagger,” Haddenham said. “He knows how to get his teammates behind him, he’s that type of leader. The dudes trust him and want him on the field.
“We want to try to get him to play only on offense, he’s shifty as all get out and he’s a kid with a good football IQ.”
Junior Jameson Henery is Morford’s backup, but he’ll be a valued contributor.
“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/safety from linebacker, he can cover and he can bring the physicality.”
The Rivals want to run the ball to set up passing plays out of their base Pistol formation on offense.
“We want to establish the run first so we can throw when we want to,” Haddenham. “Our line is pretty solid and we have a lot of dudes [to play the skill positions].”
Senior Lane Martin is back healed from injury.
“He was injured last year. He broke his hand or thumb and wasn’t able to play much,” Haddenham said. “He’s been one of our senior leaders, he’s playing tight end/linebacker, he’ll catch some balls at tight end and be one of those main dudes who won’t come off the field.”
Sophomores Alex Garcia and Jackson Dupuy also will be involved in the offense with Garcia getting some carries in the backfield and Dupuy, the team’s X receiver, likely to see some passes thrown his way.
Senior Brody Anderson will start defensively and classmate Austin Glanz also will see plenty of playing time.
“He loves to hit people,” Haddenham said of Anderson.
Glanz, listed at 5-foot-9, 230 pounds, is listed as a running back and defensive end.
“He’s pretty quick and his receiving has improved,” Haddenham said.
Line play should be a team strength with senior Adam Weaver, juniors Noah Cervantes and Isaac Stuart, sophomore Adrian Cervantes and Austin and Ethan Perovich all back from 2023.
The Nisqually League is in a bit of tumult as Charles Wright continues to play eight-man football, Bellevue Christian recently canceled its season due to low numbers, Vashon is likely to play a JV-only schedule and Kingston will join the league for football only as the Buccaneers attempt to rebuild.
“They would have been in the running for the league title,” Haddenham said of Bellevue Christian. “So we lost that game, but bad news travels fast and Raymond/South Bend called us later that morning and we will go down and play there in week seven.”
Cascade Christian and Life Christian are expected to be atop the Nisqually standings.
Haddenham said the team will focus on being in every game.
“It’s them buying in that we don’t want to repeat an 0-9 season, we want to be competitive every time we take the field,” Haddenham said. “From what we saw this summer and at practice, we have kids who have bought in and there’s learning going on every day.”
East Jefferson Rivals
• Head coach: Tony Haddenham (fourth season, 9-18).
• Last year’s record: 0-4 Nisqually League, 0-9 overall.
• Key Returners: Silas Morford (QB/WR/DB, So.); Jameson Henery (TE/QB/LB, Jr.); Lane Martin (WR/CB, Sr.); Adam Weaver (OL/DL, Sr.); Isaac Stuart (OL/DL, Jr.); Alex Garcia (RB/LB, So.); Adrian Cervantes (OL/DL, So.); Austin Glanz (RB/DE, Sr.); Austin Perovich (OL/DL, Sr.)Ethan Perovich (WR/LB, So.); Jackson Dupuy (WR/DB, So.); Brody Anderson (WR/DB, Sr.)
• Newcomers: Ethan Riker (WR/DB, Sr.); Luke O’Hara (TE/WR/DB, Fr.). Riker sat out last season after transferring and O’Hara has a chance to provide depth at a number of positions.
• Strengths: Offensive and defensive lines are team’s most experienced and productive units.
• Areas to improve: Team has to learn how to compete with — and beat its opponents. No easy task.
• Outlook: Rivals are still underclassmen dominated and will probably continue to take their lumps this fall against older competition, but a breakthrough and some wins are likely.
• Schedule: Sept. 6: at Granite Falls, 7 p.m.; Sept. 14: at Friday Harbor, 1 p.m.; Sept. 20: Cascade Christian, 7 p.m.; Sept. 27: at Life Christian, 7 p.m.; Oct. 4: Klahowya, 7 p.m.; Oct. 11: at Annie Wright, 7 p.m.; Oct. 18: at Raymond/South Bend, 7 p.m.; Nov. 1: Vashon Island, 7 p.m.
