Gavin St Onge (middle in front) and teammates pay tribute to a teammate’s dad. (Pat Kelley photos)
John McDonald (center) speaks to the team after they gave him a Pittsburgh Steelers blanket.
Two of Coupeville’s best are playing to honor one of Oak Harbor’s finest.
Coupeville Middle School students Matthew Kelley (6th grade) and Gavin St Onge (7th) are both starring for the Oak Harbor Junior Gold football squad, which is rolling at 6-0 on the season.
The Wildcats, who take their unbeaten record on the road to Friday Harbor this Saturday, have dedicated their season to John McDonald.
Father of the team’s biggest lineman, McDonald is in the final stages of terminal cancer.
He is able to spend weekends cheering on his son’s team, however, and Oak Harbor coach Nick Asinsin has put an emphasis on his team honoring McDonald this season.
Paying tribute to McDonald’s life-long love of the six-time Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers, the Wildcats are wearing yellow and black wristbands in support.
While playing for Oak Harbor, Kelley and St Onge have excelled.
Kelley splits time between quarterback, receiver and outside linebacker, starting both ways. He’s juggling two sports at once, playing soccer with a select squad as well.
Proving his deadliness regardless of the sport, Kelley had an eventful week.
On the soccer pitch, he knocked in a goal in a 4-0 win, then bounced over to football and ripped off a pair of touchdown runs on the ground.
St Onge is also a two-way starter on the gridiron, one who is described by onlookers as “an animal” who anchors the offensive and defensive lines.
Coupeville Sports 
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