Scott Hilborn is one of 11 freshmen on a 24-man CHS football roster. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Seniors Dawson Houston (with ball) and Gavin Straub have grown into leaders for the Wolves.
It’s a year of transition.
The Coupeville High School football team faces several obstacles now, which could pay off big-time down the road.
Or, at least that’s the hope.
The Wolves, coming off a 3-6 record, play an independent schedule this fall, and will do so with a roster where freshmen account for 11 of 24 players.
As the CHS gridiron squad rebuilds under second-year coach Marcus Carr, school officials decided to pull the football program from the 1A North Sound Conference this year.
With Coupeville expected to drop down to 2B in the next classification counts, that gives the Wolves a chance to avoid powerhouses like King’s and Cedar Park Christian, while facing teams they better match up with.
The September schedule pits CHS against the same four teams it opened against last year — Port Townsend, Vashon Island, Friday Harbor, and La Conner.
The Wolves opened 2018 with a strong 3-1 showing against that lineup, then tailed off once conference play began.
This time around, Coupeville is also matched up against Kittitas, Northwest Christian (which is new to football), Anacortes (which killed its varsity program due to a lack of older players), and Interlake.
The lone North Sound Conference foe the Wolves retain is next-door neighbor South Whidbey, which keeps the annual clash for The Bucket alive.
Opting for an independent schedule was a path Coupeville’s arch-rivals took two years ago, and the Wolves are hoping for similar success.
Playing a mix of 2B and Canadian schools, South Whidbey surged to a 7-2 record in 2017, filled out its roster considerably, then claimed a playoff spot last season in the debut year for the North Sound Conference.
For Coupeville to make the playoffs as an independent team it has to go undefeated — something last accomplished by the Wolves in 1990.
But while making the postseason this fall is a long shot, the chance to grow the Wolf roster and build confidence among young players is huge.
“We want to improve our win/loss record,” Carr said. “We have 11 freshmen, so getting them game experience and confidence (is the goal).
“We also want to see better execution on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Wolves are transitioning to a spread offense, which means “timing between the QB’s and receivers is very important.”
Dawson Houston returns for his second season as Coupeville’s starting quarterback, and his primary targets will be fellow seniors Sean Toomey-Stout and Gavin Knoblich.
Toomey-Stout, listed as a wide receiver after playing running back previously, was a First-Team All-Conference player as a junior on offense, defense, and special teams.
One of the stars of a viral video in which a wayward deer became his lead blocker as he returned a punt for a touchdown, “The Torpedo” remains one of the most-explosive players to ever pull on a CHS uniform.
Knoblich, who gives Houston a tall target with sure hands, was a Second-Team All-Conference pick at tight end during his junior campaign.
Senior running back Andrew Martin, fond of bustin’ heads as he rumbles for yardage, and senior linebacker Gavin Straub, who had a strong performance at spring camp, are among other key players.
Also back in action are senior Gavin St Onge, junior Ben Smith, and sophomores Isaiah Bittner, Gabe Shaw, and Brian Casey.
Junior Dakota Eck, who played for Coupeville through middle school, returned to town last spring, and rejoins the Wolves.
New to the CHS gridiron program are senior Austin Galletta, sophomore Cole Hutchinson, and, in somewhat of a huge, yet very positive, surprise, the largest freshman class in recent memory.
Coupeville’s middle school football program shut down mid-way through last season, due to a lack of healthy players.
Now it’s been disbanded for good, and replaced with a boys soccer team which will make its debut this fall.
But, thanks to a combination of middle school players who hung on through the tough times, and others who are new to the school or football program, Coupeville is flooded with 9th graders.
And it’s a group which will likely get a lot of playing time right away.
Skills players Scott Hilborn (RB, S) and Daylon Houston (CB, WR, K), as well as lineman Josh Upchurch, Kai Wong, and Kynel Hart are already making names for themselves, while their fellow frosh are all looking to make a big splash of their own.
Dominic Coffman,Timothy Ursu, Joven Light, Kevin Partida, Nick Armstrong, and Cameron Epp round out the current roster.
