Alex Jimenez is one of four returning seniors for the CHS football team. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
It seems like a lifetime.
Jump all the way back to November 1, 2019, and the Coupeville High School football team was on the field at Interlake, wrapping up the first winning season for the Wolf gridiron program since 2005.
Powered by departing seniors such as Sean Toomey-Stout and Dawson Houston, CHS finished 5-4 while playing an independent schedule, collecting wins against Vashon Island, La Conner, Kittitas, Northwest Christian, and Anacortes.
Now, after the pandemic wiped out a year-plus of prep sports, Coupeville returns to the field this Saturday with a home game against La Conner, kicking off an abbreviated four-game schedule.
That marks a 526-day break between CHS football games.
With traditional fall sports playing after spring sports during the 2020-2021 school year, the Wolves will play twice at home, and twice on the road — with no Homecoming game.
The plus is no Wolf lost a football season, and the short run gives CHS coach Marcus Carr and Co. a lead-in to what all hope will be a normal 2021 season come August/September.
For now, Coupeville opens with La Conner, travels to Friday Harbor and La Conner, then closes at home with Concrete — a short, but intense welcome to the Northwest 2B/1B League.
Ben Smith (16) leads the rushing attack.
When action heats up, the Wolves will be led by four returning seniors in Ben Smith (RB, DE), Sage Downes (WR/DB), Alex Jimenez (OL/LB), and Dakota Eck (RB/LB).
“They will play significant roles on both sides of the ball,” Carr said.
Other key returnees include juniors Brian Casey (OL/LB) and Isaiah Bittner (C/DL) and sophomores Scott Hilborn (RB/SS), Tim Ursu (WR/DB), Kai Wong (OL/DL), Daylon Houston (WR/CB/K), Josh Upchurch (OL/DL), and Dominic Coffman (RB/LB).
Junior Isaiah Bittner anchors the Wolf line.
Three freshmen have already begun to make names for themselves at well.
“Logan Downes, he will be in competition to start at QB,” Carr said.
“Mikey Robinett, he is getting some good reps as a running back right now, and Zane Oldenstadt is a great addition to the offensive and defensive line.”
The youngest of three brothers, Logan Downes follows Sage and the oldest of the trio, Hunter, who held down the starting QB job for three seasons before graduating in 2018.
Meanwhile, Robinett follows in the footsteps of his dad, the late Mike Smart, who earned team MVP honors and All-League recognition while playing at fullback and linebacker during his 2001 senior season.
While this season will clock in at less than 50% of a normal campaign, with no playoffs planned, Carr will use the opportunity to work on player development.
The team is “transitioning to a power spread, so timing and good QB play will be big for us.”
With their school having moved from 1A to 2B, the Wolves primary foes on the gridiron will be fellow 2B schools La Conner and Friday Harbor.
If Chimacum joins the NWL starting with the 2021-2022 school year, as expected, Coupeville will gain a third home-and-away rival during a normal season.
For now, Carr is ready for anything.
“Friday Harbor always fields a tough team,” he said. “La Conner has a new head coach, so they will have a different look. It is hard to tell at this point.”
If nothing else, the Wolf head coach wants his program to be part of a boom period for Coupeville athletics.
“I am just looking forward to all sports filling the trophy case in the gym!,” he said.
