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Posts Tagged ‘football’

Small in numbers, strong in heart

Posted in Football, tagged , , , , , on June 14, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Sean Toomey-Stout pulls in a pass Thursday as Coupeville High School football hosts Concrete in a spring scrimmage. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Carolyn Lhamon (left) and Melanie Navarro swing by to support their classmates.

Gabe Shaw (65) holds off the pass rush.

Sun’s out, guns out for Wolf mom Deb Smith.

CHS quarterback Dawson Houston limbers up his throwin’ arm.

Miles Davidson enjoys a refreshing drink on the sidelines.

Wolf head coach Marcus Carr likes what he sees.

Small in numbers, strong in heart.

G3 on the move. Gavin Straub takes the hand-off from Houston and gets ready to rumble.

Two sets of uniforms on the field is always better than one.

As Coupeville High School football plows through spring practices, the chance to scrimmage with other teams mixes things up a bit.

After playing at Mount Vernon earlier, the Wolves welcomed Concrete to Whidbey Thursday for a final inter-squad fling.

Along for the ride was photographer John Fisken, who snapped the pics seen above.

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Wolf soccer loses electrifying star

Posted in Boys Soccer, Football, tagged , , , , on June 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »

With 38 goals in two seasons, CHS soccer star Derek Leyva was eight scores from claiming the school’s career record. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Leyva is moving out of state, bringing an end to one of the more electrifying runs by a CHS athlete.

The thrill is gone.

Or, at least he will be in just a few days.

Coupeville High School is losing its top active soccer scorer, as Derek Leyva is moving out of state Saturday, bringing an end to one of the more electrifying runs by a Wolf athlete.

He’ll depart having scored 38 goals in two seasons for the CHS pitch squad.

Derek Leyva tossed in a Wolf boys single-season record 24 goals as a sophomore in 2018, then netted 14 more this spring.

His 38 goals stands second all-time on the school’s career list, trailing just cousin Abraham Leyva, who knocked in 45 scores in the three seasons he played in Coupeville.

Mia (35 goals) and Kalia Littlejohn (33) are #1 and #2 on the girls chart, and #3 and #4 in school history.

Abraham’s younger brother, Aram, who’s #3 on the boys career list (and #5 overall) with 29 goals, now has an open path at the career mark heading into his senior season.

With quick bursts of speed, the ability to pump fake defenders into the stands, an often-surprising amount of toughness, and an artful scoring touch, Derek Leyva was like no other booter we’ve seen in a Wolf uniform.

He also surprised a lot of people with how strong a football player he was during his junior season last fall.

We knew he had a powerful leg, and the first couple of times he took the field, it was as a kicker, which was to be expected.

But, as the season progressed, Derek Leyva made an impact on every part of the game, proving to be a sure-handed receiver and a sturdy part of the Wolf secondary.

While we largely focus on his athletic ability — this is a sports blog, after all — he’s also a solid citizen, a good guy all around.

I’ve always been fairly open about the fact soccer is not high on my list of favorite sports.

I’m an idiot and I probably don’t have the ability to appreciate the intricacies of the world’s favorite sport.

But watching Derek play was genuinely exciting.

He played at a level few Coupeville athletes do, in any sport.

If I had to pay to attend games (which, thankfully, I don’t), he would have been certainly worth the price of admission.

So, thank you for the last two years, Mr. Leyva, and I wish you the best of luck in the future.

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Twice the heart, three times the excitement

Posted in Boys Basketball, Football, Track, tagged , , , , , on June 9, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Dominic Coffman brings huge heart, and a dash of danger, to every sport he plays. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coffman, here kick-starting a fast break in middle school, will be a freshman at Coupeville High School this fall.

The most exciting player in middle school sports is headed to high school.

We’re going to let Dominic Coffman speak for himself here in a second, but I just have to say something first.

Over the past two years, no one in a CMS uniform has been quite as entertaining to watch play as he has been.

Coffman is a savage, and I mean that in the best possible way.

He comes with everything he has, and watching “The Dominator” in action is a treat.

Coffman goes flying into every play, whether on the football field, basketball court, or when he’s bouncing between events in track and field.

For example, other players may occasionally get a blocked shot on the hardwood.

At one point during his Coupeville Middle School days, Coffman chased down a play from behind, launched himself airborne, and managed to both reject the shot and bounce his shoe-clad foot off the back of the rival player’s head.

The second part was probably accidental. Doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it.

It was a thing of furious beauty, a testament to the fire Coffman brings to everything he does, and proof that he’ll be worth the price of admission when he invades Coupeville High School this fall.

The whirlwind wild man plans to continue playing all three of his sports, which is good news for Wolf fans (and writers who like a good foot-to-the-head moment).

“They keep me busy all year and with track and field it helps me get ready for football,” Coffman said. “With basketball, it helps me to get stronger and focus.”

While he enjoys all of his sports, gridiron action narrowly nips hoops as his favorite.

“I was six years old when my mom first put me in football,” Coffman said. “Then, when I learned to tackle kids that were two times bigger than me, it helped me to work hard and not to play with fear.”

While track and field can be a largely solitary sport, football and basketball involve groups of players working together to achieve success, something Coffman appreciates.

“They are team sports, so it helped me to learn to get along with others, build friendships and work hard for myself and the rest of the team,” he said. “Football and basketball show love for the game and for family.”

Coffman draws inspiration from fellow freshman-to-be Alex Murdy and current and former Wolf stars like Sean and Cameron Toomey-Stout.

All three are known for their dedication and hard work, something Coffman wants to emulate.

“My friend, Alex, he continues to be himself, not caring what other people think and always reminding me to be a team player doing my best and wanting others to do their best,” he said.

“Cameron and Sean, I have watched them and how they push themselves,” Coffman added. “They have encouraged me and they are not afraid to be who they are.”

He also credits his parents for “always supporting and loving me and wanting me to be the best me I can become in everything I do,” and thanks “Ms. Z, Ms. Raven and Mr. Black” for their support in school.

Whether working in class, where he enjoys “math with Mr. DeArmond and history with Mr. Volkman,” or progressing as an athlete, Coffman is all about putting in work.

“All the stuff you can do to get better at my position and to see the face of my future coming true,” he said.

Coffman is working on increasing his speed and vertical jump, and has set goals of becoming a starter in football and “keeping my grades up, so I can still play sports.”

When he’s not at practice or involved in a game, he enjoys swimming, listening to hip hop, taking his Bernese Mountain Dog, Zion, for walks, and spending time with family and friends.

Ultimately, though, it all comes back around to sports, which drive him to be a well-rounded person, and one who plans to shine for the next four years.

“My strengths are my love for sports, my footwork, strength, and speed,” Coffman said.

“I want to work on my mental game and to get faster to get to the ball when I’m playing wide receiver,” he added “I also need to work out in the weight room, and get stronger.

Underestimate him at your own risk. Heart matters most in sports, and Coffman has a huge one.

“I might not be very tall, but I will continue to show it is not the height that matters,” he said. “It is my determination, getting stronger, and love of sports, that will prove who I will become.”

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Gridiron action (if not the weather) heats up

Posted in Football, tagged , , , , , on June 8, 2019| Leave a Comment »

CHS football players (l to r) Daylon Houston, Dawson Houston, and Ben Smith arrive in Mount Vernon Saturday for their first spring scrimmage. (Deb Smith photos)

A little of that fall football feeling, on June 8.

With their work done, the Wolves head home.

And so it begins.

We’re two-and-a-half months out from the first day of fall practice, but that’s not stopping the Coupeville High School football team from working.

Taking a break from spring practice, the Wolves hit the road Saturday and traveled to Mount Vernon for the first of two scrimmages.

While squaring off with the 4A Bulldogs, Coupeville put the ball in the end zone numerous times.

The details are a little sketchy, but we know Wolf quarterback Dawson Houston netted a touchdown through the air and another on the ground, while Andy Martin and Timothy Ursu crashed in to score while leading the rushing attack.

The Wolves host Concrete 6 PM Thursday, June 13 at Coupeville’s Mickey Clark Field in the second, and final, scrimmage of spring.

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It’s 95 days until kickoff

Posted in Football, tagged , , , , on June 3, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Gavin Knoblich and Coupeville football face several new opponents this fall. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

First things first.

There is one way, and one way only, that Coupeville High School football can make the playoffs this fall.

The Wolves go 9-0 for the first time since 1990, or it’s regular season and done.

When CHS opted to bounce from the North Sound Conference for a season and play an independent schedule, school officials made the decision fully aware it closed off most avenues to the postseason.

That being said, Coupeville football hasn’t posted a winning record since going 6-5 in 2005.

Since then, there’s been a 5-5 finish in 2014 and 12 losing seasons.

So, maybe we won’t worry about the playoffs right now.

The biggest stumbling blocks for the Wolf gridiron program have been a lack of numbers, a lack of big bodies among those players actually on the field, and a whole lot of churn on the coaching staff.

Current CHS head man Marcus Carr is starting his second season and seems deeply committed, with a strong staff working at his side. That’s a definite positive.

Still, Coupeville has had five head coaches in the last decade, since Ron Bagby retired after 26 years at the helm of the program.

Part of the rebuilding process for Carr and school Athletic Director Willie Smith is trying to get the Wolves back on a semi-level playing field, allowing the program to grow.

All indications are that CHS will step down to 2B starting with the 2020-2021 school year, which is when new classification counts take effect.

Until then, taking a year off from league play, skipping King’s and Cedar Park Christian and company while allowing Smith to craft a (hopefully) more-favorable schedule, should help.

Looking at what awaits the Wolves this fall, it’s a schedule with four home games and five on the road.

Four games are against 2B schools, and three versus 1A institutions, plus one game apiece against 2A and 3A foes.

Five of the opponents, including the first four, are against schools Coupeville is familiar with. Then are four match-ups which will offer the Wolves a chance to experience new things.

To get you ready, we offer up a little breakdown of the schedule, game by game:

 

Friday-Sept. 6 — Port Townsend

Kickoff: 6 PM

Miles to travel: None

Classification: 1A

Coach: Patrick Gaffney

Mascot: RedHawks

2018 record: 4-6

Players on preseason roster: 20

Past history: Coupeville won 28-18 in last year’s season opener in Port Townsend. The teams have played numerous times, most notably when they were both in the Olympic League between 2014-2017.

Fun fact: Port Townsend and Chimacum combined for 130 points in a FOOTBALL game last season, with the RedHawks winning 79-51.

 

Friday-Sept. 13 — @ Vashon Island

Kickoff: 6 PM

Miles to travel: 73.6 miles

Classification: 1A

Coach: Clay Eastly

Mascot: Pirates

2018 record: 1-9

Players on preseason roster: 21

Past history: Coupeville won 13-0 last year on Whidbey. Wolves have beaten Pirates three straight seasons.

“Fun” fact: Last time Vashon beat CHS came in 2015 … when Pirate running back Bryce Hoisington went off for a state single-game record 573 rushing yards against the Wolves. He also broke the state single-season rushing mark, and, thankfully, has since graduated.

 

Friday-Sept. 20 — @ Friday Harbor

Kickoff: 6:30 PM

Miles to travel: 48.4

Classification: 2B

Coach: Brock Hauck

Mascot: Wolverines

2018 record: 6-3

Players on preseason roster: 19

Past history: Coupeville lost 17-0 last year on Whidbey. First time the schools clashed in several years, but they have been on and off again rivals over the decades.

Fun fact: Friday Harbor finished in a tie with Concrete for the Northwest League title last season, but lost a mini-playoff game 7-6. With a state playoff berth on the line, the difference turned out to be a heavily-disputed two-point conversion run, with the refs ruling Friday Harbor failed to break the goal line.

 

Friday-Sept. 27 — La Conner

Kickoff: 7 PM

Miles to travel: None

Classification: 2B

Coach: Peter Voorhees

Mascot: Braves

2018 record: 1-8

Players on preseason roster: 37

Past history: Coupeville won 33-12 at La Conner last year. Wolves have won two straight against one of their oldest rivals.

Fun fact: Has one of the best home-field National Anthem traditions in Washington state. As the singer finishes with “and the home of the brave,” La Conner football players raise their helmets and scream “Braves” in place of the final word.

 

Saturday-Oct. 5 — @ Kittitas

Kickoff: 3 PM

Miles to travel: 165.3

Classification: 2B

Coach: Dusty Hutchinson

Mascot: Coyotes

2018 record: 1-7

Players on preseason roster: Not available; no roster for last season listed, either.

Past history: Never played (as far as I know).

Fun fact: Won their third-straight boys basketball state title this past winter. Star guard Brock Ravet, who is headed to Gonzaga on a full-ride scholarship, finished his career as the state’s all-time leading scorer.

 

Friday-Oct. 11 — @ Northwest Christian

Kickoff: 7 PM

Miles to travel: 131.9 (School is in Lacey, but game at Tenino)

Classification: 2B

Coach: Mark Smith

Mascot: Wolverines

2018 record: Didn’t play

Players on preseason roster: Not available

Past history: New football program

Fun facts: Private school may not have a football history, but it’s a powerhouse in cross country, with the girls team winning nine straight state titles between 2006-2014.

School was the Navigators (with an alligator mascot known as … Navi the Gator), but are switching to Wolverines. To which I say, why, and, booooooooo.

Football coach Mark Smith is no newbie. He’s in the state hall of fame for track and field coaches, and won 174 games in 23 years as the football coach at Tacoma Baptist, taking that school to the state title game three times.

 

Fri-Oct. 18 — South Whidbey

Kickoff: 7 PM

Miles to travel: None

Classification: 1A

Coach: Mark Hodson

Mascot: Falcons

2018 record: 6-4

Players on preseason roster: Not available. Had 36 last season.

Past history: Coupeville lost 48-20 last year in Langley, allowing Falcons to regain possession of The Bucket. Wolves had won four of previous six clashes against their arch-rivals.

Fun fact: South Whidbey, which won just four games between 2014-2016, went the independent schedule route, and it paid off big time.

Playing 2B and Canadian schools, Falcons rebounded with a 7-2 record, then carried that over into 2018, when they joined the new North Sound Conference.

 

Fri-Oct. 25 — Anacortes

Kickoff: TBA

Miles to travel: None

Classification: 2A

Coach: Chris Hunter

Mascot: Seahawks

2018 record: 0-9

Players on preseason roster: Not available. Had 31 last season.

Past history: Haven’t played football against each other in decades. Used to be a rivalry back when players wore leather helmets.

Fun fact: Anacortes has lost 13 straight games. Seahawks last tasted victory the night of Sept. 29, 2017, when they beat Blaine 36-30.

 

Fri-Nov. 1 — @ Interlake

Kickoff: 7 PM

Miles to travel: 58.6 (Bellevue)

Classification: 3A

Coach: Shawn Hartline

Mascot: Saints

2018 record: 2-7

Players on preseason roster: 45

Past history: Have never played (as far as I know).

Fun fact: Famous alumni included baseball legend John Olerud, as well as musicians Nancy Wilson (Heart), and Chris DeGarmo (Queensrÿche).

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