Coupeville Sports

When Josh Bayne, AKA “The Bayne Train,” starts rollin,’ would-be tacklers start flinchin’. (John Fisken photos)

Did Kathy Bayne give birth to the 1A state football player of the year? I vote yes.

Kacie Kiel (center) has a message for the voters.

Hear me out for a second.

I’m going to make the case that when the Associated Press voters pick the All-State football teams that Cow Town should not only be represented for the second straight year, but that we should be in consideration for the top spot.

Coupeville High School senior lineman Nick “The Big Hurt” Streubel was tabbed as a Second Team All-State player in 2013.

In 2014, Wolf senior Josh Bayne, a two-way terror who dominates the stat categories like a beast, should be in the discussion for the 1A Player of the Year.

Boom, baby!

Awesome Joshsome won’t get a chance to be seen by the big city writers when the state championship game is played in the Tacoma Dome, but that shouldn’t detract a bit from his resume.

He picked up the Wolves and carried them to a 5-5 record, the best mark by a CHS squad since 2005.

And the stats? Oh lord, the stats.

As of Sunday, Nov. 9, MaxPreps.com has Bayne #1 in three separate categories in 1A — rushing yards, touchdowns and interceptions.

He’s also third in tackles and fourth in total yards (trailing only three quarterbacks, who picked up a lot of their yards from their receivers doing the work after the catch.)

His body of work:

Passing: 1 of 1 for 43 yards. So, perfection.

Rushing: 143 carries for 1,528 yards. #1 in 1A.

Receiving: 31 catches for 460 yards. #12 in 1A.

Kickoff/punt returns: 11 returns for 224 yards, after which teams refused to kick his way for most of the season.

Total yards: 2,031. #4 in 1A.

All-Purpose yards: 2,281.

Touchdowns: 25. #1 in 1A. 15 rushing, 10 receiving. Twice scored six in a game this year.

Tackles: 91. 77 solo, 14 assists. #3 in 1A.

Sacks: 2 (while playing in the defensive backfield).

Interceptions: 6. Tied for #1 in 1A.

Fumble recoveries: 4.

The testimonial: “Josh had one tackle on a receiver, folded him in half like a cheap hooker who was punched in the gut by her pimp. He had to sit out for awhile and wait for his liver to start working again” — CHS stat keeper Chris Tumblin.

I have seen no better player at the 1A level this year. I can find few other 1A players who have the stats on both sides of the ball to match Bayne.

He doesn’t play for King’s. Or Freeman. Or Cascade Christian. Or any of the big name schools.

Though, if he did, how much bigger would his stats be? How much more of a slam dunk choice would he be?

Instead, he went out and repped the red and black of the town he grew up in, playing on a team with little depth and not much recent glory, and he shone.

As brightly as anyone to play high school football at his level in the state this season.

Pay attention, voters. Look deeper. Make the right call.

Josh Bayne for 1A Player of the Year. It’s a simple choice, and it’s the right one.

Feel like spreading this message to some of the bigger names in prep sports coverage? Send this story by email to:

Sandy Ringer/Seattle Times — sringer@seattletimes.com

David Krueger/Everett Herald — dkrueger@heraldnet.com

Scott Spruill/Yakima Herald — sspruill@yakimaherald.com

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