You can call it a five-year plan or a side-trip south or a two-year sabbatical, but you can’t call the path Aberdeen football took over the past several seasons easy.
After a two-year trip to the Greater St. Helens 2A League and a two-year sojourn with Rochester in the Evergreen 2A/1A League, the Bobcats finished up their first return season in the Evergreen 2A Conference last Friday.
To summarize, this season was a payoff to the work put in as a Class 2A independent in football. It wasn’t the best or the easiest way to do it (especially if you listened to the naysayers and the critics up and down the I-5 corridor), but that was the path Aberdeen took.
The end result is a revitalized football program that is well ahead of the program that traveled south to the GSHL 2A in 2012-13.
“Going back this year, there was some apprehension,” AHS head coach Kevin Ridout said. “We just needed to change the mindset. Whether or not you win the game, you go out there with the expectation we’re going to give everything we have and compete as hard as we can. The boys believed they could win every game. We won more games this year. The attitudes were there and they showed the commitment to the program you need to succeed.
“I don’t think we were physically ready to play up (to the Evergreen 2A in 2014-15),” Ridout said. “There were a lot of injuries prior to that. Now, there’s a commitment to the program, to the weight room, to each other. You can work to raise your level of play by your commitment. You have to put in the work. (Montesano grad and B.C. Lions linebacker) Adam Bighill isn’t the typical pro athlete size, but he worked his butt off to become one. You put in the work, you get the results you want. The boys have put in the work over the past couple of seasons.”
This season’s Bobcats won as many games (4) as they did in 2013, their final year in the GSHL 2A, and faced Tumwater in a district crossover game. On the field this season, Aberdeen scored in all but one game — Black Hills — and had just one player suffer a major injury, which happened outside of a varsity game. The talk about Aberdeen’s inability to stay healthy and compete in the Evergreen 2A was just that — talk.
“There was no backing down,” Ridout said. “The Black Hills game was a downer, because there wasn’t the same effort as there was in the other games. We scored twice on Tumwater and there are a few teams who can’t say that. We got better as the season went on. We were a better team at the end of the season than we were at the start.”
And now, just like other teams who missed out on the postseason, work begins for 2017. Unlike other schools, Aberdeen’s road to this point was unique and may never be traversed again. Honestly, I don’t think anyone wants to travel that path again, but it did do one thing: revitalize and define Aberdeen’s flagship boys sport now and for the future. That may be the legacy of 2012-15 once time moves on.
“Weight room started Monday for next year; we lay the foundation for next year now,” Ridout said. “We fielded three full teams this year — varsity, junior varsity and freshman — for the first time since 1997. All of them competed and a lot of guys got a ton of playing time. The guys know they need to step up and become stronger and better than the guys ahead of them. The work starts now.”
Bye Week
Taking care of its business in the Coastal 1B League, Taholah clinched the league title and an automatic state berth last Saturday with a win over Mary M. Knight in Matlock.
The Chitwhins had two games last week, starting with a hard-fought 44-32 win over Naselle at home last Wednesday before ending it with the win over the Owls.
Led by Dylan James, Tom Anderson, Zach Cain and Dawson Bastian, the Chitwhins compiled more than 600 yards of offense against Naselle. According to head coach William James, it was Taholah’s best performance of the season.
Now, the Twin Harbors’ lone eight-man football team will get this week to prepare for the state tournament on Nov. 11-12. Taholah’s opponent? Most likely state-ranked and perennial rival Neah Bay at home (possibly Stewart Field in Aberdeen).
• • •
Tonight
District IV 2B Crossover
North Beach Hyaks (4-5) vs. (1) Napavine Tigers (9-0), Tiger Stadium, Centralia — North Beach’s rebuilding year has been successful enough to get it back into the postseason. However, its reward is district rival and state 2B top-seeded Napavine. In the past few years, this would be a marquee matchup. This year, it is a tough obstacle for the Hyaks. … Tigers 35, Hyaks 6.
Friday
District IV 1A Crossovers
Hoquiam Grizzlies (6-3) at King’s Way Christian Knights (7-2), Vancouver — This could be a shootout. KWC quarterback Liam Nabors averages 240 yards of passing and three touchdowns per game and the team averages 154 yards rushing per game. Hoquiam has shown it can produce those numbers weekly. Only the weather can slow these teams down. … Grizzlies 28, Knights 27.
Columbia-White Salmon Bruins (5-3) at (4) Montesano Bulldogs (9-0), Rottle Field — The long road trip belongs to the Bruins, who are a predominantly a power running team. They may be used to the long trips, but that doesn’t mean it won’t affect them on the field. Add that to the large list of advantages Monte will have coming in. … Bulldogs 35, Bruins 14.
District IV 2B Crossover
Wahkiakum Mules (5-4) vs. Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans (7-2), Stewart Field, Aberdeen — Historic Crogstad Field is a muddy swamp, so a venue change was needed here. And, this is a big boost for the Titans and their power runner Kaelin Jurek, who won’t find the sledding tough against the Mules. … Titans 35, Mules 6.
Saturday
District IV 2B Crossover
Raymond Seagulls (5-4) vs. Adna Pirates (7-2), Tiger Stadium, Centralia — Another venue change due to a swampy, muddy field to a turf that will benefit a power running team. Honestly, this change will benefit both teams on offense — Raymond’s Patrick Edwards (1,015 yards, 12 TDs) and Adna’s Isaac Ingle (1,196 yards, 15 TDs) will both find room to run. This should be a fun game. … Pirates 21, Gulls 14.
Rob Burns: (360) 537-3926; rburns@thedailyworld.com; Twitter: @RobRVR.
