HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Sequim armed and dangerous

SEQUIM — Sequim head coach Erik Wiker was upbeat and enthusiastic when asked about the prospects for his 2016 Wolves football team.

Wiker has reason for optimism: Sequim went 5-3 last season, and while the Wolves lost a load of seniors (23) to graduation, this year’s team brings back some of the most important contributors from 2015.

“There was a big improvement in offseason involvement,” Wiker said.

“I think it was the best offseason we’ve had in quite some time we were able to get some team camaraderie going.

“It’s nice to see kids in the offseason doing their work. We have more players in right now executing at a higher level, and now we have to do that against other people.”

“This team is a junior-dominated team, a little younger and with some inexperience in some places, but I feel confident we can get there and do really well this year.”

A key returner is sophomore quarterback Riley Cowan. Cowan was impressive as a freshman, completing 55 of 95 passes for 849 yards, 9 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

He earned first-team All-Olympic League honors for his efforts from league coaches, and heaps of praise from Wiker.

“He’s a dynamite kid,” Wiker said.

“And to come in as a freshman and do as well as he did, especially with a senior-dominated team, that’s hard to bridge that age gap, and I was extremely impressed.

“His work ethic and knowledge of the sport impresses me. He can throw a pretty darn good ball. The reason why he could succeed was his work ethic.”

Wiker said he puts a heavy amount of authority on the young signal-callers shoulders.

“We have a lot of plays where he basically gets to call it at the line,” Wiker said.

“He’ll have a few options based on the defense’s positioning, but it’s a lot of responsibility given to a quarterback. Even a relatively simple handoff play, he’s in charge.

“If we call a power right, and they are stacking that side, instead of a wasted play he can call an audible and check into a pass.

“If he hadn’t done the work we would have to be much more limited offensively.”

Cowan will have his favorite target back in junior playmaker Gavin Velarde.

Velarde, a cat-quick, slippery athlete, caught 25 passes for 453 yards and four touchdowns last season from his spot at slot receiver. He also ran for 264 yards on 17 carries, a 15.5 yards per carry average, and five more TDs.

“He does his little magic,” Wiker said of Velarde’s ability to make defenders miss.

“I could pretend to take credit for that, but that’s all on him.”

Wiker said the junior has now learned all the plays for each wideout position.

“He understands the concepts a lot like the QB,” Wiker said.

“Last year he played slot receiver and now he can play the X, Y and Z [receiver positions].

“That makes him more dangerous than before. Making him even more versatile is what we are working for there. Him knowing all the positions and being able to switch through should help our offense become more effective.”

Velarde and Cowan also will see time in the defensive backfield.

Sequim’s three primary ball carriers graduated, so the backfield will have a different look this fall.

Wiker said sophomore Keeshawn Whitney, juniors Hayden Gresli and Tyler Conn and senior Rudy Whitehead would all split carries this season.

“Rudy Whitehead is our big fullback-type guy,” Wiker said.

“Keeshawn Whitney, he’s a big back, 6’2, 210 pounds, and fast and hard to take down.

Whitney’s burst has caught Wiker’s attention.

“We haven’t had that guy where if they can get that little seam they are fast enough to take it to the house,” he said. “Keeshawn has some of that and we hope to see it this year.”

Wiker described Gresli as a “little scat back,” who will see time at both running back and wide receiver.

He said Conn impressed at summer camp, and might be the type of player who will help the team grind out tough yards.

“He runs hard, and we might be able to get four yards out of him at a go,” Wiker said.

Payton Glasser, a 6’3, 180-pound wide receiver, also should see some throws go his way.

“He’s a tall, big target that can really jump up and catch the ball,” Wiker said.

Kyler Rollness and Curtis Gorr also are in the mix at wide receiver and in the defensive secondary.

“Having a returning QB, having a returning playmaker like Gavin, and with the continuity we can add, I think it will be hard to stop us offensively,” Wiker said.

Sequim also returns some good experience along the offensive and defensive lines.

“Our guards, James Thayer and Brenden Lauritzen, are 2 1/2-year starters,” Wiker said.

“I think everybody forgets about those guards because they’ve been around so long.”

Replacing All-Olympic League center Zach Hebert will be a difficult task.

“McKenzie Stockdale did a good job of hitting the weight room in the offseason and he will be our center,” Wiker said.

Mason Larsen and Josh Benson will fill the tackle slots for Wiker, a former offensive lineman at the University of Idaho.

“I think there’s a lot more total experience than what we may have had in the past,” Wiker said.

Wiker likes to keep his big guys as fresh as possible, so a mix of linemen will see time along the defensive front.

“There’s not a huge dropoff between our guys, and we have a plethora of linemen, so hopefully our idea is to be able to play the guys who aren’t on o-line a bunch on defense,” Wiker said.

Linebackers include Thayer, Adrian Klarich, Conn, Whitehead and Cody Bell.

Robert Beeson, Gresli and Nick Ellison are likely to play at the roverback, or way outside backer position for Sequim.

Wiker sees many question marks when he takes a look at Olympic League 2A Division opponents.

“Every team has unknowns this year, where last year the top teams were a little more cut and dried,” he said.

“The QB [Olympic League Offensive MVP Matt Becker] and RB [Overall MVP Geordyn Shinard] Olympic had are gone. North Mason has a coach who has the field named after him [Phil Pugh]. He’s a hall of famer, but does that get more kids out for them?

“Kingston has a new coach running the Wing-T. Bremerton has a new coach, Port Angeles has a new offense.

“I think a lot of teams are in the position of trying to find out who they are going to be. And I think it will be a race.”

Sequim capsule:

• Last Year: 5-3 overall, 3-3 in Olympic League 2A Division.

• Offense: Spread

•Defense: 3-5-3

•Contributors: Gavin Velarde WR/KR/DB; Riley Cowan QB/DB; Brenden Lauritzen OL/DL; Josh Benson OL/DL; Adrian Klarich LB; Rudy Whitehead FB/LB; Hayden Gresli RB/DB; Michael Larsen OL/DL; Mason Larsen OL/DL; James Thayer OL/LB; Keeshawn Whitney RB/LB; Riley Cosio WR/DB; Tyler Conn RB/DB.

•Key newcomer: Payton Glasser (6-3, 180) will provide a big target for the Wolves at wide receiver. He’s also expected to play in the defensive secondary.

•Expected team strength: Wiker is excited about the potential of his offense. He thinks it will be tough for other teams to stop his Wolves.

•Question mark: Can Sequim get more production out of a relatively new crop of running backs?

•Player they’ll miss the most: Defensive back Kane Stoddard. The All-Olympic League 2A first-teamer and Associated Press All-State Honorable Mention recipient averaged 14 tackles per game and had four interceptions.

•Game to watch: Due to quirks in the Olympic League scheduling system, Sequim hosts the Rainshadow Rumble against rival Port Angeles for the second straight season. That game is set Friday, Oct. 21.

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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.