NEAH BAY — After losing the bulk of the stars from its Class 1B state championship-winning 2016 squad, including two former Associated Press 1B State Football MVPs, Neah Bay has more questions than answers heading into its fall slate.
Leading rusher Cole Svec and leading receiver Cameron Buzzell, the star of the Red Devils Tacoma Dome triumph last December, graduated. Quarterback Rweha Munyagi Jr., the reigning 1B state player of the year, transferred to Class 2A Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett.
To say these losses leave an impact on a school that has won four of the last six 1B state titles is as obvious as saying the road to Neah Bay is winding.
But the Red Devils will soldier on, buoyed by a number of new players under returning head coach Tony McCaulley.
“Yeah, we have our work cut out for us,” McCaulley said with a laugh.
“I’ve got 13 guys who have never played for me before out of 27 kids out for the team. I can’t even remember all their names yet. But they’ve been a real good group so far. There’s been a lot of energy at practice. And we still have a pretty good core of offensive lineman and Ben [Greene] has been around for awhile, so it’s nice to have him step in. He’s played a lot.”
Big throws in big game
Greene is a senior and will step into Munyagi’s starting spot at quarterback.
“He’s super accurate at passing and has a strong arm,” McCaulley said. “I thought Ben played really well when Rweha got hurt during the state championship and his play was a little overlooked. His leadership is really good right now, so I don’t think we’ll miss a beat at that position.”
Greene took over at QB when Munyagi injured his shoulder with Neah Bay up 18-14 in the state title game. He finished the game with two touchdown passes, including a perfectly placed 22-yard touchdown pass to Svec on 3rd-and-16, and a 22-yard TD throw later in the game as Neah Bay beat Odessa/Harrington 64-34. He also completed a laser-like two-point pass to Munyagi (who had returned to the game as a receiver) after Svec’s score to put the game out of reach.
The only drawback with Greene is his history of knee injuries. McCaulley said Greene has undergone three knee surgeries to repair ACL issues.
“We’re always worried about injury, but this is football and anybody can get hurt anytime,” McCaulley said. “But Ben looks really good and strong.”
Carries by committee
Sophomore Logan Halttunen, freshman Meric Soeneke and junior Colton Cummins will carry the ball at tailback this year as Neah Bay adopts a running back by committee approach, according to McCaulley.
“They are all about the same,” McCaulley said. “They are all good, hard runners inside. We don’t have the speed like we have had.”
Joe Yallup should start again at fullback.
“He looks really good, he worked hard this summer,” McCaulley said.
Daniel Kilmer, a three-year starter, returns along the offensive line and at linebacker for the Red Devils.
“He’s solid and one of the leaders of the team,” McCaulley said.
“We are putting him at middle linebacker, and so far he’s looking like he’s going to pick it up pretty good.
“And Leroy Greene started at guard for us and he’ll play some linebacker.”
Neah Bay distance runner Isaac Jay Brunk is out for the team this season and is impressing McCaulley.
“Jay Brunk is fighting for a wide receiver spot,” McCaulley said. “He’s 6-foot-1, or 6-2, so he’s long with good hands. Isaiah Knaus is back for us, he’s done well at wide receiver, and Josee Tyree looks a lot better. He’s around the ball all the time and is probably going to be a two-way player for us. A lanky guy, tough, and we are looking at safety or outside linebacker.”
Neah Bay will again play a split schedule of eight- and 11-man football contests. The Red Devils open at Chimacum in an 11-man game Sept. 1, visit Forks for a tussle on the turf Sept. 22 and host Morton-White Pass Oct. 6.
As the team takes it’s first steps in preseason, McCaulley is enjoying the differences between past seasons and the new year.
“”We’re still trying to get the fundamentals down, working on the plays, but the energy and the work and the attitude is way different than last year’s team,” he said.
“It’s a little new for all of us,” McCaulley said.
“It reminds me a little bit of when John Reamer was a senior [2014 season] and we lost Josiah and Zeke and so many other guys to graduation. It has that feeling, because we all have a little something to prove.”
Neah Bay won the title that year, lifted up by Reamer’s poise, focus and determination.
McCaulley doesn’t know if he has quite as strong a feeling about the 2017 Red Devils as he did for the 2014 version. But he’s ready to see this team grow.
“I wasn’t planning on being here, but I decided after the season to try it again,” McCaulley said. “I think it will be a challenging year for the coaching staff and I think we are all up for it and it’s got us all excited about it.”
Neah Bay Capsule
• Last Year: 11-1 overall, won Class 1B state championship.
• Offense: Variable, power run game.
• Defense: 3-4-1
• Contributors: QB/DB Ben Greene; OL/LB Daniel Kilmer; OL/LB Leroy Greene; RB/LB Logan Halttunen; WR/DB Isaiah Knaus; LB/OL Alan Tyler.
• Key newcomer: 13 of Neah Bay’s 27 players haven’t played for McCaulley.
• Expected team strength: McCaulley wasn’t ready to suggest a strength during preseason. Expect the line to open up holes
• Question mark: Blending all the new pieces together.
• Game to watch: Neah Bay’s OT triumph over Forks in 2016 was the best game all season on the Peninsula. The 2017 version on Friday, Sept. 22 in Forks might lack the star power of the 2016 game, but it will be worth the watch.
Neah Bay linebacker Alan Tyler (5) hauls down Odessa-Harrington quarterback Colton Hunt during the Class 1B state football championship last year. The Associated Press
Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News Neah Bay head coach Tony McCaulley, left, talks with Red Devils defensive coordinator T.J. Greene. McCaulley said the coaching staff is looking forward to the challenge of coaching many new players this season.
