NEAH BAY — When asked what makes the Neah Bay football program so special, senior John Reamer paused.
“Man, I don’t know. I’m trying to think of a word to describe us: Underdogs. Fighters. Believers. Family,” Reamer said.
“That’s one word I can think of, family, because when family comes together, nothing can stop you.”
The Red Devils won their third state championship in four years with a 56-38 win over Liberty Christian at the Tacoma Dome on Saturday.
Head coach Tony McCaulley said the Neah Bay family extends beyond the boys in red helmets and black pants.
“People. It’s all about the people. Look at our fan base,” McCaulley said, turning his head to view the corner of the end zone filled with family and friends celebrating the Red Devils’ second straight state championship last week.
“Everybody wants to play for them, everybody wants to play for the community.
“It’s all a family thing, so I really think that has a lot to do with it.”
More to come
So where does the family go from here?
Neah Bay’s senior class played a major role in the latest state championship, particularly in the title game.
Reamer made the play that changed the game, a strip and return for a touchdown that put the Red Devils up 30-18.
Chris Martinez was not to be denied every time he touched the ball, rushing for 133 yards and scoring four touchdowns.
Jarickson Kanichy was the lone upperclassmen on the line that opened holes for Martinez and sophomore Cole Svec.
Collin Haupt and Josh Monette led the team in tackles. Haupt had 10 solo tackles and got in on another, while Monette had nine solo takedowns and assisted one.
Elisha Winck had a sack and forced a fumble on defense, and as a fullback on offense, served as the lead blocker for Martinez and Svec.
The Red Devils also lose reserve lineman Devin Dawson.
Neah Bay’s championship roll is going to slow some time, right?
Maybe, but don’t expect it to happen in 2015.
“We have a solid football team,” Monette said. “There’s 10 guys waiting to take each and every one of our spots.”
Neah Bay is accustomed to losing seniors.
This is the program that graduated Josiah Greene, Tyler McCaulley, Cody Cummins, Zeke Greene, Bill Hanson and Carl Mack — to name just a few — last school year.
The 2012 graduating class included Leyton Doherty and Joey Monje. The year before that, it was leading rusher Titus Pascua and lineman Rufus Arnold.
“Every year, you’re going to lose some seniors that are really good,” Tony McCaulley said.
“John Reamer put in a lot of work, Josh Monette, Chris Martinez, Jarickson Kanichy. All of them, Collin Haupt, I can’t leave any of them out, they all played really well.
“They brought it, and they had something to prove because everybody said that we lost so many seniors that we couldn’t do it.
“And next year we’re going to say the same thing: ‘Hey, man, we lost John, we lost Collin, we lost Josh.’
“Now all the young guys get back in the weight room, and let’s go. Get back to work.”
Even the seniors themselves don’t think they’re irreplaceable.
“Of course. Of course,” Reamer said when asked if Neah Bay can win a third straight championship next year.
“They’ve got guys like Cole [Svec], Cameron [Buzzell], Phil [Greene], Nate [Tyler]. All these young guys, they’re coming up to play. They’re ready.
“I have full faith in them.”
That isn’t even the full list of returning players.
“RayHa [freshman starting quarterback Rwehabura Munyagi Jr.] . . . and Daniel [Kilmer] and Noah [Rascon] — our line’s pretty much intact,” McCaulley said.
“Hopefully we get Tommy [Tyler] playing and Phil and Leroy [Greene] and those guys that are young coming up that are good players that played a lot tonight.
“Tommy Tyler . . . He’s going to be our Josh Monette next year. He’s a heck of a defensive player.
“He’s a little bit banged up right now, but next year, he’ll be playing our middle linebacker and he’s a really good player.”
Many of the reserve players played important snaps in the championship game that helped the Red Devils defeat Liberty Christian.
“I think that was a real key for us that we played more players tonight than they did, and we were a little fresher down the stretch,” McCaulley said after Saturday’s game.
“Roly [Roland Gagnon], Nate Tyler was in a lot, Michael McGee came in and got a touchdown for us, Tommy came in and blocked for us.”
Phillip Greene also played snaps on both sides of the ball Saturday and served as the kicker this season.
Even more younger players saw limited playing time throughout the season, such as Kenrick Doherty Jr. and Zachary Dulik.
Their chances should be coming soon.
Martinez didn’t see major playing time until his senior season, and he ended up becoming a crucial contributor on both sides of the ball (along with his four scores in the state championship game, he also returned a fumble for a touchdown in semifinal against Lummi).
“Our program’s still going to be going strong,” Martinez said.
“Our team’s young this year, so they have the potential to go up the ladder and keep succeeding.”
Svec and Buzzell, both sophomores and two-year starters, have already established themselves as leaders on the team, and more are likely to step up and lead with them.
“We’re going to miss them. But next year we’re going to play hard for them, too,” Svec, the Red Devils’ leading rusher, said of the seniors.
“We’re going to keep pushing, go back in the weight room. We’re only going to break for like a week and then we’re going to start hitting the gym.”
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
