NEAH BAY — John Reamer spent a lot of time transforming himself into a reliable and dangerous wide receiver.
And all that work worked: he led Neah Bay with 27 catches and 14 touchdown receptions as a senior.
But he was still just a defensive player contributing to the offense.
“One thing I like is hitting instead of getting hit,” Reamer said.
“I don’t like getting hit. I like hitting, but I don’t like getting hit. There’s a fine line there.”
The 6-foot, 215-pound defensive end was the Red Devils’ defensive leader as they went 14-0 and won their second consecutive Class 1B state championship — their third in four years and third of Reamer’s career.
“Everyone always preaches defense wins games. I want to be a part of winning games,” Reamer said.
“That’s one of my favorite things to do: control the defense.”
Reamer was voted All-State first-team defense by The Associated Press and has been picked as the All-Peninsula Football Defensive MVP by area coaches and the Peninsula Daily News sports staff.
This past season, he led Neah Bay in sacks with 11 and was second in tackles with 92.
He also made the play that turned the 1B 8-man state championship game around, stripping out of the arms of Liberty Christian’s John Lesser and running it 91 yards for a touchdown.
That gave the Red Devils the first two-score lead of the game, 30-18, as they went on to win 56-38.
Reamer said he thinks often about that play and the championship game, but it’s all a bit of a blur.
“I’m still not really sure how that happened,” he said of the play.
“When I got to the end zone, I was shocked that that had happened.
“It was the longest [91] yards of my life.”
Those are the plays Reamer makes, Neah Bay sophomore defensive back Cameron Buzzell said.
“It was an amazing play,” Buzzell said. “He’s a really good playmaker, and we just needed that to get everything started up again.”
Reamer doesn’t pretend he doesn’t enjoy all the attention that comes with making those plays. He admits he likes the spotlight.
Playing alongside Josiah Greene, Tyler McCaulley, Ezekiel Greene, Cody Cummins, Titus Pascua and Leyton Doherty for most of his career, Reamer, a self-described people person, learned early in his career than any attention would have to be earned.
“My freshman year, I was in the in the shadows. Maybe not the shadows, but we had so many good players on the team, I didn’t get a lot of the glory,” Reamer said.
“And just how hard I work, I just love to reap the rewards.
“I like hear people tell me they need me.”
But Reamer doesn’t want to be the only one in the limelight.
“It’s a team sport. You don’t win it alone,” he said.
“I love the spotlight, but I’m not going to hog it or steal it. Everybody deserves it.
“I’m just the one guy.”
He also shared the onus this season. When eyes looked to him at crucial moments, his eyes turned back to the other seven players on the field.
Not that the other Red Devils needed much convincing. Everyone was ready to step up and own the open spots left by the longtime starters who graduated last year.
“We gelled from the get-go,” Reamer said.
“Once we got it going, we were pretty dang good.”
Reamer said he has received offers and interest from a few college, but his plan is to take a year off from football, focus on school and hope the right situation presents itself next year. He’ll also attend some football camps this summer.
“Hopefully, I’ll be playing football in year,” he said.
“And pulling in championships, hopefully.”
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
