JOYCE — The Crescent Loggers lost almost all of their offense from last year’s team and start play this year in a Northwest 1B League made tougher by the arrival of powerhouse Quilcene into the league.
“We had a lot of seniors last year. This is a very, very young team,” said coach Brian Shimko. “We have 10 sophomores, a couple of eighth-graders and three seniors. There’s going to be growing pains.”
Crescent had a successful 2021 season, going 5-4, making the postseason and finishing third in the league to Neah Bay and Lummi, ahead of Darrington and Concrete.
The biggest loss for the team is running back and defensive stalwart Wyatt Lee, who put up some jaw-dropping statistics last year, even for eight-man. Lee had over 1,000 yards rushing and had games of 348 rushing yards, 266, 242 and 207 last season.
Brayden Emery, another huge star on offense and defense, also graduated, as did contributors Austin Sage and Hayden Ferrel.
Shimko expects returning player Conner Ferro-May, who placed at the state 1B track and field meet last spring, to be a big part of the offense this year running the ball. Tommy Leonard, brother of Loggers’ legend Neah Leonard, will be a leader on defense.
“He’s a great tackler. All the Leonards are great tacklers,” Shimko said.
Terrell Emery is the latest in his family to start for the Loggers as a running back and defensive lineman. Conner Bauers, one of the Loggers’ all-league selections from last year, is also back and will be another one of Crescent’s ball carriers.
Shimko expects sophomore Henry Bourm to handle much of the quarterbacking duties for the Loggers this season.
Shimko said the team’s conditioning is one of its strengths and he expects this young team to develop into something special over the years.
“This is probably the most in-shape, fit team I’ve ever had,” he said. “I’m happy for the future.”
One change this year is that Brian Sage, a member of Crescent’s 1996 state championship team, is on the coaching staff. He will call the offensive plays while Shimko will run the defense.
Crescent Loggers
• Head coach: Brian Shimko (Eighth year, 38-31 record)
• Last year’s record: (5-4) finished third in the Northwest 1B League and lost in first round of playoffs.
• Key returners: Henry Bourm (Soph., QB, RB, DL). Terrell Emery (Jr., DL, RB). Tommy Leonard (Sr.). Conner Ferro-May (RB, DE). Conner Bauers (RB, S).
• Strengths: Athleticism, conditioning.
• Areas to improve: Must find a way to replace all-world Wyatt Lee, who led the team in rushing last year. Brayden Emery is also a big loss.
• Outlook: Described as a year of “growing pains.” Northwest 1B League is tough with Lummi, an improved Neah Bay team and Quilcene joining the league. Darrington and Concrete, both schools that used to play at higher classifications, round out a tough league that may send three teams to state.
• Schedule: Sept. 3, Charles Wright; Sept. 10, at Taholah; Sept. 17, at Quilcene; Sept. 23, at Chief Leschi; Oct. 1, Neah Bay; Oct. 8, Concrete; Oct,. 14 at Lummi; Oct. 22 at Darrington; Oct. 29 Quilcene.
