FORKS — Taking over a Forks Spartans football team that graduated 12 seniors and lost nine of 11 starters on both sides of the ball, new head coach Trevor Highfield finds himself in a situation Old Mother Hubbard of nursery rhyme fame could understand.
“They are new to everybody,” Highfield said of his team. “The cupboard is bare. Our first team meeting we had one senior and we got it up to three, but none of those guys has played football or lifted weights.
“I don’t want to use the term rebuilding year, but it will be a growing year and a learning year for us.”
Two weeks into his first training camp with Forks, Highfield said he’s “having a blast coaching these kids.”
Highfield, a former University of Washington offensive lineman under Don James and Jim Lambright, came to Forks after spending more than a decade coaching at two-year Louisburg College in North Carolina, including a 29-4 record as head coach the last four seasons.
He’s been focusing on building the Spartans up in more ways than one since taking the job in May.
“We were able to grow the numbers in the program and get up from 17 to about 35 kids,” Highfield said. “My main focus was character education, team bonding, getting them in the weight room and getting them stronger. We have had some guys make some monumental gains — some guys who have put on 20 pounds or 10 pounds — but it’s not just in the weight room. The thing I am most excited about is the transformation of the culture of the program and getting our guys representing us in a positive manner.”
As for who exactly the Spartans are? Well, that’s a work in progress and likely will be for much of the season for a program that seeks to replace that 12-man senior class.
Highfield said every starting spot on the field was up for grabs before fall practices began.
“Every position is wide open,” Highfield said. “As for returning starters, I think we have two, so every position is wide open.”
Trey Baysinger, a starter at right tackle who also played linebacker on last year’s team as a sophomore, is likely to anchor the offensive and defensive lines.
“Trey and Hayden [Baker] are the guys who return and did some things last season,” Highfield said.
“We’ll have Trey Baysinger on the offensive line and the rest of the OL will be newer, younger guys. Hayden Baker got some playing time [last season]. He’ll be playing as an H-back or fullback for us on offense and at linebacker [on defense].”
Highfield said junior Carson Windle earned the starting quarterback position after edging Logan Olson.
“Carter has really done a good job for us, there,” Highfield said.
“Logan might bring a little more athleticism to the table, but both guys are baseball players, pitchers, and both deliver the ball well.”
Olson will be one of Windle’s top targets offensively at wide receiver.
“Logan Olson is doing a good job at one receiver,” Highfield said. “Ryan Rancourt and Antonio Farias are battling some things out at the other spot.”
Highfield’s former teams at Louisburg ran a shotgun spread offense with a lead back and an H-back to help with blocking or to slide out and catch a pass out of the backfield.
“We like two-by-one, power gap schemes, and probably some option thrown in there,” Highfield said. “It all depends on what we have. That’s always been the priority on both sides of the ball — taking a look at the talent available and putting them in the best positions for success.”
Highfield said sophomore Hayden Queen, who played tight end and linebacker as a freshman, has impressed.
“I’m looking for big things from Hayden Queen, I think he will make a big impact on the team in some way.”
Junior Ricky Barragan is taking the most reps at tailback as well.
Hoquiam is getting more preseason buzz than perennial power Montesano in the Evergreen League. Highfield said he watched film of all the league schools during the summer.
“Montesano, I have a lot of respect for how they play,” Highfield said. “They play hard with tremendous effort. Hoquiam, particularly offensively, runs good stuff with good schemes, so that coaching staffs knows what they are doing and is leading that program in a positive manner.”
Despite his excellent win-loss record at the college ranks, Highfield said the win-loss columns are not his primary focus as a coach.
“What we are working to do on a daily basis, the mission of the program, is to build men of character and empathy who go on to make a positive influence in the world,” Highfield said. “We will focus on growth in the fundamentals of football because the football IQ is pretty low coming in. So improve that IQ and work on fundamentals of the game. That’s what we are looking for on the field.
“Off the field, the GPA of the team hasn’t been anywhere near where I want us to be, so I’ve set a goal of earning a 3.0. We will work on improving our overall GPA, our standing within the school and the community.”
“We break [team huddles] on ‘Count on me’ all the time, so our focus is on being accountable.”
Forks Spartans
• Head Coach: Trevor Highfield, 1st season (0-0).
• Last Year: (5-4, 1-3) fourth in Evergreen League. Missed postseason.
• Offense: Split Back
• Defense: Multiple
• Contributors: OL/DL/LB Trey Baysinger, jr.; TE/LB Hayden Queen, soph., QB/DB Carson Windles, jr.; WR/QB/DB Logan Olson, soph.,;
• Expected team strength: To-be determined. At this point, Forks is focused on building up its football IQ across the board. Baysinger was a starter on a veteran line last season, so he will be counted on at right tackle and along the defensive line.
• Question mark: Replacing starters at nine of 11 positions, Highfield has his work cut out for him across the board in the always-tough Evergreen League.
• Game to watch: New-look Forks opens at Port Angeles at Civic Field on Friday at 7 p.m.
Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News Forks’ Carter Windle throws the football during a preseason practice.
