PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles football team wrote history last year, as the Roughriders enjoyed their most successful season in more than a decade.
This year, it’s an entirely new chapter to be written, with a nearly complete change of the cast of characters.
Last year’s 7-4 Riders beat both Sequim and Olympic for the first time in years and not only made the playoffs, but won a playoff game and qualified for the state 2A playoffs for the first time in nearly 15 years.
One of the reasons the Riders had such a great year was senior leadership, led by quarterback Parker Nickerson, defensive standout Tanner Flores, running back Kason Albaugh, linebacker and running back Landyn Jones and most of all, Olympic League MVP Jason Hawes. In fact, it was easily the most senior-heavy team — 14 seniors total — on the Olympic Peninsula and perhaps the most senior-heavy team in the entire league.
“We definitely lost a lot. We lost 18 out of our 22 starters on offense and defense,” said coach Dustin Clark. “It’s the first time we’ve ever had to do this [start over]. The challenge is finding the next group of leaders.”
Still, Clark said he’s excited about this new season and the challenges the team will face.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been this excited for a season. It’s exciting to continue building what we want to do here,” he said.
Clark said he started to see that leadership show at a summer camp held at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Ore.
One of the biggest returning starters from last year will be defensive back and wide receiver Blake Sohlberg, who made countless big catches for the Riders last year. Kaiden Point, who also had some huge plays last year running and catching the ball, also returns as does Conner Martin on the front line.
“They’re starting to show that leadership, they will be big pieces of what we do this year,” Clark said.
Clark said one returning player he expects to make a big jump this year is Dylan Mann at middle linebacker and running back.
“He’s a special kid and a special player,” Clark said.
With Nickerson, the starting QB for three seasons, graduated, the quarterback position is up for grabs and Clark wouldn’t be surprised if the Riders try two or three different quarterbacks early in the season.
The good news is the Riders do have some experience at the QB position with senior Brandt Perry, who started four or five games the past couple of years filling in for Nickerson when he got injured.
Clark said last year’s team helped build a culture that he’s looking to sustain.
“I came here with the idea that it would take five years to get the rebuild done. We did it in three. Now it’s a matter of continuing that build, and not taking shortcuts and doing it the right way,” Clark said.
“That’s the new normal we want to set. It won’t be easy, we’re probably a few years away from that consistency. But, the juniors and seniors understand the expectations,” he said.
In addition to those returning players, there will be a lot of newcomers to this squad such as Kyler Point, Kaiden’s younger brother and receiver, defensive back Ian Smithson. Clark said the Flores brothers, Hunter and River, will play on the offensive line as well as defensive line and linebacker.
Rylan Politika, a starring player for the Riders’ baseball team, will be on varsity as a defensive end and tight end in his junior year.
“He’s going to be special,” Clark said.
Tucker Swain is another defensive end and tight end.
“We’re going to surprise a lot of people,” Clark said.
Other changes this year are new coaches — Darren Mills, who will coach special teams and linebackers, and Jobe Traywick, who will coach the defensive line. The team also has new volunteers in former Roughriders players Brady Nickerson, Skyler Cobb and Cole Walsh.
It’s a new Olympic League this season, with Kingston dropping down to 1A and the Nisqually League and Bainbridge joining the league as a full-fledged 2A school.
Clark expects North Mason to be stronger and Bainbridge to be tough. And the three dominant teams of the league will remain dominant. “North Kitsap is North Kitsap,” he said. “Olympic and Bremerton will be Olympic and Bremerton.”
Port Angeles Roughriders
• Coach: Dustin Clark (Fourth year, 16-14 record)
• Last year’s record: 7-4
• Key returners: Blake Sohlberg, Sr., WR/DB; Kaiden Point, Sr., WR; River Flores, Jr.; OL/DL; Hunter Flores, Jr., OL/DL; Dylan Mann, Jr., LB/RB; Brandt Perry, Sr., QB; Conner Martin, Sr., OL/DL.
• Newcomers: Ian Smithson, Jr.; Tucker Swain, Jr.; Easton Fisher, Jr.; Rylan Politika, Jr.; Kyler Point.
• Strengths: A pair of good, solid receivers in Sohlberg and Point and up-and-coming players such as Dylan Mann.
• Areas to improve: Young bench players from last year must look to continue the success created by a large group of seniors who have moved on.
• Outlook: It will be tough for the Roughriders to replicate last year’s success with 14 seniors having graduated. North Kitsap and Olympic are always strong and Bremerton took big strides last year. The Riders have built a winning culture, however, having won 16 games in the past three years.
• Schedule: Sept. 6, 7 p.m., at Mount Baker; Sept. 13, 7 p.m., at Forks; Sept. 20, 7 p.m., North Mason; Sept. 27, 7 p.m., at Sequim; Oct. 4, 7 p.m. at North Kitsap; Oct. 11, 7 p.m., Bainbridge; Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m., Squalicum; Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m., at Bremerton; Nov. 1, 7 p.m., Olympic.
