PORT ANGELES — When a team’s best position units are along the offensive and defensive lines, success typically follows.
This is where Port Angeles finds itself entering the 2022 season, along with an experienced quarterback entering his third season as the starting signal caller.
“We have a really good core group of linemen and we expect to run behind them and not put so much pressure on our passing game,” second-year head coach Dustin Clark said.
“And defensively, our front six are really strong. We have studs at linebacker, too.”
Parker Nickerson will take the snaps again offensively and play safety on defense.
“He had those young mistakes and he’s grown a ton from those first couple of years,” Clark said. “I see this year as another year to build on his skills. He’s making good decisions this year and we are excited about what that will produce. He’s a really talented athlete.”
All-Olympic Leaguer Jason Hawes returns to anchor the linebacking corps and block and carry as the Roughriders’ big back offensively.
“He’s our energy and our leader on the defensive side, for sure,” Clark said. “If he continues to grow as a player, I don’t see a lot of linebackers being better than him in our league. He’ll be playing the Jaziel Livingston position on offense and has really put the time in to get faster.”
Landyn Jones also will get the call as a running back and linebacker.
“I call him the guy that hasn’t reached his potential,” Clark said. “He’s just scratching the surface with how good he can be. He’s a stud.”
Kason Albaugh is expected to play some wide receiver, running back and cornerback.
“He’ll be a special kid for us,” Clark said. “His size deceives people because he is smaller, but we call him a Gamer because he puts it together at game time.”
Ezra Townsend will line up at tight end.
“A solid athlete who understands what he can and can’t do,” Clark said. “He runs great routes, but he’s a solid tight end and can block. He has the size and strength to do both.”
Port Angeles also gets to enjoy a taste of the NFL experience by playing Olympic League favorite North Kitsap at CenturyLink Field on Sept. 17.
“That’s the biggest thing why we did it, the opportunity for these kids to play in a professional stadium,” Clark said. “We have up to 65 kids on the team, and we have 10 of them who haven’t even been there to watch a game. So, to get into the locker room and to play on the field, those memories are why we wanted to play there.”
Port Angeles Roughriders
• Head coach: Dustin Clark (second season, 4-6).
• Last year’s record: 4-6 (3-4 Olympic League), missed postseason.
• Key returners: Parker Nickerson (QB/DB, Jr.); Jason Hawes (RB/LB Jr.) Landyn Jones (RB/LB, Jr.); Ezra Townsend (WR/DB, Jr.); Tanner Flores changed his body and got stronger (C/DL, Jr.) will be a stud for us; Kason Albaugh (RB/CB, Jr.)
• Newcomers: Blake Sohlberg (WR/LB, Soph.) and Trevor Martin (OL/DE, Jr.). “Blake Sohlberg is a natural athlete. He reminds me a lot of Parker. He’s a ball hawk and he catches the ball really well.”
“Trevor will probably be one of our best defensive linemen and he’ll play guard offensively. He’s got great size at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds.
Senior Tom Arand (DE, Sr.) also is out for the team. “He’s a wrestler, a strong, strong kid, and he understands what he needs to do at defensive end really well.”
• Strengths: “Definitely, defensively we are really solid,” Clark said. “The biggest thing for us is to do their jobs. If we get kids to do their jobs, we will be a special unit. Our linebackers are studs. When they work together, it will be really fun to watch.”
• Areas to improve: “Our biggest thing early will be pass coverage,” Clark said. “Making sure we don’t give up those big plays over the top.”
• Outlook: Clark expects North Kitsap and Olympic to be the league’s top teams, but after that, he said it was anybody’s game. “You never know what you will get with some teams, but we will compete with everybody in the league and I believe we will be in the playoff hunt.”
• Schedule: Sept. 2: Blaine; Sept. 9: Anacortes; Sept. 17: at North Kitsap (at CenturyLink Field, Seattle); Sept. 23: Sequim; Sept. 30: at Olympic; Oct. 7: Bremerton; Oct. 14: at Bainbridge; Oct. 21: Kingston; Oct. 28: at North Mason.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
