TACOMA — Neah Bay head football coach Tony McCaulley made sure to thank all his assistant coaches, team support staff and his family by name after the Red Devils’ 64-34 Class 1B State Championship triumph over Odessa-Harrington.
“We wouldn’t have gotten here without T.J. Greene, or Eric Johnson [Jr.], Frank Corpuz,” McCaulley said.
McCaulley, in his understated way, has always shown gratitude and appreciation for those who have helped his teams achive a 99-13 record, with four state titles in five appearances (and fourth in six years) in his nine seasons in charge (2008-16).
But his tone seemed a little different this time. And that’s because he is giving serious consideration to handing in his whistle and returning to civilian life.
“I did tell the kids that this was my final season,” McCaulley said.
“I’m not completely convinced that’s what I’m going to do [step down], so that’s why I didn’t tell you or any media about it. Right now, I’m going to enjoy this [win] and then take a month or two to make a final decision.
“It takes a lot out of you, and we’ve been doing this for awhile now.”
‘Last of the gene pool’
Amid the postgame celebration’s words of congratulations, hugs and hundreds of photos, Kenrick Doherty Jr.’s father Kenrick Sr., offered up a new way of looking at this most recent state championship.
“We’ve been calling it the last of the gene pool,” Doherty Sr. said with a laugh.
“There’s a lot of kids on this team that had dads who played here in 1988, our first trip to the Tacoma Dome [a state semifinal loss].”
He mentioned himself, current defensive coordinator T.J. Greene, Nate Tyler and Robert Cummins as part of that 1988 team.
The roster certainly had a family theme with three Greene’s (Ben, Phillip and Leroy); three Tyler’s (Nate, Tommy and Alan); plus Colton Cummins and Kenrick Doherty Jr.
The eldest Doherty will have a chance to cheer on another generation in about 14 or 15 years, when his youngest son, KáTyas, reaches high school.
