With a bevy of talent returning this fall, the Oak Harbor High School football team is aiming to continue its winning ways.
For a decade the program has been one of the best in the Western Conference, particularly the last five seasons when the Wildcats never finished lower than second and ran up a 23-4 record (34-18 overall).
“(We have) lots of players returning who have experience,” coach Jay Turner said, “(and) quite a bit of depth at the skilled positions.”
At the top of the skill position depth chart is senior fullback Princeton Lollar. The three-year starter ran for 1,106 yards and 13 touchdowns in eight games in 2015, averaging 8.1 yards per carry while running exclusively between the tackles. Those numbers earned him first-team, all-Wesco honors.
Lollar will receive plenty of help in the backfield from several runners who put up impressive numbers in limited action.
When Lollar missed a game because of injury, then-sophomore Mac Nuanez filled in with a 172-yard, six-touchdown game. For the season, Nuanez ran for 349 yards on 44 carries, averaging 7.9 yards a carry.
Marcus Carr (11.2) and Andrew Miller (13.6) each averaged more than 10 yards per carry last fall. Carr ran for 202 yards in 18 totes while Miller had 109 in nine.
Junior Taeson Hardin had 66 yards on nine carries and senior Thomas Gilham added 32 on only two runs.
Also back is senior Jordan Washington, who led Oak Harbor with 53 yards on five carries, a 10.6 average, in the 2015 opener before suffering an injury that ended his season.
Oak Harbor has plenty of experience among its rushers but not in the passing game. Junior Jordan Bell will take over at quarterback; he did not attempt a pass last fall, and no returning receiver recorded a catch.
Lack of depth and size on the lines could be a problem, Turner said, but the starting units should be strong.
The lines will be anchored by senior tackle Sam Zook, a first-team, all-Wesco choice on both offense and defense last season. Senior guard D’Andre Bellamy was a second-team selection and junior Weston Whitefoot and senior Jon Purcell earned honorable mention.
Other returning lettermen are seniors Colton Burdock (OL/DL), Josh Coe (WR/DB) and Brycin McIntyre (WR/DL); and juniors Hunter Bos (OL/DL), TJ Hollins-Passmore (RB/DB), Ozell Jackson (OL/DL), Kamren Mebane (OL/LB) and Kyle Nickols (WR/LB).
Key newcomers are sophomores Aaron Martinez (RB/LB), Michael Fisken (OL/LB), Ty Eck
A run for the Wesco North title became more difficult this year when the Northwest Conference’s two 3A schools, Ferndale and Squalicum, joined the division for football only. Ferndale has qualified for the state playoffs in 15 of the past 20 years and Squalicum is coming off two state appearances and a NWC title.
The Wildcats’ goals are “to improve each week and to make the playoffs,” Turner said. “The kids are working hard and are excited about playing games.”
Those games begin when Mariner visits Wildcat Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2.
