WINLOCK — Moving up a level can come with its own set of challenges. Just ask the Winlock High School football team.
When the new classification numbers were released last year, Winlock was gearing up to play 11-on-11 football. Initially, the Cardinals wanted to opt down to keep playing 8-man, but were too late and had to be slotted into the C2BL.
“We tried to petition to stay 8-man and they didn’t let us,” Winlock head coach Ernie Samples said. “We could have done what we did this year and just say we’re not going to play 11. We got our hands full.”
What followed was a year Samples, now in year 10 at the helm, called “probably the hardest.” The Cardinals went winless and had to forfeit three of their nine games.
It has left a goal that’s short and to the point.
“What matters is how we bounce back,” senior Carter Svenson said. “That defines (us).”
Now back in 8-man and joining the Class 1B Southwest League along with Oakville-North River, Winlock seeks a return to competitive football and potentially some victories along the way.
Two years ago, it made the playoffs after an 0-4 start in 8-man. Yet much of the talent from that squad is gone.
Landen Cline transferred to Adna and James Cusson also left the district. Those two were the staple of an offense that made all-league teams.
“I’m trying to get as many guys on the field as I can, so we can have a guy that plays one-way,” Samples said. “We got some starry-eyed boys that aren’t quite ready yet. We're the next guy up.”
Now, a younger group is preparing to step into the spotlight starting on Friday night at home versus Chief Leschi.
Svenson is the likely starter at quarterback after being a receiver last year. His athletic ability has been on display the last two years.
While he has little to no experience of playing the position, it hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm.
“Just making sure everybody grows with me,” Svenson said. “Even when I’m gone, I want our younger generation to be confident.”
Cameron Cusson remained at Winlock and is one of the options at running back. Sophomore Monte Williams, who has been competing with Svenson for QB1, will still be on the field out wide. Those three will also get time on defense.
Of the 19 players, nearly half are in the trenches. Senior Arean Thapa has taken on a large leadership role in mentoring his teammates.
“I just want to do my best to help them develop as players,” he said. “We put a lot of time and effort into the sport. It would be a great note to end on if we have a winning season.”
It was a devastating combo of academic ineligibility and injuries that forced Winlock to forfeit games versus Mossyrock, Onalaska and Toledo. Contests versus Rainier and Morton-White Pass were played as 8-man games.
In those two matchups, while the Cardinals lost, they were competitive.
“Every time we got back up, it just kept hitting us back down,” Thapa said. “We had perseverance to the end. We really tried our best.”
They’ll have six home games, including a non-league contest against PWV that will be an 8-man game. Samples has already got one win in his pocket and a snap hasn’t happened yet.
All of his guys are academically eligible to play Week 1.
“I’m not a big scoreboard watcher if we’re competing,” Samples stated. “The scoreboard will take care of itself nine times out of 10. With the teams we’re playing, we can compete with everybody.”
