NAPAVINE – Napavine’s thrilling 2022 season is officially in the rearview mirror as the Tigers opened fall camp and began their quest to repeat as 2B champions on Wednesday.
While expectations for this fall remain sky high, coach Josh Fay noted that until a game is played, every team enters the season at the same level.
“The first day, everyone thinks they can win a state title,” Fay said. “I know what these guys want. There’s a difference between wanting and working for it … our work is gonna have to match our want.”
The Tigers were able to retain several playmakers from last year’s team, ones that Fay will be relying on to set the standard for some of the younger players, including Cael Stanley.
Last fall, Stanley was a playmaker on both sides of the ball, recording 60 tackles (12 for loss) and four pass breakups on defense while tallying 827 yards and 17 touchdowns on offense.
Stanley stood out during the team’s first practice, going through drills with a sense of urgency and attention to detail that his teammates fed off of.
“I know we’re gonna get that out of Cael,” Fay said of his consistent energy “That’s just how he is. You always know what you’re gonna get out of him.”
Fay also mentioned Ashton Demarest, the senior quarterback who tallied more than 3,300 total yards and 54 touchdowns.
Demarest’s weapons are all back as well, including Karsen Denault, who hauled in almost 1,000 yards receiving as a sophomore and scored 14 touchdowns last fall.
Wide receivers two through five all return as well, with James Grose, Conner Holmes, Cayle Kelly and Collin Shields giving Demarest five solid options in the passing game.
Every offseason, Fay adds new wrinkles to his offense to fit his personnel. But this offseason, he said, it didn’t take as much adjusting because all of his main pieces are back.
“We’re always gonna throw some different stuff in there, but we’re gonna do what we do,” Fay said about his offense.
The Tigers couldn’t retain everyone from last season, however, as they lost some key seniors in the trenches.
Defensive linemen Mario Lara, Max O’Neill and offensive lineman Deacon Parker all graduated on top, leaving holes that Fay says the Tigers won’t be able to fill.
Lara and Parker were named to the 2B Central All-League first-team, and O’Neill earned second-team honors.
“Max and Mario up front, I don’t think we can replace them,” Fay said. “I think we can be good and I think guys can do things, but they’re not gonna do Max and Mario things.”
He also mentioned Jose Gaona, a first-team linebacker who also received an honorable mention on the offensive line.
“Those four guys, they were good football players, but I think we got a lot of good football players.”
While Fay and his assistants are familiar with who is returning, he said they will be watching closely over the next week and a half of practice to find the next batch of players who will help them make another deep postseason run.
“I think we kind of know what we have coming back with about 18 guys,” Fay said. “And where we’ve been successful in the past in finding those next ten guys. Which guys through the weight room, and through what they’ve done over the summer and at the end of last year look like they’re gonna contribute.”
