Running back Remick Kawawaki scored the go-ahead touchdown last week, breaking a 21-all tie on a 13-yard run with a little less than four minutes to play in the game.
Later, quarterback Clayton Frank broke a couple tackles to secure the game-clinching first down.
On the other side of the ball, twin brothers Rayvon and Rayshawn Wess rotated in frequently to play on the defensive line, doing their part to help the team succeed.
Just so happens, all four players are sophomores for the Columbia River Chieftains. That would be sophomore starters for the offense’s glamour positions, and sophomores who are in the main rotation on the defensive line.
This is new territory for Columbia River coach John O’Rourke, now in his 17th season leading the Chieftains.
“Four years ago, I think we had two sophomores who started, but those were because older kids got injured,” he said.
This year’s quartet earned their playing time the traditional way, with work. They also are a part of a strong class.
“We had 20 sophomore linemen turn out this year. That’s the largest group we’ve had in several years,” O’Rourke said. “We have a lot of kids who are in the developmental stage in that class who will be really good varsity players.”
Kawawaki, Frank, and the Wess brothers are already good and are getting a head start.
The Chieftains are 4-2 overall — 2-2 in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League — and still fighting for a playoff spot.
Kawawaki has rushed for 627 yards in five games — he missed the Week 2 league loss to Kelso with an ankle injury — with a high of 177 yards against Hudson’s Bay.
He said one of the keys to his success was the fact that he never took it for granted that he would be the starting running back for the Chieftains this year.
“I didn’t go into the season expecting anything. I just went into practice thinking I had to work hard,” Kawawaki said. “Once you expect things, your head gets too high in the clouds.”
Frank is believed to be the first sophomore starting quarterback at Columbia River since the 1970s, when a guy named Jon Eagle led the Chieftains. (Yes, the same Eagle who is now the coach of the undefeated Camas Papermakers.)
“It’s been an amazing experience,” said Frank, adding that he and Kawawaki have been lifting weights with their older teammates since they were in the seventh grade.
Friendships with the older players also helps, especially for a quarterback. The position demands leadership, particularly in the huddle when a quarterback must bark orders to his teammates.
“They respect me just like I’m their age,” Frank said. “We’re close.”
Any quarterback at any age makes mistakes. Frank said he does not lose confidence when he has a miscue. That comes from his coaching.
“Offensive coordinator Kevin O’Rourke says ‘Short memory.’ Once it happens, it’s in the past,” Frank said. “The next play is what I’m looking forward to.”
Last week, Frank scored a rushing touchdown and also threw a TD pass.
But his biggest play might have been a correct read on a fourth-and-5 play as the Chieftains were trying to run out the clock.
He was about to hand off the ball to Kawawaki when he saw the defense collapse around his running back.
Instead, Frank pulled the ball back, then broke two tackles and managed to get the first down, allowing the Chieftains to take a knee in victory formation.
On defense, the Wess brothers technically are not starters, but they get plenty of minutes as part of the main rotation of defensive linemen.
Rayshawn Wess said he did expect to play a lot this season.
“I put in a lot of work in the offseason. I kept pushing myself,” he said. “It paid off.”
A 6-foot, 2-inch, 225-pound defensive end, Rayshawn said he loves being part of this team, how all of the defensive linemen compete with each other in practice but also support each other.
Rayvon Wess, at 6-feet, 210 pounds, said he got off to a slow start in camp.
“I didn’t know if I was going to play or not,” he said, referring to varsity minutes. “But I just worked at it.”
While all four players are focused on this season, they also understand the experience they are getting now should be beneficial in the next two seasons.
If all goes to plan, Rayvon said, “our team will be legitimately good for years to come.”
Kawawaki, Frank, and the Wess brothers will leading that charge.
“They’re pretty focused in terms of how they want to improve,” John O’Rourke said. “If they do that, they’ll have high school careers to remember. This (season) isn’t going to be the highlight of their careers. They’re going to keep going, keep getting better.”
