At the beginning of their sophomore season, they wondered if it were possible.
Could they really become starters for this program? Could they really take over when it became their turn?
Then they worked together, studied together, waited patiently together.
There is no more wonder.
This is their time, and the “Two Sams” are excelling for the Union Titans.
Coaches rarely ask for one or the other. It’s always, “Where are the Two Sams?” Or, “Get me to the Two Sams right now.”
They wear Nos. 54 and 56, lining up side-by-side on defense as Union’s inside linebackers and on the left side of the offensive line as left guard and left tackle.
Sam Ferenchak and Sam Lowe, forever linked on this team, have helped the Titans to a 7-1 record, a seven-game winning streak, and a shot at another league championship. Union takes on Skyview for the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League title Friday night at McKenzie Stadium.
While Union’s rushing attack has been solid this season, the Sams will tell you that they believe in defense first. And it is on defense in which the Titans have been most impressive. The Union defense has not given up a touchdown in the past five games.
The key, Lowe said, has been all the practices. Not just this year, but in the previous seasons. When Lowe, Ferenchak and others were juniors and sophomores, they practiced through the end of November or into December with older players who had led the Titans to consecutive deep runs in the playoffs.
“You go against the offense of last year and you build up skills,” Lowe said. “As a defense, collectively, we’re getting better. It feels good to get some recognition, for sure.”
Plus, Union was so good the past two seasons that there was plenty of playing time for everyone.
“We got a lot of experience last year,” Ferenchak added. “We played the second halves of most of the games. That was really good.”
Still, last season ended that initial wave of Titans, when many of the starters went from sophomores to seniors, leading the program to a state championship game in 2008 and then the semifinals in 2009.
This season was considered to be the start of the next wave, the ebb and flow that all programs must endure, the turnover rate associated with graduation.
There were question marks with this squad.
And yet here they are, in position to go for a third consecutive league title.
“Coming into the year we thought we’d have a chance to be pretty tough defensively,” Union coach Cale Piland said.
That thought process started with the linebackers. With Zak Browning and T.J. Boatright on the outside, the coaches believed the linebackers would be their strength. They were correct.
Still, a streak of 270 minutes without giving up a touchdown on defense?
“You don’t expect that,” Piland said. “Nobody can expect that. It’s a testament to their leadership, defensively. Our kids know defense is important. It’s the first thing we do in the spring and the first thing we do in August.”
In Week 1, the Titans gave up three touchdowns in a loss to Bellevue, the team that has won seven of the past nine Class 3A state championships.
In Week 2, Union rolled to a victory, giving up one touchdown. Then in Week 3, Westview of Beaverton, Ore., scored a touchdown against the defense in the second quarter.
The other two touchdowns scored against Union since then came on a special teams play and a defensive touchdown against the Union offense.
It is an impressive run, especially for a group that had doubts way back when.
“Sophomore year, I saw Taylor Nelson blowing up guys and ripping people up,” Lowe said, referring to the two-time 3A GSHL defensive player of the year. “I thought, ‘How would I ever get to that point?’ Our coaches told us we’re all pretty good, too. That positive energy around the team told me someday I would get there.”
Piland said they key to the performance from his inside linebackers is they are both cerebral, completely understanding Union’s schemes.
“It kind of clicks with us with what we are doing,” Lowe said.
“They drilled it into us over the years,” Ferenchak said. “It’s just reactionary.”
Whatever it is, it’s working.
The two also are side-by-side on offense. Not as confident in their blocking abilities, the Sams still must be doing something right. Browning, also a running back, has 1,061 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns this season.
“We didn’t get a lot of reps last year on the offensive line,” Lowe said.
“They just shoved us right into it,” Ferenchak recalled.
And they had to take the place of guys who had started for three seasons.
“We had to learn really fast,” Ferenchak said.
The Two Sams, Sam, whatever you want to call them, did just that.
Sam Ferenchak and Same Lowe have filled four important positions for a team accustomed to winning, but new to winning with new personnel.
