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Hudson’s Bay football preview: Playoff drought over, Eagles coach challenges team to find its identity

The Columbian

Published: August 28, 2018, 7:00pm

Samuel Wilson/for The Columbian Senior Toa Kaumatule rushed for five touchdowns and was a first-team all-league linebacker last year for Hudson’s Bay.

How will the Hudson’s Bay Eagles be remembered?

Second-year coach Ray Lions is already challenging his Eagles to create a legacy.

Make no mistake: there are plenty of carry-overs from a 2017 squad that reached the postseason for the first time in 16 years. But that’s just it: last year is last year, and a new season means creating something new and unique.

“This group needs to come up with their own identity,” Lions said. “… They’ve been a part of the change but on the other hand, they’re the first ones to continue the change.”

Continuing what’s been established is key to sustaining the momentum from one of the most successful seasons in recent years. The Eagles walked off proud after their 51-20 loss to Bellevue in the state preliminary round, getting a taste of the postseason with their most victories (six) since winning eight games in 2001.

While initial emotions were raw in a season-ending defeat, senior Parker Marsh doesn’t forget the tears of joy, too. After the Bellevue defeat in which Marsh played significant minutes with the injury to Bay’s starting quarterback, he saw not only potential in himself, but in others.

Take lineman Malek Mabouk, for example. Even during an impressive wrestling season, when he earned the team’s Most Improved award, he couldn’t wait to get football pads back on.

“I’m excited to see how that will translate to football,” Mabouk said.

He isn’t the only one. Marsh will assume the starting quarterback role, going from third-string to varsity starter in his third season at Bay. He even challenged a small-college quarterback to a quarterback’s challenge at team camp.

And won.

Marsh hopes that’s just one part of his game that can translate into leading the Eagles this fall.

“I have some dog in me,” Marsh said. “There’s always opposition somewhere. It fueled me at that moment and I realized I have something in me.”

3 THINGS TO KNOW

• Hudson’s Bay comes off a playoff season, its best year since 2001.

• New quarterback Parker Marsh goes from third-string to starter.

• Second-year coach Ray Lions challenges team to create a new legacy.

2017 season: 6-4, 2-3 3A GSHL. Reached state preliminary round.

Best state finish: Quarterfinals in 1999

Schedule

Home games at Kiggins Bowl

League games in bold

Aug. 31 Washougal 8 p.m.

Sept. 7 Heritage 5 p.m.

Sept. 14 at W.F. West 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Franklin (Ore.) 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 Mountain View 8 p.m.

Oct. 5 Fort Vancouver 8 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Prairie 7 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Evergreen 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Kelso 5 p.m.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

Schedule

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