Although the two Oak Harbor teams that reached the North Cascade Youth Football League championship games for their divisions lost Saturday, Nov. 7, they came out winners for the season.
Oak Harbor Gold of the midget division (9- and 10-year-olds) fell 34-14 to Mount Vernon, and Oak Harbor Gold of the junior division (11- and 12-year-olds) was blanked 16-0 by Bellingham.
“We came up short in the championship; however, the season was still a success,” junior coach Nick Asinsin said. “Oak Harbor has definitely got some amazing young athletes to look forward too. But, most importantly, the city has some great role models in the making.”
Midget coach Bryon Bos said, “I really don’t care about losing the championship game. Yes, it would have been awesome, but what these kids did all year long blows me away.
“I’m so proud of these kids and how far they’ve come. I can’t tell you enough how awesome each and everyone is.”
Here’s what Asinsin had to say about the key players on his team:
Matthew Lopez: “First-year player but definitely a man amongst boys.”
Malachi Rainey: “The enforcer on the defense, and a young Beast Mode on offense.”
Cameron Asinsin: “The best QB in Oak Harbor at any level. The connection he had with his receivers is something to see, and his offense created many highlights for all to see.”
Brenden Andersen: “We call him ‘Touchdown Andersen.’ The quiet leader. His twin brother Bennett, was also just as good.”
Jojo Pacleb: “Our own Richard Sherman on defense. Stands 4’11” but played like a grown man.”
John Leete: “The leader of our offensive line.”
Jaden Brown: “The Mega-tron of the division. He was the go-to-guy when we were in a tough position.”
“The team will have some great returnees for next season in Caden Barnes, Kaito White and Ethan Abbott,” Asinsin added.
The midgets also benefitted from the “wisdom” of veteran assistant coaches Duan Mebane and Pistol Payne, according to Asinsin.
Also suiting up for the Oak Harbor juniors were Christian Bethea, Nolan Byng, Daniel Christian, Deion Franklin, Kadin Fuentes, Korey Fuentes, Nathaniel Hummel, Charles Johnson, Kaleb Linson, David Lym, Isaac Nickols Jr., Ethan Noble, William Rankin, Benjamin Servatius, Jack Swanson, Colby Walter and Marcus Wyman.
Bos said when he took over the junior team last year, it was a team that struggled to win games.
“What a motley crew we were,” he said. “As a coach, I just focused on simple fundamentals of the game and tried to get them to have fun and a love for the sport.
“Well, it worked. That’s what it’s really about, coming together and playing as a team — the brotherhood having each other’s back.”
With a converted lineman at quarterback, Jacob Youngsman, and a backfield of Ezra Kitchens, Brody Snyder and Darius Owens playing behind Cian Walter, Camren Reyes, James Johnson, Otto Langley and Daniel Blanco-Barajas, the midgets averaged 42 points per game.
The defense was led by Edward Pacleb, who has a “body of a mouse” and “the heart of a lion,” according to Bos.
Bos was assisted by Ken Owens, Nate Bellamy, Ray Muro, Cody Anderson, Dave Peterson and Doug Wyum. Team mothers were Jodee Snyder and Karey Langley.
Other team members were Parker Anderson, Devon Bellamy, Justin Burks, Nasir Copeland, Jermiah Copeland, Sawyer Crockett, Logan Downs, Wyatt Howard, Stephin Huey, Maddix LaRue, Caleb Ledesma, Ray Muro Jr., Brooks Pierce, Malachi Powell, Gabriel Reed, Paxton Rollag and William Ward.
(Left, from the top: Ezra Kitchens looks for some running room. Ethan Abbott takes down a Mount Vernon runner. Malachi Rainey shifts into Beast Mode. Jaden Brown hauls in a pass. Photos by John Fisken.)
