PHOTO BY RICK WALTER

Trojans senior center Brian Felshaw (white pants) and his teammates check their armbands for the play being called by coach Kent Nevin in practice on Aug. 26.

Trojans showing signs of continuing winning ways

By Rick Walter

The Fife Trojans got to the Class 2-A quarterfinals last year for the first time in 20 years.

Under coach Kent Nevin, the Trojans figure to have a good chance to get back to the playoffs this year, although this year the league will be different – and more competitive.

The team knows that it will have to continue working hard to keep winning in the newly configured league, and that is exactly what the players have been doing.

“During the summer, there was an excellent turnout of players in the weight room,” Nevin said. “That is always a good sign.”

The Trojans are returning five defensive starters and four offensive starters from last year’s team. It will be the super-sized and experienced offensive and defensive lines that will serve the Trojans well this season, as they will be joined in what will be a very competitive new league, which joined the Nisqually League to teams from the Olympic League, including Kingston, Klahowya, North Mason, and Port Townsend and Sequim.

“We won’t be the favorites, but we will be able to compete in and win any game we play,” Nevin said.

Steilacoom and Sequim rate as the two best teams, in Nevin’s view.

The returning starters on defense will be Sammy Faga at lineman; Ryan Kibbe at nose guard; Josh Porter at linebacker; Dustin Yarrington at defensive back; and Trevor Barnett at defensive back. The defensive line is large. Faga is 6-feet, 2-inches tall and 260 pounds; Kibbe is 6-feet tall and 250 pounds; and Porter, at 6-feet, 1-inches tall weighs in at 220.

Returning starters on offense include Brian Felshaw at center; Ian Allen; Yarrington, who will play receiver; and Porter, who will play fullback.

John Rhodes at defensive tackle and junior safety Devon Bennian shore up a fast and sturdy defense.

Fife will play its season opener at Quest Field against Cascade Christian, a team it is facing for the first time in school history.

“They’re a real good team,” Nevin said. “They got to the semi-finals last year and they have most everybody back. It will be a good game. We’re big, they’re big. They are mostly a running team, so our front seven is going to going to have to play a great game, really get after them.”

Although Nevin lost a good chunk of his offensive unit, there are players who are ready to take over. He likes everything he sees about this team, particularly the team-first attitude.

“That’s the biggest strength of the team; it’s an attitude that is as responsible for our success here as any other factor – by a long shot.”

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