With a roster of 78 players, head coach Ryan Adams is optimistic about the upcoming season, especially given the experience on the offensive line. Entering his next campaign, Adams believes the team’s veterans up front will play a crucial role in shaping the offense and building consistency throughout the season.
“Our starting line is something I’m really excited about,” Adams said. “They’re going to be the backbone of what we try to do this year.”
The offensive line, featuring junior Lincoln Royer at left tackle, senior Dylan Sharp at left guard, senior Jackson Berringer at center, sophomore Gavin Tyler at right guard, and senior Jayden Mancilla at right tackle, offers a stable foundation for the offense. This group will anchor the team, allowing younger players in other positions to develop.
“We’re really experienced up front,” Adams noted. “But everywhere else, we’re pretty young when it comes to varsity experience.”
The team’s offense will be led by sophomore quarterback Kyle Zajic, who will be throwing to a mix of veterans and new varsity players. Senior Jason Funk, junior Dillan Davis, and sophomore Brayden McClure are expected to lead the wide receiver corps, while senior Kayo Ebbs returns as the primary running back. Ebbs will be backed up by juniors and fellow seniors, including Bode Nichols, who also plays outside linebacker, and Jacob Landtroop, who will contribute as a running back and H-back.
The defense, like the offense, is built on experience up front with newer players behind. Adams expressed confidence in his defensive line, which includes returning players like Ricky Erickson, Colton Bennett, Jayden Mancilla, and Dylan Sharp. These players will be key in defending against rushing and passing attacks.
“We’ve got a strong defensive line,” Adams said. “The younger players behind them are stepping up, and we’re excited to see how they perform.”
The defensive backfield will feature a mix of returners and new varsity players. Among the key contributors are senior Dillan Davis and Senior Jason Funk, both of whom will play on both sides of the ball. In addition to Davis and Funk, players like Killan Boggs,, Brayden McClure, Kolton Wilmarth , Chase Cameron will look to make an impact in the secondary.
On defense, Kayo Ebbs also returns as an inside linebacker with extensive varsity experience alongside Luke Rosa, Kaeson Walker, Gavin Tyler and Eddie Taylor, while outside linebackers Jacob Landtroop, James Hearick, Bridger Royer and Bode Nichols will play key roles in leading the defensive unit.
As Adams prepares his team for the season, he’s also focused on improving areas from last year. One major area of emphasis has been special teams.
“Special teams have always been important to us, but I didn’t feel we did a great job last year, and that starts with me,” Adams said. “This year, we’ve made it a bigger focus, and it’s something we’re emphasizing early in the season.”
Adams, who played for and worked with longtime coach Dustin Nichol, credits his mentor for instilling the importance of special teams.
“Coach Nichol always emphasized special teams, and it’s something I’ve evaluated myself on this year as a spot we need to improve,” Adams stated. “We’ve been putting a lot of reps in during practice, and I think it’s night and day compared to previous years. Coach Younger has been fundamental in that shift”
Beyond tactics, Adams stressed the importance of senior leadership. He believes that the returning players will be key to setting the tone for the younger athletes.
“Senior leadership is crucial for us this year,” Adams said. “The seniors have taken that bull by the horns and are helping guide the younger guys. We want to compete for a league title, and it starts with their leadership.”
The 2024-2025 varsity players include: Daniel McCubbins, Lynkin Royer, Luke Rosa, Ricky Erickson, Colton Bennett, Jayden Mancilla, Kellen Hartsook, Dylan Sharp, Jackson Barringer, Kaeson Walker, Kayo Ebbs, Jason Funk, Keeghan Gittins, Gabriel Meadors, James Hearick, Bradyn McClure, Ashton Swanson, Kyle Zajic, Dillan Davis, Gavin Tyler, Liam Martin, Jacob Landtroop, Bode Nichols, Kolton Wilmarth, Kyle Porter, Killan Boggs, Stanley McCann, Trenton Templin, Jarron Slayter, Bridger Royer, and Chase Cameron.
With this mix of returning players and new varsity athletes, Adams is optimistic about the team’s potential, even though the lineup may fluctuate during the first two games as players settle into their roles.
“We’ve got a lot of guys coming up from JV, and many of last year’s playmakers will step into bigger roles this season,” Adams said. “It’s all about getting better every single day and building consistency.”
The team’s goals for the season are clear. Adams and his players aim to compete for a league title and make a postseason run, something the program hasn’t achieved since 2018. While Adams has had success as an assistant coach, he’s still looking to lead the team to the playoffs as a head coach.
“Competing for a league title and making a playoff run is always the goal,” Adams said. “We’re focused on improving every day, staying consistent, and competing every week.”
With a coaching staff that includes Coach Graville, Coach Whitfield, Coach Rosa, Coach Booker, Coach Virtue, Coach Ingram, Coach Bach, Coach Tyler, Coach Younger, Coach Berringer, Coach Gaskey, and coach Connor Russell, Adams believes his players are in good hands.
“Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to helping these kids grow, not just as players but as young men,” Adams said. “We’re excited for the season ahead and what this team can accomplish.”
As the season kicks off, Adams remains confident in the team’s potential and the leadership of the senior class. This confidence paid out in their most recent game versus Madras (0-1) Sept. 6, which ended in favor of the Huskies who finished 22-0.
The game began early, just prior to 7 p.m. After the teams got ready on the field, two plays were completed before a mandatory break was initiated due to unforeseen weather conditions (lightning). This timeout didn’t harm the Huskies, who were able to bounce back from these delays, especially as the crowd waited through the delays.
“It was awesome to see the crowd stick through the weather delay and support us the whole time,” Adams said. “The first win was nice, especially after this last season, but we understand it’s only one game. It sets a solid foundation, and we have a lot of work to do this week at practice. We’re excited to keep building and hopefully get to experience a lot more of these nights this year!”
The boys will be back out playing away against Molalla (0-2) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.
