PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Neah Bay to be smaller, quicker this year

NEAH BAY — In Neah Bay, they don’t rebuild, they reload.

The Red Devils, who have gone 30-6 over the past three seasons with four straight trips to the state 1B playoffs, making it as far as the championship game in 2022, lost a number of seniors off last year’s team that was a big part of those three years of success. Last year’s squad made it to the state quarterfinals, losing a tough defensive battle to Almira-Coulee-Hartline 14-12.

None will be harder to replace than Jodell Wimberly, who put up spectacular numbers for the Red Devils over four seasons.

Wimberly had 5,584 yards rushing in his Neah Bay career, more than 6,350 all-purpose yards, counting kick returns and punt returns, and 97 total touchdowns.

“That’s a lot of production off the table,” said returning head coach T.J. Greene.

In addition to the graduation of Wimberly, the team graduated starting quarterback Makyah Chambers, wide receiver Adan Ellis and offensive and defensive lineman stalwarts Seactis Woodruff and Carlos Carrick-Aguirre.

“These kids had a lot of experience. We’re definitely going to miss those guys,” Greene said. “We’re going to stretch the field with our speed.”

However, he is excited with some of the kids Neah Bay is returning and bringing up into the starting lineup. Greene said that despite all the losses from last year’s squad, he expects this year’s team to have more speed.

“We got some good guys coming back. We’re faster than we were last year,” he said.

He said the team will lose a lot of size, particular with the losses of the 240-pound Woodruff and 230-pound Carrick-Aguirre, both of whom were immovable forces on the front lines.

One of the team’s workhorses on offense will be Tyler Swan, who is back for his senior season. Swan’s power was a perfect complement to Wimberly’s speed, as he gained 572 yards in nine games last year on top of 1,085 yards in 2023.

The challenge with Swan will be to keep him healthy. He got nicked up by injuries last year and missed some games. Greene doesn’t want to overuse him.

“We just have to keep him healthy. It’s something we’ll keep an eye on. It’s on our minds already,” Greene said.

Taking over at quarterback will be sophomore Caleb Cummins, who played halfback last year, gaining 454 yards with seven touchdowns. He will bring more size to the position at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds.

“He runs fast and hard. He doesn’t shy away from contact. He brings a nice dynamic to the position,” Greene said.

Also returning is starter Mathias Greene at fullback and defensive end. He also filled in a little last year at quarterback.

Newcomers moving up to the starting lineup include junior Jontae Akin as a defensive back and wide receiver.

“He’s going to be guy. He’s a guy to keep an eye on,” Greene said.

Senior Kane McGee-Greene will also get some carries while fellow senior LeAnothy Jimmicum, with good size at 6 feet tall, will be one of the team’s top receivers.

As far as the offensive line, Robert Arnold Jr. looks to be the all-important center while senior Lelan Greene brings size to the line at 220 pounds. Elijah Malinowski is also expected to be a big contributor on the offensive and defensive lines.

Greene expects Tulalip Heritage to be one of the toughest teams in the Northwest B League. Greene also thinks Darrington will be dangerous this year.

“We beat them pretty good last year. My sense is they have a big chip on their shoulder. We have to take them seriously,” he said. “We have an asterisk next to Darrington on our schedule.”

Greene said another change to the team this season will be a new assistant coach, Glenn Ellis.

Neah Bay’s schedule begins Friday with a game at home against Muckleshoot. The Red Devils’ one nonleague game is Sept. 12 in Neah Bay against Liberty Christian, a team Neah Bay has faced in the state playoffs. For the first time in many years, the Red Devils are not playing Crescent, which is moving down to 6-man football this season.

Neah Bay Red Devils

• Head coach: T.J. Greene

• Last Season: 8-0 Northwest 1B League, 10-2 overall.

• Key Returners: Tyler Swan, RB, LB; Caleb Cummings, QB, LB; Jontae Akin, DB, WR; Kane McGee-Greene, LB, HB; LeAnthony Jimmicum, WR, DB; Elijah Malinowski, T, DT; Lelan Greene, OL, DL; Mathias Greene, FB, DE.

• Newcomers: Robert Arnold Jr., C.

• Strengths: Coach T.J. Greene said the team will actually have more speed than last year’s 10-2 squad. Tyler Swan and Caleb Cummins had more than 1,000 yards rushing combined last year.

• Outlook: The team must keep Tyler Swan, who battled injuries last year, healthy. The Red Devils should battle again for the league title and a berth in the state playoffs. Team must overcome the loss of numerous important seniors from last year, including Jodell Wimberly, who had 6,350 all-purpose yards in his career.

• Schedule: Sept. 5, Muckleshoot at Neah Bay, 5 p.m.; Sept. 12, Liberty Christian at Neah Bay, 5 p.m.; Sept. 20, Neah Bay at Quilcene, 1 p.m.; Sept. 26-27, open; Oct. 3, Darrington at Neah Bay, 5 p.m.; Oct. 17, Neah Bay at Lummi, 5 p.m.; Oct. 24, Neah Bay at Tulalip Heritage, 7 p.m.; Oct. 31, Concrete at Neah Bay, 5 p.m.