Tradition motivates Tumwater

They’re second generation T-Birds, sons of dads who played football for coach Sid Otton at Tumwater.

Now it’s Kyle Warner’s and Josh Yandle’s turn to keep the winning tradition going.

Warner, after playing quarterback since sixth grade, switched to wide receiver last season and was Rocky Hinkle’s backup at quarterback. Now, he’s back at quarterback.

“Taking a year off at quarterback was hard,” Warner said. “But I’ve played it all my life. I’ve been working hard all summer, working with a couple of receivers. Hopefully, I’ll be good.”

In Otton’s wing-T offense that averaged 36 points in last year’s 9-2 season and run to the state quarterfinals, the quarterback is more of a runner than a passer. And Warner, who was second-team all-league at wide receiver, has the speed and moves to be a running threat.

“I was always more of a running quarterback,” Warner said. “But now I’ve turned into more of a passing quarterback. So, it’s kind of evened out.”

Warner took five snaps at quarterback last season, briefly filling in for Hinkle when he had leg cramps.

“If he showed up and he had no varsity experience, we’d be more concerned,” Otton said. “We went to camp in July and practiced in June. He’s had some snaps.”

Warner’s playbook has gotten bigger.

“Playing quarterback, you’ve got to know what everyone is doing,” Warner said. “It’s tough memorizing it. But I think playing wide receiver helped. Rocky did such a great job of putting the ball right where it was supposed to be. Now, I’m trying to do exactly what he did.”

Tumwater has reached the playoffs four years in a row, eight times in the past 10 years, and has won four state titles. Otton, with 309 victories, is the all-time winningest high school football coach in Washington.

“The tradition here pushes me. It pushes everyone,” said Yandle, who started at halfback last year but is now the featured runner. “You want to keep it going. It makes you work harder in the offseason.”

Tumwater returns only five starters on offense and four on defense. Nick Skinner and Matt Wimberly are the lone returners on the offensive line.

But with Skinner, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound senior tackle who was first-team all-league, and Wimberly, a 5-11, 245-pound senior guard who was honorable mention, Otton said the offensive line will be Tumwater’s strength.

“Nick is a pretty special offensive lineman,” Otton said. “Matt is back after starting last year. They’ve got size and they’re physical. They also know what they’re doing.”

In the wing-T’s misdirection scheme, experience is the best teacher. Alex Wenzel, at 5-11 and 190 pounds, will start at the other guard spot and Easton Elkin, 6-5 and 250 pounds, will start at tackle.

“Our line has got some size and they’ve got some mobility,” Otton said.

With Warner starting at quarterback, Otton moved Jake Dowers from quarterback to tight end. At 6-5, Dowers has the size and speed that Otton didn’t want sitting on the bench.

“Jake is a big target,” Otton said. “We’ll move him out to wide receiver sometimes.”

Otton got an unexpected boost when Josh Wright turned out for football for the first time after playing soccer. He will handle the kicking and punting.

“I didn’t even know he went to school here,” Otton said. “We found out he can kick the ball really well. He’s a good answer for that situation.”

With 118 players in four grades turning out, Otton will stick with his two-platoon system. No one will start both ways. But players such as Skinner and Warner will get a chance to play on both sides of the football.

Skinner, a two-year starter who played as a sophomore, has gone from 215 pounds to 255 since his first year on the varsity.

“This is the biggest line we’ve had,” Skinner said. “But knowing your assignment and getting the job done is the most important thing. If one person doesn’t do their job, the play doesn’t work.”

Yandle, at 5-10 and 175 pounds, is excited about being the featured running back. At a summer camp at Whitworth College, Yandle proved to Otton he has what it takes.

“I was looking to see how physical he was going to be. And at camp he unloaded on a guy,” Otton said. “Everyone was quiet for a moment after that hit.”

Christian Bush, a big, strong runner who played on the junior varsity last year, will play the other halfback spot. Josh Qunitero, who started five games at fullback, returns after recovering from knee surgery in November to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“I’ve been holding Josh back all summer,” Otton said. “He was wanting to do stuff in June’s minicamp.”

Senior linebacker Jordan Weiks will lead the defense. Weiks, who led the T-Birds in tackles with 78 and was second-team all-league, has added 20 pounds and now weighs 215.

“We’re reloading, not rebuilding. I’m happy with the chemistry,” Weiks said. “We’ll play together. It’s a good team attitude on defense. Just playing for Tumwater football is huge. Just playing for all those guys who came before you. It’s a big motivator. You’re trying to keep everything rolling.”

Gail Wood: 360-754-5432

gwood@theolympian.com

TUMWATER

Thunderbirds

LAST YEAR

9-2 overall, co-league champs with Centralia, reached first round of playoffs.

HEAD COACH

Sid Otton, 36th year

COORDINATORS, SETS

O: Jamie Weeks, wing-T

D: Pat Alexander, 4-3

RETURNING STARTERS: 5 offense, 4 defense

OT Nick Skinner, 6-5, 245, sr., second team all-league

G Matt Wimberly, 5-11, 245, sr., honorable mention all-league

QB Kyle Warner, 6-2, 180, jr., second team all-league

HB Josh Yandle, 5-10, 175, sr., honorable mention all-league

FB Josh Quintero, 5-7, 160, sr.

LB Jordan Weiks, 5-11, 195, sr., second team all-league

NT Pat Peden, 5-11, 205, sr.

DT Michael Smith, 6-3, 255, sr.

DB Brandon Saner, 5-10, 165, sr., honorable mention all-league

TOP NEWCOMERS

G Alex Wenzel, 5-11, 190, sr.

TE Jake Dowers, 6-5, 185, sr.

OT Easton Elkin, 6-5, 250, jr.

DE Demetrius Jones, 6-4, 210, jr.

LB Brady Grondel, 5-10, 175, jr.

LB Josh Stalker, 6-1, 200, sr.

K/P Josh Wright, 5-10, 165, sr.

COACH’S OUTLOOK

“We are very excited about the offseason commitment made by our team, which certainly helps to give us the chance to be a very good football team. Our summer workouts had more players in attendance and a better effort than I have seen in my 35 years here. Our keys will be about players’ efforts in getting better every day and for every player to realize that it’s not about him. It’s about the team.”

NOTABLE

The line on both sides of the ball should be a strength. There is size and quickness up front.