PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Veteran leadership should help Port Townsend
Peninsula Daily NewsAug 22, 2018
PORT TOWNSEND — New Port Townsend head football coach
Gaffney was set to join the staff of
No stranger to prep football, Gaffney said he has coached for around 25 years, including a four-year stint at
Gaffney admits the late start was a little rough, especially for a Redhawks team that struggled with turnout in 2017.
"We weren't able to have much in the way of spring practices and we didn't attend a summer camp," Gaffney said.
"We opened the weight room four days a week and we had anywhere from two to 17 kids there depending on the day. We lifted and ran and jumped and tried to become better athletes for eight weeks this summer."
Port Townsend is still likely to be light on depth this season.
"We don't have a lot of returners," Gaffney said. "We have seven kids who have played high school football at all coming back."
But those returners were the core of the Redhawks' production last season.
Starting quarterback and defensive back
"Noa is fantastic working with the younger kids," Gaffney said. "Where I'm most impressed with him is how well he treats them. He knows they will have to play and he will be the one to lead them.
"Physically, he is blessed. If he gets on the edge there's not many that will catch him."
Apker-Montoya will be tasked with running Port Townsend's new misdirection-based Flexbone offense. College teams such as
"We'll let the other team figure out who has the ball," Gaffney said.
Dylan Tracer is the team's leading returning rusher, totaling more than 800 yards on the ground and six TDs as a sophomore.
And senior
"Dylan and Nico — with our offense we plan on having four guys back there and all of them will touch the ball," Gaffney said. "Nico is a little bit stronger, a little bit bigger, but Dylan is faster.
"Both those guys are learning wingback and the fullback spot, both can catch and run, both are close to 200 pounds, so those guys are going to be our strength."
Freshman
"He's fast, we just have to make sure he's ready to go and play at this level," Gaffney said.
Three of the team's offensive line positions appear set.
"We have a transfer from
"
Defense is Gaffney's bread and butter and Apker-Montoya will be asked to raise his play even more this fall.
"He led the state in interceptions as a freshman [with 10] and added another eight last year," Gaffney said.
"He's been a big help with some of the younger kids in the secondary already."
Winegar will be a linebacker, along with Tracer.
"He's not the wide receiver build anymore," Gaffney said of Winegar.
Gaffney acknowledged that freshmen will be seeing quite a bit of varsity time this season.
Besides Reaux, Gaffney mentioned
"
Gaffney has a large number of assistants helping out including
"It's good to have that many eyes on the kids," Gaffney said. "That many voices and opinions will help us out."
Apker-Montoya's dad Noa, the
Gaffney said Montoya and Port Townsend Braves youth football director
"That's the plan," Gaffney said. "That's why Noa is helping out and why
Port Townsend will again compete against fellow
"The attitude, motivation and effort from the kids makes me feel like it will be a good year," Gaffney said. "We have a good core group of leaders and we are really happy with them. So we are excited, but we'd love to have more kids out."
Port Townsend
• Last Year: 3-7 overall, 3-4
Coach:
• Offense: Flexbone.
• Defense: 4-4-3 base
• Contributors: QB/DB
• Expected team strength: Experience returns in the offensive backfield at quarterback and running back.
• Question mark: Overall depth with a turnout between 20 to 25 kids will be a factor all season. Offensive/defensive line play
• Game to watch: Port Townsend ran all over Coupeville in a 61-12 win last season. Redhawks open in a nonleague tilt against Wolves on