TENINO — The Tenino Beavers took a significant leap from the first year of head coach Darren Tinnerstet’s tenure to year two. After an anomalous two-win campaign for the program in 2023, the Beavers posted a 5-4 record in 2024.
But if you ask any coach or player in Tenino, there’s no satisfaction in that turnaround because the Beavers fell just shy of a spot in the district playoffs.
“Our number one goal right now is making the playoffs,” senior linebacker Miguel Espinoza said.
As the summer turns to autumn, the Beavers are practicing twice a day for the first week of practice to build off of what was a strong spring camp for Tinnerstet’s group.
Here are three takeaways from the second day of fall practice:
The defense can be lights out
The buzz around this Tenino Beavers squad is hovering around the defense led by defensive coordinator and former Capital head coach J.D. Johnson, who sported a cowboy hat during practice to “get the guys fired up.”
The Beavers attended a summer camp in Tumwater on June 20 and June 21, and Tinnerstet noted that his defense was “dialed in” and has been ever since.
“They flew around and hit. We give preliminary grades coming out of camp, and I gave the defense an A-. They were locked in,” Tinnerstet said. “As a unit, they’re clicking on all cylinders. It was like we opened the floodgates at camp.”
Espinoza lines up at the heart of the defense as a fourth-year starter next to Leland White and Parker Minerich, and Jeremiah McKague and Sawyer Noonan will be rushing the quarterback on the edges. Austin Johnson is a playmaker in the secondary.
Wide receivers will fill in the gap left by Austin Gonia
Austin Gonia was a dynamic wideout for the Beavers last fall but departed after graduating. White and Johnson bring speed, physicality and experience to the wide receiver room, as well as reliable hands. During 7-on-7 drills and 11-man offensive drills without a defense, no balls thrown to the two seniors hit the black turf.
White has taken it upon himself to become a better leader this offseason, following in Gonia’s footsteps.
“I’m trying to be like Austin. Obviously, he was an amazing wide receiver, so I’m trying to keep up with him,” White said. “He’s got a good mindset. He really helps kids, even when they’re down.”
Mason Metcalf is back and better than ever
Junior quarterback Mason Metcalf got off to a strong start as a first-time starter last fall before he missed the last four games due to an injury suffered in a car accident.
With an offensive playbook that is expected to open up this fall, according to Tinnerstet, Metcalf will be relied upon to make good decisions, feed the playmakers on the team and potentially make plays with his legs.
“I always want my quarterbacks to think like a coach or like a play-caller. I’m starting to see that he now grasps the bigger picture,” Tinnerstet said of his signal-caller.
Metcalf flashed his accuracy both with intermediate throws and deep shots, as well as his athleticism on quarterback keepers. He showed comfort with the system and with the timing of his receivers’ routes on the field.
Tenino opens the season at home against Rainier on Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.
