Winlock broke a winless streak last year with two wins, and the Cardinals are hoping to only go up from there.
It is the third season for head coach Ernie Samples in the Egg City, and while he has some players to replace, he’s optimistic about his team this season and believes he has established his football culture in Winlock.
“One of the things that hasn’t quite happened yet is the weight room. I have one kid that had 50 plus pounds over the maximum this summer but it was one out of the 20-something we’ve got so it’s like convincing them,” Samples said. “I know there’s a lot of teams across the country who have the same problem. My background is science and that’s really what I’m forcing. I’m transitioning from the counseling into the P.E. and weight training class so I think some of that might come into play but attitude, effort I think has changed. We have to finish games where they haven’t done that, we could have easily won four.”
The biggest void to fill is at fullback, with Seth Lindsey as one of nine seniors to graduate from the program in June. Samples has a guy in Nathan Childers that can step up and become the go-to guy.
“He probably outworks everybody on the field. Leadership wise, we’re more vocal than we were last year, some of it from a couple kids moving in and some guys just taking a new role,” Samples said.
Bryce Cline steps into the quarterback duties this season and Samples believes he is ready to lead the offense.
“He was our backup guy last year, had a couple nice runs when Nick (Patching) needed a breather at quarterback,” Samples said. “He was maybe second, third in rushing so I could see him, some of our yards from fullback maybe transitioning into that spot but that’s what we hope.”
Samples noted that the defense is looking much better than the offense at this point.
“We’re ahead of the game with our installs. I think we’re moving around pretty good. Secondary, they’re flying around,” Samples said. “I’m kind of excited to see defense. I’m kind of an offensive guy, I would rather see our offense on the field but right now, I think defense is going to be our strength at this point.”
After no wins in his first season and two wins last season, Samples doesn’t necessarily believe that more than two wins equals a successful season.
“Wins are always what everyone looks at in the paper or what you get judged by, but I want these guys to be able to be good people in the community,” Samples said. “I want them to be a good father, a good coach maybe later in life, be able to be employable. If you can work good as a team on the field, your resume is going to be a little bit better in life. Looking at the scoreboard, it’s not what I’m really judging by, it’s the attitude and effort they give me in practice and how they finish and compete during the games. That’s how I see it as a win.”
If Winlock is able to give Samples the effort and attitude he’s looking for, they have a chance to compete in the tough River Division.
“It’s going to be just as hard or maybe harder. I don’t think Kalama graduated anybody, maybe a couple guys. It’s going to be tough,” Samples said. “We always want to claim to think that we can compete with anybody and if we do compete, perfect. If we’re going to get beat, my thing is keep playing until the whistle is over with. May it be 60-0 or whatever, that’s our goal.”
