TUMWATER — There’s a lineage of coaches that have been associated with developing and churning out all-state caliber defensive players for the Tumwater High School football program.
The defensive line features a Division I recruit and one of the best pass rushers in SW Washington plus the Thunderbirds’ secondary that has teamed for 37 pass breakups.
Yet the staff – Tony Prentice and Jordan Stray – in charge of the linebackers have had to reload the personnel.
“They’re just really good at what they do,” Garrow said.
Seamlessly, no beat is missed.
Beckett Wall, Cash Short, Brett and Blake Heryford make up the quartet of backers which aid a defense that hasn’t allowed a Class 2A opponent to reach double digits ahead of Saturday’s semifinal against fifth-seeded Archbishop Murphy at Tumwater District Stadium.
For the top-seeded T-Birds, they don’t take for granted the opportunity to play one more time in front of their home crowd.
“We think it is very exciting,” Wall said.
It will be the fifth all-time postseason matchup between Tumwater and Archbishop Murphy. It was eight years ago the Wildcats ended the tenure of the winningest coach in WIAA history – Sid Otton – at the field that bears his name.
The Thunderbirds are attempting to reach the 2A state title game in back-to-back years.
“It is super exciting, humbling,” head coach Willie Garrow said. “I coached for 15 years before I got to Tumwater and never coached on Thanksgiving once. So, it is something I’m trying not to take for granted. It is a pretty special thing.”
Factors in how quickly players earn the trust of coaches and play meaningful varsity snaps is two-fold. One, if a game gets out of hand early, the junior varsity and ‘C’ team will play in the second half.
Two, since Tumwater routinely practices and plays deep into November, those younger players stick around for valuable reps.
“Over a three or four year period, give them an extra year of football experience that other kids might not get,” Garrow said.
Wall and Short can attest to that.
They stepped into the spotlight as sophomores then broke out as juniors. Wall racked up 123 total tackles and Short recorded 101. They combined for 33 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and four interceptions.
Short converted from a defensive back to a linebacker and in two years, was the second-most effective tackler on the team.
“It was tough at first, but the coaches made it easy,” Short said. “The upperclassmen that year, they all helped me. It wasn’t too bad.”
Both of them credited the coaching staff for putting them in positions to succeed.
“For years, people have said there is a culture here at Tumwater,” Wall said. “They want to keep building up the culture.”
The quartet have a close bond on and off the field. Even though Wall and Short start in Tumwater’s 4-2-5 scheme, the Heryfords’ rotate in. And the last two mentioned likely enter 2025 as the two starters.
Still, Garrow wants at least two more games where he can watch his two stalwarts roam the second level.
“When your two senior linebackers don’t miss a lift or sprint in the summer, it helps hold everyone else accountable,” Garrow said. “Sets an example of what’s to be expected, which is pretty rare.”
When kickoff happens at 2 p.m. and Tumwater takes the field on defense, it will be like looking in a mirror.
Archbishop Murphy runs the Wing-T just like the Thunderbirds and have averaged 37 points per game against a stacked schedule that featured beating Lynden in the Round of 16 and handing Anacortes its only loss.
The majority of the offensive line are over 250 pounds. Lineman Hakeim Smalls and tight end Jack Sievers are both three-star prospects by 247 sports and have received Division I offers.
“Just doing the same thing everyday, keeping that consistency,” Short said.
The one different aspect is Tumwater has shown the ability to throw the ball a bit more than its opposition. Which leads quarterback Jaxon Budd as a potential x-factor.
A junior in his first-year at QB, Budd has completed 71 percent of his passes for 852 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“It depends on the look they give us; it is certainly possible,” Garrow said.
As Tumwater walked off Husky Stadium last year in the aftermath of a 30-point loss in the state title game, the returners felt this year would be different.
Now, they’re 48 minutes away from getting back to Seattle and a chance at payback.
“Trying to keep that same energy,” Wall said. “We all want to make up for last year. We’ve seen 60-30, we’ve had it posted. That helps just a little bit.”
