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LEBAM — On one of the final days of August, the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley football team began stretching prior to a practice on a field behind a post office in Lebam. It was around 90 degrees, plenty of bees were swarming around, and shade was sparse.
It was right where John Peterson wanted to be.
Peterson, a 1977 Willapa Valley graduate, was an assistant on the Willapa Valley state title teams in 1996 and 2001, and he was on the PWV staff as recently as three years ago before stepping away due to a family matter.
In the two years since, he’s thought one thing.
“I was bored out of my mind,” Peterson said. “I’m sitting there in the house thinking ‘this is baloney, what the heck am I doing?’”
When the PWV head coaching job opened up this past offseason, he jumped at the opportunity, and he was even more thrilled when he learned he got the job.
“It’s been very positive,” Peterson said. “But it’s a rebuild job.”
The Titans will have plenty of new faces on offense, as they lost their quarterback, two tight ends, and four of the five starters on the offensive line.
That presents a challenge to Peterson, who is bringing the Wing-T back to Pe Ell and Menlo and wants to focus on “football in a phone booth.”
Despite the turnover, Peterson is confident that he and his staff will be able to bring a line together by Week 1.
Hank Swartz will move back to the line after playing tight end and corner last season, but it’s a spot he has experience at. He was one the line in 2022, when PWV made it to the state semifinals.
Peterson also mentioned Hunter Harris and Hank Swartz, the latter of which he compared to the Tasmanian Devil.
“We’ll hang,” Peterson said. “It’s kinda like learning to fly a plane while it’s in the air.”
There’s fewer question marks in the backfield.
Spud Swogger, Eddie Clements, and Lucas Lusk are set to get carries, and 2023 All-Area wideout Blane King is also set to get touches.
“I’m a big believer of ‘the best guys are going on the field,’” Peterson said.
Running the offense under center will be Brody Ritzman, who is related to Bub Ritzman, Peterson’s teammate when he was at Willapa Valley.
Peterson expects a fair share of ups and downs throughout Year 1, especially early. After hosting 2A Evergreen and 1A Blaine in Weeks 1 and 2, the Titans will head to Toledo and Winlock before getting into league play.
He’s optimistic about their chances.
“We’ll be in great shape, run to the ball, swarm tackle, and do our best,” Peterson said. “If we can do that, we’ll hang around.”
