New coach, new quarterback, no problem for Falcon football | FALL SPORTS PREVIEW 2014
Published 3:38 pm Friday, September 5, 2014
South Whidbey football underwent its most sweeping changes in a decade over the past few months.
First, the Falcons lost a cadre of seniors to graduation, many of whom held vital positions including quarterback, running back, two receivers and a tight end. Then longtime co-head coaches Mark Hodson and Andy Davis resigned in favor of having more time with families.
South Whidbey found a new head coach in Chris Tormey, a former NCAA Division I head coach and assistant for the past four decades. Work since his hire has been finding out who will replace those seniors. The Falcons think they’ve got it figured out, starting with senior Parker Collins at quarterback.
“I think we have the team to throw the ball,” he said.
Before the Falcons take flight, they’ll lean on an even mix of rushes by running back Deven Damerau, a senior and co-captain who saw action last season as a varsity backup. Defensively, the Falcons are counting on fellow senior co-captains Maverick Christensen and Angus Jones.
The Falcons hope the split of ground-and-air offense coupled with a disciplined defense can carry them into the playoffs again. Last season, South Whidbey’s season ended with a play-in half-game loss in the District 1 tournament.
Postseason play will look a bit different this year with Coupeville joining another league and Cedar Park Christian, another 1A school, moving to the Cascade Conference. Sultan changed classification to 1A after an enrollment drop, so there is a four-way battle for the top two spots among the 1A schools.
Holding the title is King’s, which will likely vie for the league championship with Lakewood and Archbishop Murphy.
“We have more big games this year,” Collins said.
“It’ll take a lot of discipline,” he added. 
Organization and discipline are fields at which the Falcons’ new coach excels, according to players. From the first day Tormey was hired, Collins said he made himself available and visited the school to meet with players.
That led to a new batch of athletes participating in the offseason workouts and conditioning sessions. Collins himself slimmed down and toned up — “preparing my body,” as he described it.
Mentally, Collins said he’s ready. During last year’s playoff half-game, Collins took snaps as the quarterback. That experience was important, he said, as he doesn’t expect to get any nerves with plenty of high-pressure action under his helmet.
Friday night, the Falcons took on their first opponent: former rival Coupeville. The match occurred after press time and could not be reported on.
Despite being a non-league game, Collins said it still carries plenty of importance to the Falcons. That seemed evident in the days leading up to the island rivalry, as the team kept The Bucket — a decorated metal bucket half-painted in Falcon blue with the logo and the other half adorned in Wolves red with Coupeville’s logo — in plain view in the team’s locker room.
Beyond hopes to keep The Bucket, South Whidbey’s desire for a playoff run hinges on finishing in the top two among the King’s, Cedar Park and Sultan.
“Right now, I’m looking at it step-by-step,” Collins said. “We have to beat Sultan and Cedar Park.”
2014 Falcon football schedule
Friday, Sept. 7 at Coupeville
Friday, Sept. 12 vs. Anacortes*
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Cedar Park
Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Granite Falls*
Friday, Oct. 3 at AMHS
Friday, Oct. 10 vs. King’s*
Friday, Oct. 17 at Cedarcrest
Friday, Oct. 24 vs. Lakewood*
Thursday, Oct. 30 at Sultan*
*Home games
All games at 7 p.m.
