Philomath High didn’t have enough experienced offensive linemen to build a running game this fall, so the Warriors went to the air and put the ball in Kaden Howard’s hands. In the trenches, Jamin Peters was so tough on defense that opponents ran plays away from his side of the field.
Both seniors made the first team on the 4A Special District 2 all-league football team, leading a group of 12 Warriors who earned postseason honors. Peters made the list twice, as a first-team offensive lineman and a second-team defensive lineman.
The Warriors finished 3-6 overall and 2-4 in league play, fifth in the seven-team district. Unbeaten Cascade (10-0, 6-0) won the league title, and Estacada (8-2, 5-1) finished second.
“The whole thing is skewed to the teams that win, so it is what it is,” Philomath coach Alex Firth said. “But I thought we did well.”
Howard, who made the first team at wide receiver, became the main target in a passing game that Philomath leaned on based on available personnel.
“Given our issues on the offensive line, we were kind of limited in what we could do in the run game, so we had to focus a lot on throwing the ball,” Firth said. “I think Kaden stepped up and was a huge target for us in the passing game. He’s such a great athlete that any time we threw him a football, he had the potential to break something and take it to the house.”
Firth said getting the ball to Howard “quickly in space” was part of the game plan every week.
Howard hurt his ankle in the Cascade game, which slowed him late in the season. He stayed in the lineup anyway.
“He never came out,” Firth said. “He wouldn’t come off the field.”
Firth pointed to Howard’s sideline catch against Estacada as one of the season’s highlights.
“That was just an amazing catch,” Firth said. “To jump up and pluck that thing out of the air was crazy.”
Peters missed the first three games of the season with a foot injury. After he came back, he played on both lines.
“Jamin’s just a dominant offensive and defensive lineman,” Firth said. “I thought he should have been first-team defensive line also. He’s big, but the thing people don’t realize is how mobile and athletic he is for his size.”
Peters also plays post for the Warriors’ basketball team. Firth said Peters has the hands and feet to play tight end, and he would have used him there if he’d had enough other linemen.
“He can basically take over a game by himself,” Firth said. “I know most of our opponents ran away from his side throughout the year, so he could basically take half the field away by himself.”
Junior Sammy Hernandez made the second team as a punter.
Nine Warriors received honorable mention. On offense, they were senior quarterback AJ Altishin, senior receivers Bryce Hruska and CK Kvidt, junior receiver Jayce Iverson, and senior linemen Chase Leslie-Morrison and David Vargas Juarez. On defense, they were junior lineman Cole Barron, senior linebacker Gavin Bennett and sophomore linebacker Mason Bennett.
Cascade’s Josiah Hawkins, a senior, was named offensive player of the year. Estacada junior Ashton Randall was defensive player of the year. The lineman of the year awards went to Estacada’s Willie Munds and Cascade’s Jacob Roden. Central’s Joel Everett was coach of the year.
All-4A Special District 2
Offensive Player of the Year — Josiah Hawkins, Sr., Cascade
Defensive Player of the Year — Ashton Randall, Jr., Estacada
Co-Linemen of the Year — Willie Munds, Sr., Estacada; Jacob Roden, Sr., Cascade
Coach of the Year — Joel Everett, Central
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Madden Hughes, Jr., Cascade
Running Backs — Ashton Randall, Jr., Estacada; Hunter Mollerstrom, Sr., Stayton; Wyatt Kerrigan, Sr., Cascade
Receivers/Tight Ends — Josiah Hawkins, Sr., Cascade; Ryan Perkins, Sr., Central; Kaden Howard, Sr., Philomath; Jamison Walsh, Sr., Cascade
Offensive Line — Willie Munds, Sr., Estacada; Wyatt Bales, Sr., Cascade; Connor Kendig, Sr., Estacada; Ryland Thiessen, Sr., Stayton; Jamin Peters, Sr., Philomath
DEFENSE
Defensive Line — Jacob Roden, Sr., Cascade; Matt Greenup, Jr., Estacada; Jamison Walsh, Sr., Cascade; Adam Menke, Sr., Central
Linebackers — Ashton Randall, Jr., Estacada; Jay Erickson, Sr., Cascade; Brody Anundi, Jr., Cascade; Turner Jackson, Sr., Estacada; Asher Baker, Sr., Central
Defensive Backs — Josiah Hawkins, Sr., Cascade; Josiah Vela, Sr., Central; Duke Durand, Jr., Estacada; Aiden Dunnigan, Sr., Central
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker — Jacob Bancroft, So., Central
Punter — Jacob Bancroft, So., Central
Returner — Josiah Hawkins, Sr., Cascade
Long Snapper/Specialist — Jamison Walsh, Sr., Cascade
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Dane Carpenter, Jr., Estacada
Running Backs — Braden O’Sullivan, Jr., Central; Thomas Classen, Sr., Estacada; Zeke Kappas, Jr., Molalla
Receivers/Tight Ends — Charlie Benefiel, Jr., Stayton; Jordan Perez, Jr., Molalla; Jay Erickson, Sr., Cascade; Tyler Olafson, Jr., Central
Offensive Line — Jacob Roden, Sr., Cascade; Sabby Hlavinka, Sr., Cascade; Jackson Elvin, Sr., Cascade; Dallas Tidd, Sr., Estacada; Ynzell Henderson, Sr., Central
DEFENSE
Defensive Line — Jamin Peters, Sr., Philomath; Ryland Thiessen, Sr., Stayton; Phillip Truax, Jr., Molalla; Brody Beach, Jr., Central
Linebackers — Travis Conklin, Sr., Cascade; Myles Emmert, Sr., Stayton; Easton Herbert, Sr., Central; Logan Blakeslee, Sr., Estacada; Carter Vinson, Jr., Stayton
Defensive Backs — Grant Carpenter, So., Estacada; Hank Wheeler, Jr., Estacada; Josh Fitts, Sr., Central; Stephen Carlgren, Jr., Stayton
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker — Anderson Craig, So., Cascade
Punter — Sammy Hernandez, Jr., Philomath
Returner — Ryan Perkins, Sr., Central
Long Snapper/Specialist — Ezra Meyer, Sr., Gladstone
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks — Hunter Holestine, So., Central; AJ Altishin, Sr., Philomath
Running Backs — Travis Conklin, Sr., Cascade; Ezra Meyer, Sr., Gladstone; Hank Wheeler, Jr., Estacada; Kiptyn Snell, Jr., Molalla; Weston Shewell, So., Cascade; Turner Jackson, Sr., Estacada
Receivers/Tight Ends — Bryce Hruska, Sr., Philomath; Brody Anundi, Jr., Cascade; Cody Feil, Jr., Estacada; CK Kvidt, Sr., Philomath; Mayson Coelho, Sr., Cascade; Jayce Iverson, Jr., Philomath; Joey Cruz, Fr., Gladstone; Landen Thomas, Sr., Estacada; Landon Jensen, Sr., Molalla; Daykota Naylor, Sr., Molalla; Isaac Wakkure, Sr., Central; Rei Eaves, Sr., Central
Offensive Line — Judah Hansen, Jr., Estacada; Tyler Jentzsch, Jr., Stayton; Wesley Duncan, Sr., Stayton; Chase Leslie-Morrison, Sr., Philomath; David Vargas Juarez, Sr., Philomath; Phillip Truax, Jr., Molalla; Ryder Meyer, Sr., Gladstone; Preston Foreman, Jr., Central; Logan Billman, Sr., Central
DEFENSE
Defensive Line — Titus Ford, Sr., Stayton; John Alexander, Sr., Gladstone; Tyler Jentzsch, Jr., Stayton; Mason Webster, Jr., Estacada; Max Park, Sr., Cascade; Cole Barron, Jr., Philomath; Mayson Coelho, Sr., Cascade
Linebackers — Wyatt Metcalf, Jr., Cascade; Gavin Bennett, Sr., Philomath; Zeke Kappas, Jr., Molalla; Kiptyn Snell, Jr., Molalla; Ezra Meyer, Sr., Gladstone; Devin Duke, Sr., Estacada; Thomas Classen, Sr., Estacada; Mason Bennett, So., Philomath; Robert Ceja, Sr., Central
Defensive Backs — Jordan Perez, Jr., Molalla; Gavin Nunn, Sr., Central; Brady Kuenzi, Jr., Cascade; Jacob Born, So., Cascade
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker — Aaden Housley, Jr., Molalla
Punter — Chandler Furbee, Jr., Molalla
Returners — Thomas Classen, Sr., Estacada; Hunter Mollerstrom, Sr., Stayton
