EDMONDS — For a football team that is used to competing for a playoff spot every season, Edmonds-Woodway found itself in an unusual position after four games in 2014.
With a 1-3 record, the Warriors’ season appeared as though it could end in disaster, but by the end of the season head coach John Gradwohl once again had his team competing for a playoff spot.
“Just to be in it at the end… all those things that you tell the kids about there being a payoff at the end, it was nice that we were in the race at the end of the race,” Gradwohl said. “We could have checked it in and gone 2-8 and had poor attitudes and all that other stuff that you worry about, but we didn’t. They got better every week.”
The Warriors won three straight after their 1-4 start to put themselves in a position where a week nine win over Glacier Peak would earn them a playoff berth. The only problem was the foot of Glacier Peak senior kicker Spencer Pettit.
Pettit kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired in the first half and a 45-yarder on the last play of the game, giving the Grizzlies the final playoff berth from the Wesco 3A South and making certain the Warriors would be on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
Gradwohl said despite coming up short of the playoffs, the season was a success and the bitterness at the end is forgotten.
“We don’t even think about it really,” Gradwohl said. “Last year was a fun year. We had a lot of adversity at the start last year. That kid for Glacier Peak kicks two huge field goals and knocked us out of the playoffs. It was a great year and we had a lot of fun.”
Gradwohl was forced to change his practice plan early in the season because several of his assistant coaches, who work off campus, weren’t able to make it to practice until 4 p.m.
The players had to adjust to doing things differently at practice than they had ever done before and it didn’t take long before Gradwohl saw that the results would be positive.
“You know what you’re telling the kids is believable if they believe in you when you’re not winning,” Gradwohl said. “We were struggling and I could tell they were all coming to practice and working hard. I was just real proud of them for hanging in there.”
While Gradwohl might have forgotten about the loss to Glacier Peak, some of his players haven’t. Senior linebacker Spencer Schultz said its still on the minds of he and his teammates.
“It’s definitely something that sticks with you,” Schultz said. “I’d like to think it doesn’t always come down to one last play. We could have done something earlier in that game, but definitely a heart-breaker when it comes down to a field goal.”
Gradwohl said he and his players learned a lot of the early-season adversity from a year ago and hopes this season will be different.
“We’re excited,” Gradwohl said. “I need to — I not them — need to do a better job of not changing things week three, but starting faster. I think we will be in a much better positiion this year and it won’t come down to a field goal, hopefully, at the end.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
EDMONDS-WOODWAY WARRIORS
Head coach: John Gradwohl (20th season)
Key Returners: Spencer Schultz, Sr., ILB; Isaac Jackson, Sr., QB; Ali Gaye, Jr., TE/DE; Tyler Rheinford, Sr., RB/OLB; Logan Lambert, Sr., OL/ILB; Abdoulie Jatta, Jr., RB/DB.
Coach’s quote: “We’ve had a great off-season, hopefully that will pay off in the regular season. Like always, the most important ingredient will be if our team comes together and is able to put the team first. We have enough talent to have a fun and successful year. Will we be able to foster that team feeling so that our student-athletes can reach their goals is the question.”
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