Former Oak Harbor coach off to 2-0 start at Archbishop Murphy
Published 11:28 pm Thursday, September 18, 2008
Although it’s still early in the season, Dave Ward is undoubtedly off to a strong start at Archbishop Murphy High School.
Ward, Archbishop Murphy’s first-year head football coach, has guided the Wildcats to a 2-0 record. Tonight Murphy kicks off Cascade Conference play when it plays host to Granite Falls (1-1) at Terry Ennis Stadium.
Speaking of the stadium name, observers undoubtedly wondered how Ward’s inaugural squad would compare with teams led by Ennis, the legendary coach who founded Murphy’s program and built it into a perennial state title contender before he died of cancer in September 2007.
With victories over two highly touted opponents — Lynden and Eastside Catholic — Murphy seems to have picked up where Ennis and 2007 interim coach Rick Stubrud left off. Wildcats players said they’re pleased with Ward.
Ward’s style is more laid-back than the always-fiery Ennis, Murphy seniors Kelso Wilkins and Collin Huggins said Wednesday before practice. But both approaches can be effective, they agreed.
“It’s definitely a different atmosphere, not a bad different,” said Huggins, a lineman. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for coach Ward. He’s a great coach and I think so far he’s doing a great job with the team.”
It’s not fair to compare Ward with Ennis, said Wilkins. Just like Ennis, Ward has certain strengths and does things his way.
“But it’s a new year and he’s getting us off to a good start,” Wilkins, a running back, said of Ward. “He’s smart. He’s knowledgeable about the game and he helps us get through everything.”
In each of Murphy’s first two games, Ward encouraged his team as it fended off second-half rallies and hung on to win.
“He’s not trying to fill shoes or anything like that,” Wilkins said. “He’s here to just continue a tradition and create his own legacy.”
Murphy’s QB rotation
So far this season Ward has used two quarterbacks: senior Jake Downs and sophomore Austin VanderWel. The coach said he wanted to evaluate the players by giving them the same number of repetitions under similar game conditions. Both QBs have valuable skills, Ward said.
“Austin brings more quickness and athleticism to the position, and Jake initially was throwing the ball really well, so it’s a nice combination,” Ward said.
Having Downs and VanderWel, a pair of reliable QBs, is “kind of a luxury. Very rarely can you go through a season with just one quarterback,” said Ward.
Jackson RB Cox is sick
Taylor Cox, Jackson’s star running back, missed practice Thursday with a cold and his status for tonight’s game against Arlington (2-0) is uncertain, Jackson head coach Joel Vincent said. Cox, who missed school Thursday, must attend classes today to be eligible to play, Vincent said.
Cox, one of the state’s top senior backs, rushed for five total touchdowns in Jackson’s first two games this season. Last year he ran for 1,324 yards and 13 TDs.
Even if Cox can’t play for Jackson (2-0), the Timberwolves have options, Vincent said: “We’ve got some good, young backs. We’ll be fine.”
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
