Speedy secondary a primary strength as Timberline continues rebuild
The short spring 2021 football season wasn’t a lot of fun for Timberline High School. The Blazers finished 1-4, a rung from the bottom of the 3A South Sound Conference.
But enthusiasm has fueled Timberline’s pre-season practices as a group of two dozen seniors leads a squad of 99 players into coach James Jones’ first full season.
Those seniors have such a tight bond that one, defensive back Landon Rith, moved 3,040 miles to be a part of it. Rith, whose dad was transferred to the East Coast by the Army after the 2019 season, had a good spring season playing for Topsail High in Hampstead, North Carolina.
He’d played varsity for Timberline as a sophomore, though, and wanted to reconnect with a tight-knit secondary Jones sees as one of the strengths of the fall 2021 Blazers, so transferred back.
“Seeing the team before I left and coming back now, each player has grown a lot,” Rith said.
Honorable mention All-SSC choice Cameron Hashimoto, two-way talent Franco Segura and Martin Aunese round out the starting group.
“They’re great players and great human beings,” Jones said. “They’re all buddies, they’ve been buddies for all four years.”
Even longer. Rith, Hashimoto and Segura played together on the same Thurston County Youth Football League team since third grade. Aunese played in a different youth league but lived next door to Rith.
“It took a while for us all to become friends,” said Rith. “But we kind of look the same and played the same positions so people generalized us together.”
Aunese had no trouble clicking with the other three when they reached high school.
“It was pretty easy,” he said. “Freshman year we connected and started building bonds.”
“Our connection translates onto the field,” said Hashimoto.
Of course, lots of guys on any number of football teams are friends. Jones sees the tangible outcomes of the bonds.
“When the ball’s in the air, these guys are going to go after it,” he said. “If there’s a tackle to be made, they’re not going to sit back and wait, they’re going to come up, be aggressive and make plays.”
Rith agreed.
“We have a lot of heart,” he said. “Most of us played varsity as sophomores because we’re so aggressive and always give our best.”
Said Aunese, “If you look at our team from the stands, we might look small, but we’re faster than most teams.”
The connection with his teammates has been extra important for Aunese as he practices with and plays for the same school as his late brother Max, an Olympian All-Area wide receiver for the Blazers who drowned in a swimming accident little more than a year ago, just after he graduated.
“Having a bond with the people I play with has helped out a lot,” he said. “It was really difficult at first, but it’s good to have a distraction from everything.”
Timberline’s strong secondary is bolstered by a strong defensive line, led by end Adam Ahlf, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound former quarterback, that makes up for a lack of size with speed.
“We’ve got a deep defensive line,” said Jones, a long-time Timberline assistant coach before taking over as head coach. “We’re not as big as we’ve sometimes been. But we’re quick and very active.”
Offensively, the Blazers return quarterback Jackson Brown and running back Kaleb McNeely.
“I’m excited about Jackson. He’s grown quite a lot,” said Jones. “We’ve had the whole off-season to talk about things. We’re having a regular pre-season camp.”
Though McNeely, who also will play linebacker after making 55 tackles in just five games during the spring, is the featured running back, Jones says there is depth at that position as well.
“We have three other guys who will play and do well,” he said.
Jones points to another member of the team he says has improved: himself. He admits to making some rookie mistakes in his first season in charge.
“We weren’t always on the same page,” he said. “You can’t assume anything. Coaches need to be coached just like players need to be coached. We’ve had full conversations about what we need to accomplish, what we expect from the kids, what are we going to allow and not allow.”
Aunese sees the new approach by the coaches, along with the seniors’ upbeat attitude, working.
“Last season, we didn’t really click,” he said. “This year is different. Our team is like a giant friend group.”
Timberline opens its season Friday night against Cleveland at Rainier Beach High School’s field at 7 p.m. They’ll host Kent Meridian in a second non-league game before traveling to sixth-ranked Yelm to open their SSC season against the Tornados and former Blazer quarterback Palaina Hooper in Week Three.
“We’ll need to be focused and disciplined,” said Segura.
TIMBERLINE BLAZERS
Coach: James Jones, second year
Spring 2021 record: 1-4, fifth in 3A South Sound Conference
Offensive coordinator, base scheme: Rikki Reid (Shotgun Spread)
Defensive coordinator, base scheme: Beau Pocklington (3-3 Stack)
Top players: QB Jackson Brown, 5-11, 180, JR; RB/LB Kaleb McNeely, 6-1, 195, JR; WR/DB Franco Segura, 5-9, 170, SR; OL Kameron Sanders, 6-4, 320, SR; CB Cameron Hashimoto, 5-10, 180, SR; DE Adam Ahlf, 6-1, 215, SR; S Martin Aunese, 5-8, 180, JR.
Outlook: James Jones took over from long time head coach Nick Mullen last season and was immediately faced with the complications of the coronavirus pandemic, an under-construction practice field and a competitive rebuilding job. The result was a one-win season during the spring, but with more than 20 seniors around to lead a squad of 99 players heading into fall, the Blazers could be much-improved. Second-team all-league linebacker Kaleb McNeely returns and will also carry the ball on offense. Cameron Hashimoto, honorable mention All-SSC last season, leads a defensive backfield that may be Timberline’s strongest unit. Junior Jackson Brown gives the Blazers an experienced quarterback.
This story was originally published September 3, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Speedy secondary a primary strength as Timberline continues rebuild."