Led by strong senior class, Sehome looks to return to state form

Results can be deceiving.

On paper, a three-win, sub-.500 season doesn’t seem like much to brag about, but the Mariners’ wins and losses alone don’t tell the team’s 2014 season — a year immersed in almosts and what-could-have-beens.

But even after one heartbreaking early league loss and a gauntlet of powerhouses to end the year, Sehome found itself a final-week win away from earning a playoff berth.

“Our kids think, ‘Gosh, we slip up once and they think it’s over,’” Sehome coach Bob Norvell said. “That’s a big part. If we slip up here and there, that’s just going to happen, and they have to keep playing. And I think we might have lost sight of that.”

To move forward, the Mariners are looking at the past to reminded themselves to finish in 2015.

Sehome made a magical run two years ago, reaching the state playoffs for the first time in 14 years. After missing out last season, the sophomores on the state team, now seniors, are anxious to get back.

“This is a tough group,” Norvell said. “This senior class is hungry, and they like to get after it, and I think it might be the edge that it takes to overcome what didn’t happen last year.”

And just because the Mariners graduated 80 percent of their massive offensive line from last year, that doesn’t mean Sehome can’t reload. In fact, both the Mariners’ offensive and defense fronts may prove to be one of the team’s biggest strengths in 2015.

Senior Jeremy Johnson is the only returning starter, and the big man should be flanked by Scott McIvor-Garman, who could be poised for a breakout season, and Briley Funk. Defensive standout Zach Zimmerman, Nick Coats and Arman Yaralian should round out the offensive line unit.

“I think it’s going great,” Johnson said of the line’s development. “I think they are ready to compete.”

The group will be paving the way for two running backs who’ve waited their turn for lead roles, seniors Daton Nestlebush and Tanner Patrick.

Senior Gavin Kaepernick has control of the starting quarterback spot, and he’ll be counted on to deliver the ball to Marcus Montag, Warren Zinns, Nathan Carroll and Jace Rinker.

But it’s Norvell’s green and yellow Ferrari — University of Washington commit Taylor Rapp — who’s most electric.

“When you hand the ball to Taylor you think, ‘Wow, he is a great running back,’” Norvell said.

Rapp’s main duty, though, will be anchoring the Mariners’ secondary, and Sehome will need him to be at his best after the team yielded 28.9 points per game last season.

This story was originally published August 30, 2015 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Led by strong senior class, Sehome looks to return to state form."