Wahluke Warriors can play football at a high level

There were 33 players when Wahluke finished the high school football season last Friday. The boys who stuck it out for another tough season got to enjoy a 58-0 win.

Yeah, it was against now 2-8 Goldendale. But both teams had the opportunity to salvage something from a tough season, and the Warriors seized it to exclaim they’ll be back next year.

That’s one of the ingredients it takes to build a program. Fortunately, of the 33 boys who remained at the end, 31 were underclassmen.

It struck me funny that this delightful victory came against Goldendale. Granger was not very good, or very big my freshman year when went against Goldendale late in the year.

Goldendale was favored to crush us at Goldendale. But a big wind came up just before the game. After we stopped the Timberwolves on their first possession, their punt ended up behind the line of scrimmage. That wind gave us an unbelievable lift, and we flattened Goldendale.

I have no idea what happened to Wahluke last Friday. Maybe it was before or during the game, but something sparked this team. Whatever it was, I hope it sparks the team to a better future.

I’ve gotten to know coach Mike Foristiere in his three years here, and it pains him that he hasn’t been able to bring the Warriors into a new football era. It pained previous coaches.

I’m sure it pains the community too. The folks probably wonder why it is that neighboring Royal is football-rich while Wahluke is football, well, not so rich.

I’ve been watching both teams since we started this newspaper. I am proud of the Knights, their coaches and their program.

But it’s not just them. They have an entire community with a football attitude. Grid Kids can’t wait to be Knights. There 117 of them last year.

Folks in the Mattawa area can’t point to a lack of boys. Wahluke High has the bigger enrollment. The boys at Royal aren’t special. They’re the same as the boys at Royal.

It can be done with the kids you have. Royal’s coaches have proven that.

It will take Wahluke some time to get to Royal’s level, but it will happen sooner after the entire community adopts an attitude about winning football.