Milwaukie set to continue climb in 2nd season under Tim Price: ‘Our seniors are all hungry’
By Paul Valencia | Photo by Michele Bunch
SBLive Oregon will break down every 6A, 5A and 4A team in the state leading up to the 2022 football season. Here’s our look at the Milwaukie Mustangs of the Class 4A Cowapa League.
HEAD COACH
Tim Price, second season (4-5 at Milwaukie; 83-89 overall in 18 seasons)
PAST 4 SEASONS
2021 (fall): 4-5 overall, 2-3 in 4A Cowapa
2021 (spring): 1-5 overall, 1-3 in 4A Cowapa
2019: 0-8 overall, 0-5 in 5A NWOC East
2018: 2-7 overall, 2-4 in 5A NWOC East
ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED
Sean Lachapelle, WR
Jake Cooper, OL PSU
Zane Garvey, LB
Andrew Igontov, LB
Brody Thompson, DB
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kaden Harris, quarterback, senior
He plays football, basketball and baseball, he is a 4.0 student, and he is a fantastic leader. Not just for the football team, but for the whole school. Those are the intangibles every coach loves to have in a starting quarterback. Oh, and he’s got an arm, too.
“He can make every throw we ask of him,” Price said.
As an athlete alone, Price said Harris could start on any 6A team in the state.
“His character is all about winning,” Price said. “He’s going to give it everything he’s got.”
Antonio Aguilar, offensive line/defensive line, sophomore
He made a statement about his abilities in earning all-league honors as a freshman lineman.
“He’s learning the sport. There is an upside about him,” Price said. “Great kid. Motivated. But he’s still young. He’s not a finished project yet, but the kid has a motor.”
The coaches asked Aguilar to get it done in the weight room this offseason, and Aguilar responded.
“On the defensive side of the ball, he wants to get sacks, he wants to get tackles, he wants to make plays,” Price said. “He’s just an all-around good football player.”
Gavin Smith, wide receiver/defensive back, senior
Experienced, quiet leader. He lets his play do most of the talking. He has shown a nose for the football, playing strong safety.
“On the defensive side of the ball, I think he should be first-team all-conference,” Price said.
This season, Smith will become a two-way starter. He is expected to shine at wide receiver.
“Now he gets to show what he can do on the offensive side of the ball. He’ll be doing some big things for us this season,” the coach said.
Davyn Tuel, tight end/linebacker, senior
Every quarterback needs at least one guy he can count on, no matter how a passing play develops.
“He’s Kaden’s security blanket,” Price said of Tuel, a three-year starter.
With that kind of experience comes lofty expectations.
“This is the year he is going to step up,” Price said. “He’s going to step up and show that he’s one of the best tight ends in the state.”
Tuel is a linebacker, too.
“He’s going to surprise a lot of people at that position,” the coach added.
Marquies A’Au, offensive line/defensive line, senior
The line has some experience, including from A’Au, who is extra motivated after not being able to finish last season.
At 6-1, 280 pounds, he’s wide and freakishly strong.
“He’s got the ability to demand double teams when he’s playing defense, and he can move people wherever he wants to move them on offense,” Price said.
Ross McWilliams, offensive line/defensive line, junior
The team’s center who also shines as a defensive tackle, McWilliams played a lot as a sophomore.
“He went through trials and tribulations, but he will have a breakout season this year,” Price said.
McWilliams has dedicated himself to the weight room and the results are in: He is stronger, and he’s ready to do some big things.
Sean O’Neil, multi-purpose athlete, senior
No doubt about who is the quarterback this year. It’s Kaden Harris. But don’t be surprised to see O’Neil take a snap or two behind center, when the occasion arises.
O’Neil also will be seen at running back at times, and receiver at other times. Kickoff return. Punt return. Pretty much, if Milwaukie has the ball, O’Neil likely will be on the field.
“He’s going to be our playmaker out there,” Price said. “This kid is taking care of business. He will do some damage.”
OUTLOOK
Progress was made last year. Milwaukie did not win a game in 2019, then won one game in the abbreviated spring season of 2021. Last fall, the Mustangs made a leap of sorts to get to 4-5.
“Just trying to change the culture at Milwaukie High School, getting these kids to believe in themselves,” Price said of his goal entering his second season. “Just teach them how to compete.”
The players applied what they learned and showed real promise on the field.
“We won four games, but we were 10 points away from being 7-1,” Price said. “They didn’t quite know how to win, how to finish games. Hopefully, coming into this season, they’ve learned that we’ve got to finish football games.”
If that happens, the Mustangs can make another leap. The coach is not afraid of high expectations.
“Our goal is to be three games better than we were last year,” Price said. “We’re going to try to handle each Friday night and come out with a good record and hopefully step into that playoff atmosphere.”
The strength of the team is the offense, under the leadership of Harris. But this will be a different look, even with Harris back as quarterback. The team graduated its deep threats. Harris and the Mustangs could rely on the “home run ball” a year ago, Price said, but this year it might be the shorter passes that get the job done.
The point, though, is to get the job done.
“Our seniors are all hungry,” Price said. “They all want to prove they are better than last year. They’ve been in the weight room. They saw the fans coming out to support them. I’ve told them, ‘You win football games, people will come.’ It’s that simple. They saw that last year. Now they understand.”
COACH SAID
“I just want these kids to know Milwaukie is special. If you grow up in Milwaukie, you’ll want to come to Milwaukie High School to play sports. I’m trying to make it fun. I’m trying to get the young kids to understand we’ve got a football program here.” — Tim Price
—
