Talan Leon Guerrero and the Eagles stand at 5-0 just past the midway point of the regular season

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

They often go from one drill to another with a team break, and a one-word chant.

“Brothers.”

The Hudson’s Bay Eagles are brothers, prepared to sacrifice for one another, dedicated to improving the football team and the perception of the program.

Hudson’s Bay is winning on all fronts this season, led by a four-year varsity player who has seen it all.

Talan Leon Guerrero remembers that first football season because, well, it really wasn’t much of a season. His freshman year, he was on varsity, but the varsity “season” was only four games and it was in the spring.

Hudson’s Bay won one game.

As a sophomore, the Eagles had a full season, and won … one game.

Last year, Leon Guerrero and the Eagles got a taste of what it is like to be rewarded when they went 3-6. Not great. But a few wins there really got the players hungry for more.

“I felt everyone was locked in in January, when we started lifting,” Leon Guerrero said. “I felt like our team would be very good this year. Everybody has been committed to football.”

That brotherhood stood together, from the rough times until this season.

“Everybody has bought in, and that’s how we are 5-0,” Leon Guerrero said.

Yes, 5-0.

The Eagles, who had won a total of five games in the three previous seasons, are 5-0, including a 3-0 mark in the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League. The next challenge for the Eagles will be Friday against Washougal, when Hudson Bay hosts the defending league champions at Kiggins Bowl. 

Washougal is in desperation mode after already losing two league games this season. Those defeats surprised a lot of people around the league. Then again, “surprise” is quite the buzzword in the 2A GSHL this season.

Woodland beat Washougal in Week 3, and then Columbia River beat Woodland in Week 4. Surprise, surprise.

And then there was Hudson’s Bay, beating Ridgefield back in Week 3.

Surprise.

Or was it? Not to the Eagles. They knew they could do it.

Still, Leon Guerrero acknowledged that the Ridgefield game opened the eyes for others to see that Bay was for real this season.

“A lot of people doubted us going into that game, thought we were going to lose,” Leon Guerrero said. “Throughout the whole week of practice … our mindset was very strong. Our physicality was there.”

And even when Ridgefield took a three-point lead late in the game, the Eagles weren’t worried.

“We just didn’t give up,” Leon Guerrero said.

In fact, they had no time to worry, to get down on themselves. The Eagles returned the ensuing kickoff for a game-winning touchdown. 

Leon Guerrero, a starting linebacker and fullback for the Eagles, had the best vantage point for that play. He’s not on the kickoff return team, so he was on the sideline, with his brothers.

He watched as Rafael Bauman grabbed the ball. He noticed that the Ridgefield kickoff coverage team had bunched up in the middle of the field. He saw Bauman go outside. 

“Then everybody on the sideline was running with him. Everyone was yelling. Everyone was so happy,” Leon Guerrero said.

Touchdown. Hudson’s Bay went up 28-24 and secured that victory. 

Last week, the Eagles got it done against Mark Morris.

This Bay run just continues.

At the heart of the Eagles defense is Leon Guerrero. 

“Defensively, the guy is all over the field,” Hudson’s Bay coach Mark Oliverio said. “He’s just an incredible, instinctive football player. A super physical kid and very humble. He has great football awareness, IQ.”

On offense, Leon Guerrero is the fullback, a lead blocker for his tailback, but he also gets the ball at times, too. 

Oh, and while he has not played offensive line this season, he would have no problem taking over on the line, if needed.

“His teammates love him,” Oliverio said. “He’s a quiet, do-all-the-right-things kind of young man.”

In practice this summer, in fact, one of the linemen went down with an injury just before a scrimmage. Leon Guerrero stepped up to play offensive guard.

“That was pretty fun,” Leon Guerrero said. “If we don’t have a receiver, I’ll be there. I think that’s why my coaches like me, because I’ll always step up and fill in.”

He is most home at middle linebacker.

“Defense is my thing. I love defense. Defense is more of a mental thing. You’ve got to have a strong mindset. Don’t hesitate, fly to the ball,” Leon Guerrero said. “When I see something, I’m there. When I see the ball, I’m flying to the ball. Our whole defense is good at that.”

Born in Guam, Leon Guerrero and his family moved to Vancouver in 2015. He started playing football when he was in the eighth grade. He learned to love it.

“It’s the only sport you can go hit somebody and not get in trouble,” he said.

The sport can be humbling, though.

Leon Guerrero and the Eagles appreciate where they are because they know where they have been. One win in the spring of 2021. One win in the fall of 2021. Three wins last year.

Now, they are 5-0 and facing the challenge of going up against the desperate defending league champions. Win or lose this week, the Eagles will be in a great position to do something special. Yes, a league championship is very possible.

Just don’t talk to the Eagles about any of that just yet.

“Step by step and get ready for this game,” Leon Guerrero said. “We can’t think about the future. We always have to think about what’s first. Washougal is first. Then we can go to the next one.”

The Eagles hope to follow Talan Leon Guerrero’s lead.

Maintain that brothership, keep quiet, and let the pads do the talking.