It was a struggle.
It was a disappointment.
But even in that lost season for the Skyview Storm, it really wasn’t a lost season. After all, they gained so much from it.
All the losses last year had an effect.
“We fell in love with the program even more,” Skyview linebacker TyAllen Edmon said.
The Storm have no intention of letting down anyone associated with Skyview football.
The Storm love their coaches, their program, their school so much, in fact, that they committed to the offseason training regimen.
“Coaches worked us hard because they know how good we can be. They were pushing us and pushing us,” Edmon said.
After Friday night’s 49-7 win over Union, the Storm improved to 5-0 this season — the only remaining undefeated Clark County high school football team.
Not bad for a team that won three games last year — and one of those wins was by forfeit.
Yes, the mighty Storm, a program that had 18 consecutive winning seasons, went 3-6 last year.
Weird, right?
“Weird is an understatement,” Skyview coach Matt Hamlin said. “There were some tough nights to get sleep those first four weeks.”
Hamilin was a first-year head coach, too, sitting there with an 0-4 record to start the campaign. Yes, the Storm were young, with very few senior leaders. Also, this is Skyview, after all. The Storm did not duck anyone. They had a very tough schedule to open the season. That combo led to four consecutive lopsided losses.
“I give our players and our assistant coaches a lot of credit,” Hamlin said. “Our guys just kept working and getting better and better.”
In fact, Skyview almost had the upset of the year in Week 9 against league champion and perennial state power Camas. The Papermakers needed a late field goal to escape with a win.
“Their confidence grew, and they never wavered,” Hamlin said of last year’s group. “The younger guys started taking leadership roles.”
That leadership continued in the offseason, with seniors, including Edmon, doing everything they could to return Skyview to its winning ways.
“They didn’t let us down,” Hamlin said.
Edmon is a three-year starter as a linebacker. Skyview is stacked in a number of positions, but that linebacker group really stands out to not only Skyview’s coaches, but opponents as well.
They look like college athletes, one opposing coach said.
David Dudko, Toren Baker, Savelle Velazquez, and Edmon make for an intimidating group.
So far, the results demand respect.
Skyview opened with a win over Glacier Peak, then held Ridgefield to seven points in Week 2.
Then came the first of two games against Camas in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League. The Storm held the Papermakers to one touchdown on offense that night, winning the game 38-21, and ending years of frustration against Camas.
Skyview followed that up with a shutout over Battle Ground last week, and the Storm led 49-0 late in Friday’s win over Union. That Skyview defense scored two touchdowns in Friday’s win, as well.
It is almost difficult to believe Skyview’s record from a year ago. Oh, believe it, Edmon said. In fact, he does not want to forget last year.
“It was definitely rough. I can speak for everybody, no one likes to lose. It was really rough for us, but it really helped us come together more in the offseason,” Edmon said.
“That season left a really bad taste in our mouths,” Edmon continued. “That’s been my big motivation, pushing me. Every down, I’m thinking about last year and how rough it was. Every time I’m feeling tired, I just think about last season.”
Interestingly, he has very little interest in the current record. Naturally, he and the Storm enjoy all the winning, but there is so much football left to play. Plus, with the bizarre 4A GSHL schedule this year, the Storm will have to play Camas, Battle Ground, and Union again.
“I don’t really look too far into it,” Edmon said. “At the end of the day, it’s just the record, and when you get to the playoffs, the record doesn’t matter. You’re oh-and-oh, and the job is not finished. Obviously, it’s great to be 5-0, but I’m looking forward to the playoffs and all the games that matter more.”
The Storm are hoping for a long playoff run, of course. Whenever the season ends, this will be it for Edmon and the seniors. Edmon has had interest from several college programs, including a couple of offers. He is keeping his options open and will make a tough decision later.
For now, he is focused on his teammates and his final Skyview football season.
He recalled one of his first days at Skyview. An upperclassman told him: When you’re here, it’s a family.
“Hearing that at a young age, that was music to my ears,” Edmon said. “That’s all I’m looking for in a team.”
He took that to heart. Now, he is a senior leader.
“You can look back later on in life and they will still be there for you when you’re older,” Edmon said. “That is what Skyview is, and all the guys that are on this team, I’ll still call them brothers later on in life.”
That bond got even stronger after enduring that weird season a year ago.
“It was rocky. Now we are thriving,” TyAllen Emond said. “I don’t see us looking back.”
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