Looking back, the accomplishment of the fall of 2007 will
be remembered in the annuals of Bremerton Football, a history that stretches
back an entire century.
One hundred years ago, teacher W.A. Hamilton gathered eleven boys together – Ben Brewster, Ralph Davis, Frank Elliott, John Booth, Leon Conn, Berne Qualheim, Clifford Casad, William Veldee, Oscar King, Harold Peckenpaugh, and George Williams - to form the Union High football team. Folklore has it that some of the players were grade school age. At the time, the accomplishment was so insignificant that the citizens of Bremerton, who looked forward to reading the weekly comings and goings in the Bremerton Searchlight Newspaper, knew nothing about the high school football team.
One could easily say that the accomplishments of the 2007 Bremerton High football team, a century later, were equally insignificant, if they were focused only on the outside trappings. The team won a single pre-season game and did not win a single league contest, for the third consecutive season. But that is not the case.
This season the Knights produced a 1,000 yard rusher, the first in fourteen seasons and the first in the 21st-Century. The team produced a 1,000 yard passer, the second possibly since the legendary Don Heinrich quarterbacked the Bremerton Wildcats in 1947. Eleven Bremerton players received All-Olympic League recognition, the most since assistant head coach Mike Turso wore Bremerton football pads in 1993. Two of Bremerton’s All-League recipients were named to the 1st-Team for the second year in a row. Additionally, one player led the region in tackles and was named to the Kitsap Sun’s All-West Sound team.
“Without a doubt,” said head coach Nate Gillam, “this is individually the most talented group of football players that I have every coached.”
 |
ABNEY |
When the complete history of Bremerton Football is finally retrieved and compiled, the rushing accomplishment of Jamiere Abney will be near the top. In large part because legendary football coach Chuck Semancik permitted very few sophomores to play varsity ball. His has a career rushing total 2,312 yards.
For the last three seasons, Abney has been the feature running back in Coach Gillam’s offense. As a sophomore he ran for 443 yard. His junior year is gained 776 yards. This season he crossed the 1,000 yard barrier, with 1,093 yards. At the team awards banquet, Abney was honored by his teammates as Mr. Football, “the embodiment of what it means to be a football player at Bremerton High,” added Abney.
 |
GILLAM |
Coach Gillam was the 1990 Mr. Football recipient, after rushing for 1,028 yards. He helped the Knights to a 10-3 second record and a state AA semi-final tournament appearance.
Assistant Coach Tony Boddie, who played two seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, rushed for 1,008 yards his season year at Bremerton. In 1978, the Knights were nearly perfect, compiling an 11-1 record, losing only in the state AAA semi-final game.
Single season rushing record hold David “Scooter” Joiner also ran for a championship team. With an 8-3 record, Bremerton won the Olympic League Championship and finished 3rd in the AAA state tournament. In two seasons - 1,413 yards his senior year and 611 yards his junior year - Joiner rushed for a total of 2,024 yards, 155 more than Abney achieved in two seasons. Both players played in twenty games their junior and senior seasons.
What might Abney have accomplished on the football field behind the offensive line that Gillam, Boddie, or Joiner had?
“It was an honor to have a chance to become the best rusher in Bremerton history,” Abney stated. “It’s very humbling to think that I will be remembered.”
 |
BELDEN |
Without complete passing records it is hard to truly measure the accomplishments of junior quarterback Jake Belden. At the beginning of the 2007 season Belden was an untested varsity player. By season’s end he was comfortable behind center, evident by his 275-yard passing performance at Port Angles and 341-yard game at Mt. Tahoma. In all, Belden passed for 1,135 passing yards and 13 touchdowns.
Don Heinrich is the yard stick that all Bremerton quarterbacks are measured by. He threw for 1,183 yards and 13 touchdowns in 1947, to lead the Wildcats to an undefeated Washington State football championship.
The modern era single season passing record holder is Joe Bollinger, often forgotten in Bremerton football annuals. The 2001 team he captain is the only 21st-Century team with a winning record, 5 wins and 4 losses. In time, it will be known if Bollinger’s 1,840 yards is an all-time Bremerton passing records.
Naturally modest, Belden did not expect to receive any league recognition this season. “I guess I was better than I thought I was,” he added. The league coaches recognized his effort with 2nd Team All-Olympic League honors.
Few high school teams produce a 1,000 yard rusher and a 1,000 yard passer in the same season. Like the 2007 Knights, the 1947 Wildcats did it. Starting fullback Jim Wiley had 1,023 yards in 1947.
In 2008 Belden will once again have Dimitri Alston to throw too. 376 receiving yard and 4 touchdowns earned Alston 1st Team All-Olympic honors.
Were the 2007 Knights as good as the 1947 Wildcats? Not by a long shot. But the 2007 team did etch itself a significant place in Bremerton football history.
 |
MARTINDALE |
Another 2007 players who left his mark on the program is two-time 1st Team All-Olympic League linebacker Chris Martindale. Martindale lead the West Sound in tackles last season and was the first Bremerton player in nearly a decade to be honored by the Kitsap Sun newspaper as an All-West Sound player.
“It was my goal to be the top linebacker in Kitsap County and possible in the state,” said Martindale. “I have been working out seven days a week, all year.”
But Martindale’s contribution to the team extended beyond his individual performance on the field. Martindale was a leader.
“Chris is one of the hardest working people that I know,” Abney added. “He is always in the weight room, always pushing everyone. His dedication sheds light on how hard individuals are working to turn this program around.”
 |
KENDRICK |
After each game Martindale took the time to watch game film and verify that the other Bremerton linebackers, his teammates, were being credited with the tackles they made. Martindale’s effort and concern paid off, as senior Richard Kendrick was named 1st Team All-Olympic League (linebacker) and senior Garrett Torchiani was name 2nd Team All-Olympic League (linebacker).
“The program has helped me to become better at what I do,” said Kendrick. “I am a much different person now than I was three years ago when I first came into the program as a sophomore.”
 |
TORCHIANI |
“During spring ball I was second string linebacker,” Torchiani explains. “I guess the coaches notices how hard I was working and decided to start me the first game. From that time on I did everything I could to stay in the starting line-up.”
At the team banquet, Martindale’s teammates honored him with the Most Inspirational Player award. What none of players and very few of the coaches realized, they were presenting Martindale with the older Bremerton team honor. Prior to ‘Mr. Football’, started by Coach Semancik in the early 50’s, ‘Most Inspirational’ was the highest honor a player could receive, dating back to the beginning of Bremerton football.
With so many Bremerton players receiving All-League honors, it is easy to forget someone.
 |
GRIFFIN |
Senior Alex Griffin was the only Knight to be honored on both sides of the ball. He garnered 2nd Team All-Olympic League Running Back and Defensive Back honors.
Senior John Wittenberg received 2nd Team All-Olympic League Offensive Line honors.
The future of Bremerton offensive line will be in the hands of 1st Team All-Olympic League Offensive Line A.J. Angle.
 |
ANGLE |
“I was very surprised to see my name in the paper,” Angle stated. “I am going to have to work hard this summer lifting weights, now that the other teams are award of me.”
2nd Team All-Olympic League Defensive Lineman Courtney Stone will anchor Bremerton’s defense next year.
Angle and Stone were both juniors this season.
“A Bremerton lineman has not been recognized by the league in some time,” Gillam added. “We were recognized not just once, but three times this year.”
For all seniors, the end of a season leaves a void that is often hard to fill.
“I miss it already,” Griffin explained.
Martindale’s, Kendrick’s, and Alston’s, attention is now focused on their final high school basketball season. Belden has two more season of hoops ahead of him.
Griffin must wait until the spring, before he can make another attempt at a state 200 meter champions. Wittenberg also competes in track.
Angle’s spring sport is baseball.