High School Football: Ilwaco sets new course after a change at the helm
Crossing the Bar – Fishermen installing new schemes under Coach Fabela
Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com
High School Football
The Basics
Team: Ilwaco Fishermen
Head Coach: Francis Fabela, 1st Year
Helmets: Navy blue
League/Division: Central 2B League / West Division
Last Year’s Record: 5-5, 1-5 division
Lost 67-0 at Onalaska in Week 10 playoff crossover.
ILWACO — The Fishermen have spent their offseason getting to know a new head coach. Hall of Fame football coach Ron Rood was given the ol’ heave-hoh after three seasons fighting against the tide in Ilwaco, and things are fixing to look quite a bit different than the last time we saw the Fishermen.
Stepping into the captain’s seat is Francis Fabela, and prep football fans from Pacific County have probably heard his name before. The Astoria High School graduate spent five years coaching under Jeff Eaton in Naselle, and coached two seasons at Century High School in Hillsboro before that. Fabela has even coached on season at Southern Oregon University.
And all of that has led Fabela, 44, to this moment, where he’s hoping to be the right helmsman at the right time for Ilwaco.
“My background is with option football and a lot of what we have done over the years is spread based, so that’s the direction we’re going,” Fabela said.
But what about the rumors wafting in the from the coast that the Fisherermen are fixing to embrace the air attack like stunt-fliers at the Kite Festival? Well, turns out those are true, too.
“That’s the plan. We’re going to see what we can do,” Fabela said.
— Ilwaco assistant coach Eric McMillan throws passes to the Fishermen receiving corps during a preseason practice, Friday, Aug. 22, at Ilwaco High School. / Video by Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media —
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