Photo Gallery: R.A. Long football fortifies its foundation in preseason workouts

Potty Talk – Lumberjacks laying down the law at renovated Longview Memorial Stadium

Aug 24, 2025

R.A. Long players move through their mobility stretches during warmups at preseason camp on Thursday, Aug. 21, at R.A. Long High School. The Lumberjacks are looking to make a big push up front this season as they compete for a playoff spot out of the 2A GSHL. / Photos by Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media

Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Images by Skyler Smith (Framed Photography) for Blast Zone Media

High School Football

There have been many changes made at Longview Memorial Stadium over the offseason. Many of those upgrades have focused on fan accessibility and safety, but other changes have focused on making the Mark Morris Monarchs feel more at home when they trek across Lake Sacajawea for games and practices.

There will be more red paint, and (gasp!) maybe even some Columbia Blue here and there. And the resident Lumberjacks even had to sacrifice some locker room space to the greater good, while the Monarchs received a few upgrades to their former cinder block cavern in the bowels of the stadium.

Those are all nice gestures in the name of equity between Longview’s public high school, but R.A. Long head football coach Jon Barker is only willing to extend the olive branch so far. And that makes sense. In any home, there must be boundaries in order to avoid predictable and recurring conflicts; especially after a remodel in a house divided.

But construction work isn’t completely wrapped up just yet. And that means minor inconveniences at times, and awkward interactions between cohabitating cross-town rivals.

Take for instance that moment last week a Mark Morris coach dared duck into the Lumberjacks’ coaches office to ask if he could save a few steps and use their restroom. But with R.A. Long’s own locker room still in disarray as the Jacks work overtime to move back into their full-time home, the request for some cooperative potty-time was at least one squirrel bridge too far.

That is to say, permission was not granted.

Specifically, Barker retorted, “This isn’t your end of the house, bud.” And the nameless MM staffer was left with no choice but to look for relief elsewhere.

And thus, the season’s first line in the sand was drawn. If the Lumberjacks have their way, it won’t be the last.

— R.A. Long player sprint through a ladder drill before colliding with a tackling wheel during preseason camp on Thursday, Aug. 21, at R.A. Long High School. / Video by Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media —

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The Lumberjacks had about 50 players in camp during the first week, but only the most diehard R.A. Long fans will be able to recognize many names and faces. That’s because the Jacks graduated a platoon of starters in the offseason, including big hitters and playmakers like TraMayne Jenkins and Franklin Pihl.

“We’ve got a fairly decent size freshman contingent coming in,” Barker noted. “We have a big (senior) class at the top and a big class at the bottom, and we’re trying to grow the classes in between.”

The Lumberjacks will return Jaxon Rivenes under center for another season at quarterback. However, they are light on experience at wide receiver for the first time in recent memory.

— R.A. Long linebackers pursue a ball carrier running off an empty line of scrimmage during minicamp on Thursday, Aug. 21, at R.A. Long High School. / Video by Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media —

“Our strength coming back is we have a lot of returning experience on the line,” Barker noted.

R.A. Long has been working to get everyone up to speed on base formations and reads. That includes putting the finishing touches on the new offense the Jacks began installing in spring camp. That means the days of three-hour two-a-days, and 227 up-downs beneath a blistering sun have been relegated to the dust-bin.

“We’re more trying to accomplish football type stuff, but we do it at a pace where it’s conducive to conditioning,” Barker explained.

— R.A. Long head coach Jon Barker (whit shirt, bucket hat) pulls a dummy bag while his Lumberjacks practice gator roll tackles during preseason camp on Thursday, Aug. 21, at R.A. Long High School. / Video by Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media —

The Lumberjacks have been splitting time in the weight room and on the actual gridiron as they look to shore up their foundation at each position. They’ve also been making sure to get time on the artificial turf at The Stadium to begin most practices, before moving out to the back pasture along the evergreen hedge of Larch Street.

That’s another area where Barker has put his foot down. Last year he felt like his team was wasn’t granted enough time to grow accustomed to the fake grass at Longview Memorial. So this year he’s been sure to fight for, “more time on the carpet.”

It’s a mentality the Lumberjacks are hoping will carry over to the field come kickoff time. Last season R.A. Long rattled off its first three-game win streak in a decade, but was unable to maintain that momentum over the final five weeks and missed out on a playoff spot. This time around, the Jacks are planning on getting the last laugh; and they can say it all started by being petty over the potty.

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in a series of preseason prep football coverage from Blast Zone Media. Be sure to check in at Blast Zone Media for the latest stories, photos, and videos, including in depth coverage on the R.A. Long Lumberjacks and the rest of the teams in The Blast Zone.

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