La Center Wildcats head coach John Lambert donned his 1997 “La Center Football” hat from his very first head coaching win on Friday, Oct. 24.
That hat ended up being a part of Lambert’s 200th career head coaching win as the Wildcats routed the Kalama Chinooks 42-16. The win sets up a 1A Trico League title bout against Seton Catholic on Friday, Oct. 31, as both teams enter undefeated in league play.
After the clock struck zero and Lambert was doused in water by his players, the Wildcat student section held up signs reading “200” while the cheerleaders unfolded a large banner that read, “Coach Lambert’s 200th Win.”
The win marked the first time a Clark County high school football coach reached 200 career victories entirely at one school. Lambert has been the head coach since 1999 when his first career win came against Hoquiam High School in week one.
“It’s a reflection of the people I’ve had around me,” Lambert said. “I can’t do this on my own.”
Prior to Lambert’s tenure as head coach, La Center was named by USA Today in the 1980s as having the nation’s longest high school losing streak, according to previous reporting by The Reflector. School historians have combed through all the yearbooks and have discovered that no other coach has posted more than 17 wins in the 80 years before Lambert.
Lambert told reporters that he intends on staying as head coach of the Wildcats until the 2035 season, when he and his wife Kerry’s youngest son will be a senior in high school. But Lambert said he loves what he teaches, who he coaches and the community.
“Why would I stop something I enjoy?” Lambert said, referring to the likelihood of coaching beyond the 2035 season.
In the big win against the Kalama Chinooks, running back Gaven Emerson had four rushing touchdowns while Landen Randall’s efforts moved the ball up and down the field with quarterback Nate Rembisz at the helm.
“It’s a great win,” Rembisz said. “We have a bigger opponent next week, and I think this just prepares us for that. I mean, the biggest thing is celebrating coach’s 200th win. So we’re all proud of him and we’re just happy to be his players. It really means a lot to us.”
For Rembisz, being a part of La Center football history like this means a lot to him as the starting quarterback after being told last year by Lambert that he will have the job for his senior season.
Now, the Wildcats will square off against the Seton Catholic Cougars on the road as Lambert’s quest for another 100 wins begins as win No. 201 could mean a 1A Trico League title. The matchup is set to take place on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. at Seton Catholic College Preparatory in Vancouver.
