The La Center Wildcats will face stiff competition in the opening three weeks of the season, which head coach John Lambert will be important in the fierce 1A Trico League.
If the team knocks out eight wins just like last year, that would mark career win number 200 for Lambert as he enters this season at 192 career coaching wins, but that doesn’t even cross his mind, he said.
“It’s never easy. We have a tough non-league schedule, too,” Lambert said. “We got Monetsano and Woodland and Napavine to start the season.”
First, Montesano, the team that knocked the Wildcats out of the playoffs last year, will march into the stadium at La Center High School in week one, but the Wildcats are ready for revenge with hungry players. Next, a classic rivalry with Woodland is never easy as the Beavers are the reigning back-to-back 2A Greater St. Helens League champs. And lastly, for the third non-league matchup, Napavine, a massive name on the schedule as the Tigers are the reigning back-to-back 2B classification runner-ups and are seeking a third straight state title game ticket.
“I think our guys will be really challenged,” Lambert said. “I think that’s the key part of it. We don’t want a cream puff where we just have a running clock or some situation like that, and so we’ll find out where we’re at really quick, and we’re going to be a lot better.”
The week three matchup against Napavine High School will also be on the road in an unknown environment as La Center has never been there.
After the non-league slate, La Center enters a 1A Trico-League schedule with tough games against the likes of Kalama, King’s Way, Castle Rock and the reigning 1A state runner-up, Seton Catholic.
“(The Trico League) has gotten a lot better, and so it makes us a better team to have a better league,” Lambert said. “You know, a high tide raises all boats, so, that’s important that as a league that we continue to progress and not just revert back to where we were 10 years ago.”
After graduating nine starting seniors, the La Center Wildcats replenish with 13 eager seniors who would have had more playing time last year if it weren’t for the stellar class of 2025. But a junior is at the helm, as the Wildcats’ 2024-25 all-state kicker Nate Rembisz will step into the starting quarterback role this year.
“He’s made tremendous progress in the weight room and the field and practice,” Lambert said. “I think he’s got a really good connection with these guys.”
The Wildcats also have Gavin Emerson at running back with a fast but physical approach as well as two returning offensive lineman to anchor the trenches.
