Anacortes football head coach Justin Portz said the Seahawks will need to be perfect to defeat powerhouse Tumwater for the second year in a row in the upcoming 2A state title match.
Last year, Anacortes completed a perfect 13-0 season, claiming its first-ever state title under previous coach Travis Anderson.
“To defeat Tumwater, we need perfection,” said Portz, who is also the athletic director. “They are a machine with 100 kids compared to our 40. Everyone has to do their job. It will come down to playmakers making plays.”
In December 2023, the Seahawks’ 60 points — including 34 unanswered in the first half — set a 2A state championship game record, and Anacortes defeated top-seeded Tumwater, 60-30.
“I know it will not be 60-30 this time,” Portz said. “We caught them off guard and got ahead.”
The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Husky Stadium in Seattle.
One man at the center of it all is Portz, who was an assistant with the team at its lowest point, from 2018–20, and its head coach from 2021–22.
“When I was hired to be the head coach here, I told them I’ve coached football my entire life and plan to continue doing it until you bury me under the 50-yard line,” Portz said. “When the AD job opportunity came, it was always my plan to continue coaching football but the school district wanted a plan in place while I transitioned to learning a new job.”
Portz was hired as the school’s athletics director ahead of the 2023 season and was forced to give up head coaching duties. So he passed the reins over to then-assistant Travis Anderson while moving himself to an assistant.
Anderson and Portz discussed the process of building the program and did not want to disrupt the rhythm of progression by changing coaches once again. So when Anderson decided to step down a few days after the 2023 state title game to move closer to family, Portz took over the reins once again.
“Travis was an instrumental piece to rebuilding this program and he left Anacortes football better than he found it,” Portz said. “I continued coaching and we just kept things rolling.”
Portz has dealt with obstacles in the 2024–25 season, including several injuries to a roster that has only 43 players, including the key position of quarterback. In addition, another perfect season ended when Anacortes lost to Archbishop Murphy 34-28.
But the Seahawks used the loss as a way to provide a new spark to its offense.
Two much to handle
When the Seahawks won last season, Rex Larson was the starting quarterback, but he graduated and sophomore Ryan Harrington took over as the starting QB this season.
“We just know that nobody is bigger than each other,” Harrington said. “We are all a team, respond and listen to each other and work together.”
Harrington began his varsity career with a 4-1 record, including victories against Handsworth Secondary (66-0), Sehome (35-7), Lynden (35-21) and Squalicum (49-7). In those five games, Harrington threw for 1,242 yards and 12 passing touchdowns.
Harrington was injured in the loss to Archbishop Murphy and missed the remainder of the regular season. Wide receiver Brady Beaner stepped up as the starting quarterback.
“I bring more of a run game threat,” Beaner said. “I can throw the ball, too, but (Ryan) can throw perfect dots 24/7.”
Before this season, Beaner had thrown four passes for 17 yards in his career. This season, he finished the regular season with 950 passing yards, 600 rushing yards and 450 receiving yards.
Harrington returned from injury against Foster and threw six passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
After the Foster game, Portz said, “We will see about our quarterbacks because we have options. Since we were forced into that situation and know what Brady can do and Ryan has other things he can do, it is a lot for teams to prepare for. I like it that way.”
Since Harrington’s return, the offense has scored the most single-season points (632) since at least 2000.
“When Ryan came back, we were 10 times more explosive,” Beaner said. “I can go out to wide receiver and Ryan could throw a 50-yard bomb. It is good to have him back.”
The two-quarterback system has allowed Anacortes to do run-pass options, screens, deep passes, play action and more. The Seahawks plan to use their tactic against Tumwater.
Defense has shut down opponents “Eazily”
If you ask Portz or the defense who they would rely on with two minutes left in the game, both of them will choose the defense.
“We always got to go with the defense,” Portz said. “I trust our guys on both sides of the ball but it is hard to say we wouldn’t go with our defense. Those guys have dominated all year and it takes the pressure off.”
Anacortes’ defense is led by Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year Elias “Eazy” Quintino.
“Having Brady and Brock Beaner make a lot of teams key on them,” Quintino said. “I get to do what I want and beat the offensive line.”
The 5-foot-8, 190-pound defensive lineman finished the regular season with 56 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception. The Seahawks have allowed only 107 points this season, their lowest amount since the 2021–22 season.
Quintino believes this defense had a fire lit under them after losing to Archbishop Murphy.
“We step out there, have fun, congratulate each other, but it all starts with the film,” Quentin said. “We are always finding ways to suffocate the offense.”
Since the loss, the Seahawks defense has only allowed 38 points and given themselves the nickname of “Legion of Boom,” in homage to the Seattle Seahawks defense from 2012–2015.
“We have speed and anger,” Quintino said. “We are like sharks out there, we follow the ball.”
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
