Small Player Comes Up Big For CV Mcfarlane Goes Fast So He Can Hit Hard; Kamiakin Up Next
One of the smallest players on a team of football giants, Central Valley High’s Nate McFarlane has for three years made a big impact.
Pound for pound, CV coach Rick Giampietri has repeatedly said, the Bear defensive back is the hardest hitter on the team.
“Coach told me when I was a running back that instead of taking hits to deliver hits,” said McFarlane. “I apply that to tackling as well.”
His strategy, he said, is to run at the ball carrier as fast as he can and make the first contact. If they are big, he tries to take their legs out, hold on and wait for help.
“Like coaches say, it’s velocity times whatever,” he said. “The faster you go, the harder you hit.”
McFarlane has been knocking down opposing ball carriers for three seasons as a starting defender. In that time, the Bears have gone 25-6.
They have also made three state football playoff appearances.
Last week’s two victories, over Wenatchee and Pasco, gave CV a school-best 10 wins and put the team deeper into the state football playoffs than any other in school history.
“Our goal at the beginning was to go all the way,” said McFarlane. “I don’t think most people thought we’d get this far.”
McFarlane weighed a mere 135 pounds when he got his first start as a sophomore. His mother hadn’t wanted him to play football in junior high, let alone high school.
Still, CV coaches liked what they saw in McFarlane despite the fact his sizeable teammates at Evergreen Junior High got the notoriety.
“He just had a nose for the football,” said defensive backs coach Barry Poffenroth. “He was a good cover guy one-on-one even as a sophomore. He’s one of the most aggressive defensive backs I’ve had since I’ve coached.”
That has been both good and bad. McFarlane’s penchant for the big play sometimes has gotten him into trouble when he has bitten on run fakes or missed when trying for an interception.
McFarlane, now grown to 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, makes big plays more often than not.
Against Pasco, during Saturday’s 17-14 win, McFarlane had a long punt return that set up a touchdown and helped CV control much of the second half.
“They thought he was tackled three times,” said Giampietri, “and was an ankle flip from a touchdown.”
He also had seven tackles, one of them coming late in the game to help preserve the win.
Pasco quarterback Scott Biglin had shaken off a tackle at midfield and threatened to score when McFarlane helped bring him down at CV’s 20. Pasco missed a game-tying field goal four plays later.
It was a game much like last Tuesday’s win over Wenatchee, in which CV dominated for long stretches at a time, then gave up scores following momentary lapses.
“They had no offense until we fumbled a punt. They had no offense until the very last drive,” said Giampietri. “We pounded them the whole game and they almost squeaked it out.”
But Pasco, unbeaten until then, came up short setting up Saturday’s State 4A quarterfinals game between CV and Kamiakin. The game at Lampson Field in Kennewick begins at 1 p.m. That game will mark the third straight year that the Bears and Braves have played. Twice before the Braves have ended CV’s season. Third time, CV players and coaches hope, will be a charm.
“The last two times I remember they were pretty big and hit pretty hard,” said McFarlane. “If we have a good game, I think we can come out on top.”
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