BATTLE GROUND — As mild-mannered of a player Takumi Veley is, the most experienced linemen on Hockinson’s football team, he isn’t one let emotions get the best of him.
Except for the most joyous moments.
Winning state championship will do that to you, as Hockinson has done the past two years with consecutive Class 2A undefeated seasons.
But then came last week’s late-game drive to seal a first-round state playoff win over Ellensburg, when Veley watched quarterback Levi Crum push through the roles created for the go-ahead score, and he let go on his emotions.
“At that point,” the senior said, “I started tearing up. We’re in the state quarterfinals.”
Nobody has more playoff experience — and playoff wins, for that matter – in Hockinson’s football program history than Veley. The 6-foot, 225-pounder has been a mainstay on the offensive line at right tackle and as an all-state center who’s grown this season into a go-to team leader.
And when they’ve needed it most.
Despite a season that’s had two NCAA Division I-caliber football players — reigning 2A state player of the year Sawyer Racanelli and all-state receiver Peyton Brammer — go down with injuries, and other player and personnel changes reshuffling in various positions, Hockinson (10-1) is back in the Class 2A state quarterfinals.
It faces a Lakewood of Arlington (9-1) team that’s advanced to the state semifinals once, but a place Veley and his teammates have frequented the past two seasons on Hockinson’s run to back-to-back titles.
This week, Veley reflected on a football career that’s winding down. He’s content not playing college football and making this Hawks team the last one he suits up for.
Whether that’s this Saturday’s 4 p.m. game at Battle Ground’s District Stadium or further in the playoffs, Veley wants one more chance to choke up for a good reason.
“I don’t want a quiet huddle on our knees,” he said. “I want to hold up a state trophy for the third time.”
Veley knows what it means to be a winner. He’s never missed a start in 39 career games and is part of 12 playoff victories.
In 2017, when he started all 14 games at right tackle on Hockinson’s first undefeated championship team, he was one of four sophomore starters. He quickly found a sense of belonging and a sense of being a varsity lineman.
Not at first glance, though.
Veley now jokes how he might be a starting running back instead of an all-league, All-Region, and all-state lineman. That’s because as a freshman, he played running back. Then came a proposal by head coach Rick Steele: keep playing running back, likely on junior-varsity or be a varsity right tackle.
Easy decision? Not quite. Veley declined the varsity offer, only for Steele to make up Veley’s mind for him.
“It was a rhetorical question,” he said. “Then I got into the groove of playing varsity football.”
Veley understands he’s undersized. At 6 feet and 225 pounds, his size and stature means he proves himself by using less strength and more technique.
Perhaps his biggest test he passed came in the 2017 state title game against Tumwater, when Veley held his own against the team’s all-league edge rusher. As that season progressed and Hockinson faced opponents with larger players on the defensive line, Veley understood what makes him standout.
“I realized that my size doesn’t work against those kids anymore,” he said. “It was a wake-up call I needed to focus on footwork.”
Veley shed 15 pounds from last season’s weight of 240, and has better mobility against speed rushers. He’s played three positions on the offensive line: right tackle, center and at times, left tackle.
That experience pays off when linemen have shuffled.
First-year starter Jake Rogers takes notice in how Veley’s knowledge, patience, and teaching tactics help make the junior at right guard. Seniors Ki Haden (left tackle), Troy Visnius (left guard) and Robert Flores (center) make up the offensive line’s other starters.
“We always know we have each other’s backs,” Rogers said. “I can always rely on him.
“He’s always a great leader and a good guy to look up to. He always gives me the confidence I need.”
Veley, starting the season at center where he played all of 2018, moved back to right tackle following the Hawks’ loss to Archbishop Murphy in Week 2. That snapped the team’s state-best 27-game winning streak.
But that was Hockinson’s last defeat. In recent weeks, the team has found success through its run game as part of a nine-game winning streak.
Against Centralia in a 59-7 win two weeks ago, the Hawks rushed for 383 yards, and in last week’s win over Ellensburg, got into a second-half groove to shutout the Bulldogs the final two quarters while turning to the ground on offense.
“That was the most fun I’ve had in a game,” Veley said. “A heavy formation is the definition of how a lineman should be.”
And that brand of football has the Hawks playing inspired going into Saturday behind senior-laden offensive line, including one looking for lucky playoff win No. 13.
“There’s nothing wrong with putting everything on the line,” Veley said, “because at this point, we have nothing to lose.
“These three seasons have been feeling like it’s been two weeks. … I didn’t expect it to be this quick. Let’s make the best of us, and go as far as we can.”
