When Mercer Island High School (MIHS) head football coach DJ Mims looks to the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, there stands coordinators Christian Chambers and Mo Drayton.
With Chambers running the offense and Drayton taking charge of the defense, the Islanders have unleashed sterling results by amassing a 9-0 overall record this season and outscoring their opponents by a whopping 400-75.
After topping the KingCo Mountain division table with a 6-0 record, the Islanders are set to leap into the postseason with a Nov. 9 battle at Kelso High School in the 3A District 1-6 playoffs. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Highlander Stadium. The winner qualifies for state.
With first-year junior starting quarterback and Eastside Catholic transfer Youngmin Lee — one of KingCo Mountain’s offensive players of the year — leading the way, Chambers and his players roll upon the gridiron from there. The Islanders are stacked with solid senior wide receivers in Kellen Eskridge, Elan Gotel, Charlie Chatalas and Ryder Davis who have lit up the scoreboard along with their fellow offensive teammates.
Coach Chambers delved into what’s given MIHS a massive spark in the offensive realm.
“It’s an amazing feeling because we pride ourselves in being prepared. We watch a lot of film. We find teams’ weaknesses and we really try to exploit them,” said Chambers, adding that when MIHS executes plays, it’s a testament to the Islanders’ hard work.
Three years ago, Chambers joined good friend Mims — this season’s KingCo Mountain coach of the year — to begin their MIHS journey. In total, they’ve coached high school football together for seven years and played college ball together at Malone University in Canton, Ohio, in 2011.
Friendship and football connect as one for the duo, Chambers said.
“We’ve always been good friends and we both just really love football. We love the offensive side of the ball. We’re both very innovative in play calling, so we just mesh really well together, honestly,” he said.
All things defense are placed in the sturdy hands of Drayton, who was named KingCo Mountain’s assistant coach of the year this season.
In his fifth year coaching at MIHS, Drayton praised the 10 senior starters and two other seniors for putting in their maximum effort each time the ball is snapped and helping the Islanders rack up copious victories.
A trio of seniors — safety Davis, cornerback Chatalas (or “Charzilla”) and linebacker Jack Buchan — are especially shining bright in the defensive sphere. Davis has been calling the MIHS defense since midway through sophomore year; Chatalas — the KingCo Mountain defensive player of the year — has notched seven interceptions and two pick-sixes; and Buchan has moved from an outside to an inside position and has roamed all over the place to shut down the opposition.
“It has been a joy to go out and watch these guys have success. I know how hard they work. And I know the hours they put in, especially this (senior) class, the amount of film they watch and the things that they do,” said Drayton, adding that the seniors have grown up to become a sensational defense after dealing with a harsh winless season as sophomores.
The Islanders’ halt-the-run-first philosophy forces their opponents to become one-dimensional, Drayton said.
“And given the fact that the strength of our team is our secondary, the back guys, they play into our hands when they hit the throw,” he said. “And because our offense is so explosive, most teams are playing from behind.”
Rolling back to offensive coordinator Chambers, he smiled when noting that football occupies his mind most of the time.
“I love football a lot. When I’m not watching film, I’m watching football or drawing up plays. I take football very serious. It’s definitely a passion,” said Chambers, adding that the coaches have a special group of players on the squad this season.
Next up, Kelso.
