Former Orcas Island High football player Josh Gage has traveled from walk-on linebacker to a scholarship player and starting linebacker for the Washington State Huskies in their season opener against Oregon.

Gage played two seasons at Orcas High School before his family moved to Huntington Beach, Calif. where he was selected Edison High School’s most valuable player as a linebacker and running back.

He did not receive a scholarship and decided to attend Washington State as a walk-on player. He did not play his first two seasons but was awarded a team Scout of the Year award by the team for his practices. He gradually worked his way up the depth chart while playing regularly on special teams. In 2007 he played in every game.

“He was a great player. His brothers Adam and Jordan both played for me. His father was an assistant coach here. They are quite a football family. Josh was a great kid to coach. He was a great teammate. We missed him when he moved to Calif. I watched him start against Oregon. I was rooting for him and the Huskies,” Coach Dennis Dahl says.

Gage says he learned many things from his coaches on Orcas. “I started playing football on Orcas when I was just a little guy. I was 9 years old. My coach was Denny Rancourt. From him I learned many of the great things football teaches you. I learned discipline, the plays and how to work in a structured format. I learned both discipline and toughness. I learned how to work as a team. In High School I had another great coach in Coach Dahl as well as my Dad, Mike Gage, and Scott Harris. From them I learned many of the same things and much more about the football aspect of things.”

He says his experiences on Orcas serve him well today in football and in his life. “In college, there are a ton of schedules to follow. I leaned how to prioritize when I was on Orcas and that is helping me now with football and my school work and I just recently got married so that is another new aspect of my life that I need to prioritize,” Gage says.

Memories of playing football on Orcas are still strong. “I remember the last year I played for the Kings, the game when we won the championship against Oak Harbor. I also remember from my freshman year the game we played against a team called On Alaska. It was the game before we went to the Tacoma Dome. We were into overtime. We were on defense. We decided to go for two for the win. I caught the ball and we won the quarterfinal that took us to the Tacoma Dome. That was a dog pile. It was so exciting. I also have great memories of playing with my brother and cousin.”

Gage says he still follows sports on Orcas. “Dad still helps with sports. I am close to Coach Dahl. I have some cousins who play sports on Orcas. My Uncle Greg Sasan is the volleyball coach. My family has been very involved in sports on Orcas and I keep up with what’s going on.”

Gage says playing football on Orcas was a great experience and a great part of his life.