Players make most of chance to play again

BY GAIL WOOD
THE OLYMPIAN
www.theolympian.com

This article appeared in the July 2, 2000 edition of the The Olympian newpaper
Reprinted with permission of the Olympian

QB Jake Winslow and Reid connected 5 times for 91 yards and 2 scores in their 24-13 victory over the Oregon Panthers (August 5, 2000).

TUMWATER - It was one question Jake Winslow couldn't answer.

Winslow had graduated from Tumwater High School in 1996, supposedly ending what had seemed to be a promising career as an athlete. Would have been, could have been. It was his curse.

"I had felt that I had let it all go down the drain," Winslow said.

But Winslow doesn't need to wonder any more. He now has the opportunity that family problems took away from him in high school.

To even his surprise, Winslow is the starting quarterback for the Washington Cavaliers of the semi-pro Northwest Football League.

Thanks to the league, Winslow, and hundreds of athletes like him, have extended their days in football.

"The biggest thin is I answered that I can do it," Winslow said.

Rikki Reid, a 1995 graduate of Timberline High School also knows he can do it and now so do some college coaches.

WR Rikki Reid finished tied for 6th in the league in receiving in 2000 and earned 3rd Team All League honors despite missing the last 4 games to play college football at Dakota Wesleyan.

Reid, who played two years at Walla Walla Community College, has been Winslow's favorite receiver this season.

Reid was an honorable mention all-league receiver in college, but that was three years ago.

A few days ago, Reid got a call from a coach at Dakota Wesleyan, a NCCA Division II school.

The coach asked for some game tapes and arranged a campus visit to talk about a possible scholarship.

"Playing in this league helped me out," Reid said. "It's given me a chance to play college football again."

What it has given to Winslow is the chance to play, period.

Winslow never played varsity football in high school. He turned out as a senior but had to quit because of troubles at home. His mother had to go into a rehabilitation center.

"That was the end of my senior career," Winslow said. "I had to go home and take care of my four brothers and sisters."