QUINCY — This season, the Jacks will be under a new leadership but led by a familiar face: Seth Longwill. Longwill takes over as the Jacks new head coach this season and is focused on taking a different approach to practice.  

“We're really going to focus on doing the practices the right way," Longwill said. “We've already talked about our mentality in the off-season as well in the weight room and everything."  

Longwill spent five years as an assistant coach and the last three as a defensive coordinator for the Jacks. Now he takes over as their leader as they head into their second season back in the Central Washington Athletic Conference.  

In their first year in the CWAC, the Jacks went 1-8. As they prepare for the 2025 season, Longwill said they are readjusting their mindset to be able to finish games.  

“We played some really good first halves or good quarters, and it's just the final score. That's what we're just trying to stress to the players is that we can't just play one or two quarters. We got to play four quarters,” Longwill said.  

Longwill said he plans to coach the players not to focus solely on the bigger picture but rather, the smaller moments and details. He wants them to take their games one play at a time and give full effort each time, rather than focus on what the scoreboard says. He’s met with the players throughout the summer, and they share the same vision, he said.  

The Jacks turned out around 40 players for this season. Longwill said with a smaller roster than he’s used to. Their game plan will look to utilize the smaller and quicker players to get the ball out more.  

As their first few practices were underway, Longwill feels optimistic about the layout of his roster with multiple experienced players poised to step up. One longtime starter for the Jacks is quarterback Pierce Bierlink. In his senior season, Bierlink is confident the Jacks are going to tough to beat.  

“Quincy football? A team to look out for,” he said. “We're going to be dangerous.” 

Bierlink said he is optimistic about Longwill taking over as head coach. He believes the new offense they are running will favor the Jacks throughout the season.  

Other key fixtures of the Jacks football team include Jace Reyes, Max Serrano and Carson Burwick, all of whom have started since their sophomore seasons. Longwill said he plans to call on them as leaders of the team as they build a winning program.  

“These are guys that have been playing vital roles, and now they're going to step up and be the leaders of the team. We're banking on that to kind of flip that switch a little bit more for (team) mentally,” Longwill said.  

According to Bierlink, the team last year struggled to gel together. As they head into the new season, he feels confident they are on the right path to get there, he said.  

“We're going to be more as a team. Last year people weren't really meshing with each other well, and I just think this year we're all kind of coming together for the same cause,” Bierlink said.  

Longwill said he’s hopeful that this season can spark a larger turnout for football in future seasons. An alumnus of Quincy High School, he recalled over 80 players making up the Jacks football roster. For him, it’s important to convey to potential players the positive experience they could get out of suiting up in the green and yellow. If the players are having fun, then the higher turnout will come, he said.  

The Jacks open their season Sept. 5 on the road against Selah, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. 

“We're just trying to put it all together; we're not trying to go take off and blast like a rocket. We just want to keep building our momentum,” Longwill said.  

    Jacks football players run 7v7 drills in their first practice with pads on. Carson Burwick, second from right, charges at the right tackle in an effort to get after the quarterback.
  

    Jacks running back Max Serrano running through footwork drills during practice. Serrano has been a starter for the Jacks since his sophomore season.
  

    Jacks football player Conner Galloway takes snaps at linebacker during their first practice with pads.
  

    A Quincy ball carrier advances upfield while being tackled by East Valley (Yakima) defenders. The Jacks are heading into their second season in the Central Washington Athletic Conference.