High school football teams around the state will take to fields today for the first official practices of the 2010 season.
Optimism reigns supreme at every program, no matter the results of last season. With that in mind, here are five things to watch for through the 2010 season:
How will realignment affect local leagues?
In the South Sound, the most intriguing league to watch might be the newly-formed Narrows League 3A. Foss, Lincoln and Wilson are now competing with schools of their size and that should help when it comes to securing playoff berths. The three Tacoma schools won’t have an easy time in the new league, though. Capital and Timberline have had success lately and Yelm has shown flashes of potential.
The new SPSL 2A is also intriguing. Former Nisqually League members Eatonville, Fife, Steilacoom and Washington joined with ex-SPSL 3A schools Clover Park, Franklin Pierce, Sumner and White River. What teams will assert themselves as league powers?
The SPSL South might be the most quarterback-heavy league in the state.
A year ago, only one of the league’s nine teams returned a starting quarterback. This season, the SPSL South is stacked with experienced signal-callers. Bethel’s Justin Hordyk, Curtis’ Tyler Jamison, Graham-Kapowsin’s Drew Austin and Federal Way’s Nick Tanielu all threw for more than 1,100 yards last season.
There might be more talented quarterbacks in other parts of the state, but few leagues will be able to match the SPSL South’s depth at the position. That should make the league race an exciting one.
Will any teams kick or punt to Rahmel Dockery?
Probably not, unless they’re forced to. By the end of the 2009 season, teams did everything they could to keep the ball out of the Curtis dynamo’s hands. Even then, the strategy sometimes didn’t work, though.
Dockery, who also plays receiver and defensive back, is the rare high school football player who truly can score from anywhere on the field. Last season, he averaged an astounding 39.5 yards per kick return, including two touchdowns, and 19.9 yards per punt return and one score.
Will Skyline continue to dominate Class 4A?
The Spartans have won the last two 4A state championships – the title winning streak is three years if you include the 2007 3A crown – but Skyline has a big void to fill.
Quarterback Jake Heaps, a three-year starter, has graduated and is playing at Brigham Young University. In Heaps’ place is sophomore quarterback Max Browne. He’s unproven as a starter but boasts loads of potential and has the bloodlines to win – older brother Mitch set Skyline’s single-season record for passing yards when he threw for 3,216 and led the Spartans to the 2000 3A title.
Of course, Browne will have receiver Kasen Williams to target, too.
Preseason contenders to end Skyline’s streak include Auburn, Bothell, Curtis, Gig Harbor, Gonzaga Prep and Skyview. Of course, by the time the championship game is played in the first week of December, a new crop of challengers might have arisen.
Can anyone knock off Bellevue?
In 2009, the Wolverines won a second straight 3A title and their seventh in nine seasons. The Bellevue machine is well-known for its detailed execution on offense, though its defense is just as effective, despite being overshadowed by its precise wing-T attack.
Of the teams that will give Bellevue a challenge, the top contender might come from within the Wolverines’ league. Liberty returns most of its skill players from a team that reached the state finals and must be aching for a shot to take down Bellevue. Other teams aiming for the state title game include Camas, Capital, Glacier Peak, Kamiakin, Lakes and O’Dea.
At least that’s how it looks on the first day of practice.
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271 doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/preps
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