CHIEF LESCHI WARRIORS
League: 1A/2B Northwest League (2B)
Coach: Sauni Savini, fifth year
2011 record: 0-8, 8th in league.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Sauni Savini (west coast). Returning starters – 3. Top players – TE Joseph Ancheta, 6-0, 170, fr.; OL Jacob Champagne-Grey, 6-0, 250, fr.; RB Julian Dillon, 5-7, 155, soph.; QB Gregorio Merida, 5-9, 160, sr.; RB Gustavo Taraya, 5-8, 160, jr.; OL Kyle Wheeler, 6-0, 250, jr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Kirk Willis (5-2). Returning starters – 5. Top players – DB John Cultee, 5-8, 155, sr.; LB John Galler, 5-9, 165, sr.; DB Darion Lovejoy, 5-10, 155, soph.; DL Larry Swift, 5-9, 250, jr.; DL Brandon Wheeler, 6-2, 200, soph.
Outlook: The annual rite at Chief Leschi, no matter the size of the student, is breaking in new football players. This year’s group is no exception, even though this is a ninth-grade class with good size on both lines. One standout who did come to the school with football experience was Dillon, who rushed for 620 yards last season as a freshman.
ELMA EAGLES
League: 1A Southwest Washington Evergreen Division (1A)
Coach: Jim Hill, 18th year
2011 record: 4-5, 4th in league.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Jim Hill (spread). Returning starters – 9. Top players – WR Erick Atkins, 6-1, 190, sr.; OL Austin Black, 5-11, 180, sr.; RB Brian Magler, 5-8, 170, sr.; RB Layne Sutten, 6-2, 175, sr.; QB Todd Swinhart, 5-8, 150, jr.; OL Joe Wilson, 6-4, 230, soph.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Ron Clark (4-3). Returning starters – 8. Top players – DL Austin Black, 5-11, 180, sr.; LB Ricky Escalante, 5-8, 190, jr.; DB Brian Magler, 5-8, 170, sr.; DB Layne Sutten, 6-2, 175, sr.; DB Todd Swinhart, 5-8, 150, jr.; DL Joe Wilson, 6-4, 230, soph.
Outlook: The state-playoff dry spell has reached six seasons. That is saying a lot about one of the premier small-school programs in the 1990s, which advanced to nine consecutive postseasons (1997-2005). And maybe the biggest offseason development was Hill bringing back Clark – who resigned at Aberdeen – as an assistant.
FOSTER BULLDOGS
League: 2A/3A Seamount League (2A)
Coach: Jim Sutrick, fourth year
2011 record: 4-6, 5th in league
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Jim Sutrick (I-formation). Returning starters – 4. Top players – QB Cory Anderson, 6-0, 185, sr.; RB Devin Brown, 5-9, 170, jr.; OL Chris Merida, 5-9, 200, sr.; WR Justice Muna, 5-7, 160, jr.; OL Michael Pham, 5-7, 240, sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Jay Freeman (5-2). Returning starters – 5. Top players – LB Micah Breland, 6-2, 220, sr.; DB JaLyn Combs, 5-10, 170, sr.; DL Pensamini Kaea, 6-2, 230, sr.; LB Cameron Myers, 6-0, 235, so.; DL Phillip Saau, 5-11, 230, sr.
Outlook: The Bulldogs backed up their state-playoff campaign of 2010 (second one in school history) by winning four games. Sutrick thinks this season’s offense will fare better, and Brown will get first crack at replacing two-year starting tailback Cedric Cooper (1,500 rushing yards total in past two seasons).
TACOMA BAPTIST CRUSADERS
League: 1A/2B Northwest League (2B)
Coach: Mark Smith, 22nd year
2011 record: 9-3, 1st in league; lost in 2B quarterfinals.
Offense: Coordinators (set) – Ace Davis, Mark Smith (spread option). Returning starters – 5. Top players – OL Jon Halstensenm 5-11, 195, jr.; RB Brandon Hughey, 5-10, 170, sr.; TE Drew Jordan, 6-0, 180, sr.; QB Taylor Martindale, 6-2, 200, sr.; OL Caleb Wolf, 5-10, 180, sr.
Defense: Coordinators (set) – Kevin Guenzi, Mark Smith (multiple). Returning starters – 5. Top players – LB Jon Halstensenm 5-11, 195, jr.; LB Brandon Hughey, 5-10, 170, sr.; DB Drew Jordan, 6-0, 180, sr.; DB Taylor Martindale, 6-2, 200, sr.; DL Caleb Wolf, 5-10, 180, sr.
Outlook: After going to the spread option, the Crusaders have not looked back – and have a real dual threat in Martindale, a three-year starter. And without a blocker such as Walker Williams (now at Wisconsin), Tacoma Baptist will be more perimeter-oriented with its attack. Martindale, the team’s leading rusher and passer (2010-11), has the speed to adapt.
Todd Milles, staff writer
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