Coach’s Corner

WAITSBURG -- Offensively speaking, the 2011 Cardinals were hard to beat and we were at the top of our game a year ago.

In my 13 years as head coach, we had our no. 1 scoring offense (41.1 per game) and no. 4 total offense (385.5 yards per game). It was our no. 2 passing offense (171.5 per game) and no. 4 rush- ing offense (214 yards per game).

In addition to that, we did not turn the ball over with a (+16) turnover margin (only 2010 was better at +20). Mistake-free foot- ball and talented kids with some creative coaching all added up to a 14-0 State Championship team.

Matching this may not be easy, but we will attempt to do it. We are looking forward to all the challenges that face our team. It is the challenges like this that makes it interesting each year as each year is a different team and each year brings new challenges.

Regarding numbers, we have a large turnout. We have 16 se- niors, six juniors, 11 sophomores and 10 freshmen making up at this point a 45-man roster. In terms of B football, that is a big turnout. And, in case you are wondering where the 45 kids hail from, four are from Prescott, 12 attend Jubilee and 29 are from Waitsburg. This week I will break down the team from an offensive perspective. Next week will be defense and special teams.

KEY OFFENSIVE

LOSSES

Zach Bartlow (B2 and Seattle Times Player of the year); Cad- man Donovan (All-State Offen- sive Tackle), Eshom Estes (All State Offensive Tackle), Dustin Wooderchak (WR), Justin Zuger (WR).

OFFENSIVE LINE

We have three starters return- ing in the offensive line. Ben Shafer (6-4, 223 pounds senior., OG) and Nick Pearson (5-11, 231 lbs. Jr., center) return as does Chance Leroue (6-1, 191 pounds, sophomore, OG). Chance, how- ever, has been moved to WR and TE. Replacing our two all- state offensive tackles (Cadman Donovan and Eshom Estes) will be senior Tucker Alleman (6-1, 192 pounds) and junior Dalton LeRue (5-11, 158 pounds). Both had very good spring practices and both are excited. Eshom and Cadman both were big and physical and Tucker and Dalton cannot possess their size and strength. But, both are intelligent players and possess good technique. Dalton has speed that we don't usually see in the offensive line. It has been impressive. And Tucker can play any spot. He knows our offense inside and out and has been a utility guy for a long time. Replacing Chance at guard is junior Nate Bartlow (6-0, 209 pounds). Nate has shown promise at right guard. Brendon Donovan (5-10, 164 pounds) is a top back up right now, but is looking to push for time. Danny Stansell (5-4, 192), Nick Lindsey (6-0, 255) as well as Chance (if necessary) will be top backups in the offensive line.

RUNNING BACKS

All League running back Billy Brown Returns for his senior season (1,325 yards rushing and 12 TDs in 2011) and will be a force at tail back. Billy is a sprinter in track and has a fifth gear. He is big and physical and loves to run the football. Complementing him when we go to a two running back set will be Dalton Estes. Dalton's primary position will be WR where he was all-league and all-state. I feel we need to get Dalton the football more than a year ago and to do that, we have to be creative. We feel good about the one-two punch that they could create together. Other athletes that will contribute in the backfield will be Danny Stansell and James Thompkins.

WIDE RECEIVER

We run the spread and that means we have up to four WR on the field on any given play. Gone are two outstanding targets that graduated in Dustin Wooderchak (31 catches) and Justin Zuger (32 catches). Also gone is sopho- more Devin Acevedo (33 catch- es) who was injured in spring football and was lost for the season. That is a lot to lose in one season (96 catches). In addition to those loses are current injuries that has hit our WR unit over the summer. Both Alex Dill (thumb) and Roy Ebong ( hamstring) figured in the mix at WR, but both are injured. What we have back is Dalton Estes (57 catches, 940 yards and 17 TD's). He is a weapon and will be asked to not only catch footballs, but run from the slot, from the backfield and from the QB spot. The conversion of Chance from OL in 2011 to WR in 2012 is very important be- cause of what we are missing at WR. He will be asked to play TE in our heavy sets and two back sets. Sophomore Luke Alexenko and junior Kevin Glover have been impressive so far and are both looking to possibly start against Heppner on Aug. 31. Ju- nior Chad Pearson will also be in the mix for playing time.

QUARTERBACK

Gone is Zach Bartlow (33 TD tosses and 1,418 rushing yards) and his experience in winning games (35-3 as a starter). He was the duel threat QB who will be missed. Replacing him are two seniors, Sterling Eastman and Dalton Estes. We have Sterling penciled in to start and we see him playing there all year. He has a great arm and is a decent runner. He was significant in our junior varsity team (5-1 record), but this is a big step up compared to that. We feel that we have to create a package that will give him time to throw and be suc- cessful that way. If we can throw with success we believe Billy will have a huge season again as it will spread the field.

Sterling can run the ball well and can scramble well. He proved that this spring. But his arm is his strength and he can throw the ball and is accurate. Dalton will back Sterling up as he will be starting at WR and oc- casionally run the ball out of the backfield. He can run our offense from the QB position, too, and may be called on to do so. He knows the offense and can play in a number of spots, making him extremely valuable.

COACHING

New to the offensive side of the ball will be Troy Larsen. Troy has been with me for 12 of my 14 years and will be running the offense. Troy takes the place of TJ Scott who is now teaching and coaching in Alaska. Troy is excit- ed about the opportunity to work with the offense. He will work with the QB's and receivers. Troy will give up his special teams coordinator position (doing that all 12 of those years) to run the offense. Mark Hauck, the Jubilee Youth Ranch athletic director, has been hired and will run the special teams taking Troy's place and will work with the wide re- ceivers. Allen Wilson, in his sixth year with the program, will again run the offensive line. Helping him as a volunteer coach is his son, Josh Wilson. Josh has been really nice to have on our team. He last played for me in 2008 and was an all-league player for me at OT. He knows the system and has been a huge asset with the big turnout we have.

As the head coach, I will work with the running backs and quarterbacks. All of us are excited and looking forward to the 2012 season.