Coach: Undefeated season in hands of team

Last year was a building year for the Darrington Loggers football squad. After opening the season with two wins, their inexperience showed and they lost their final seven league games. That was the bad news.
The good news is that this year the team has nearly everybody back, older and more mature. Coach Fred Emerson expects big things from this years group.
I told the guys that it is entirely possible for us to go undefeated in league this season, said Emerson. We have a very good shot to be the first team to completely reverse their league fortunes from the previous season.
Leading the way will be quarterback Mark Jones, son of former All-State performer turned assistant coach Randy Jones. The younger Jones filled in at halfback last year but made the move to signal caller this season to better utilize his passing ability.
Hes not a rookie at quarterback, hes played there before, said Emerson. Our quarterback last year Justin ODell will move to halfback. Mark is a little taller and sees over the line better to throw. Justin is looking like the better runner at this point.
Jones will have a fine target in split-end Mike Parris to throw to during the games. Parris, a junior, was all-league as a sophomore at receiver and as a safety on defense. Hes also tall for a receiver at 63.
Hes probably the fastest kid in the league, crowed Emerson. Once he gets out in front of guys nobody can catch him.
All of Darringtons linemen return including offensive guard Conner Rounds. Rounds was all-league as a junior with good size and speed. He was also the number two wrestler in the state at the 190 lb. weight class.
Hes too big to wrestle at that weight anymore, noted Emerson. He set the national record in the squat for his weight as well. He is a college prospect in football, no question.
Alongside Rounds will be big Nick Olsen at 63, 250 lb. Olsen also plays basketball and started both ways for the football team last season.
He was honorable mention all-league last year and he hasnt gotten any smaller. We expect a lot out of him.
Rounds and Olsen will be buoyed by the arrival of Scott Rebelbrugge whose father is serving on the USS Lincoln.
Hes got fast feet, said Emerson of the 62, 240 lb. Rebelbrugge, But the big thing will be his blocking ability.
Joe Dolph will be Darringtons fullback at 56, 160 lb. He rushed for over 600 yards last year and will look to break 1000 this season.
Hes a good football player with a motor that always runs, said Emerson.
Other important contributors to this years team include WR Cory Hobeskeland, DE Derrick Green, and C. Matthius Metzger. Hobeskeland is a split end who has good hands honed by playing basketball in the winter. Green will be the starting end on defense and an all-around handyman. He can expect to see time in multiple positions on offense as well. Metzer at 63, 212 will be the teams starting center. He will also be one of the first substitutes on the defense.
With the ten seniors on the squad, Emerson has plenty to build with to come away with a winning season.
My style has changed a lot over the years, he said, I used to come up with offenses and defenses and plug the kids in. Now its the other way around. I look for the talents that I have on the team and adjust accordingly.
Emerson also claims hes grown more conservative in his mindset.
Im not half as wild as I used to be. Over the years you pick up a lot of things as a coach. You get a lot of whip marks, but if youre smart you learn from them and by the time you get to my age youre better for it. Im still the biggest critic of me, I can second-guess myself just as much as the people in the stands can.
Darrington plays their first game against Seattle Lutheran on Sept. 1.

Asst. Coaches: Chad Monteith, Cam Ross, Brandon Harting, Randy Jones.