Here is a preview of the Kamiakin Braves for the 2011 CBBN 3A football season:
Coach: Scott Biglin (3rd year, 21-4).
Last league title: 2010.
Last playoff berth: 2010.
Home field: Lampson Stadium.
Projected starters
OFFENSE POS YR HT WT
Jason Hutchison QB Sr. 6-2 175
Zach Umemoto RB Sr. 6-0 195
Brandon Larson WR Sr. 5-11 185
Jesse Houser WR Sr. 5-10 170
James Swinyard WR Sr. 5-9 165
Corey McLean WR Sr. 5-7 150
Luke Bare LT Sr. 6-0 205
T.J. Tolliver LG Sr. 6-6 315
Sean Clausen C Sr. 6-4 235
Nate Brandhorst RG Sr. 6-2 230
Joe Hunt RT Sr. 6-3 215
Connor Shymanski K Fr. 6-2 170
DEFENSE POS YR HT WT
Joe Hunt DE Sr. 6-3 215
Kevin Greager DT Jr. 6-1 220
Luke Bare DT Sr. 6-0 205
Dylan Keech DE So. 6-0 195
Drew Oord LB Sr. 5-11 210
Zach Umemoto LB Sr. 6-0 195
Johnny Jansen LB Jr. 5-11 190
Tyler Perrins CB Jr. 6-3 170
Corey McLean CB Sr. 5-7 175
Brandon Larson SS Sr. 5-11 185
James Swinyard FS Sr. 5-9 165
James Swinyard P Sr. 5-9 165
Others to watch: QB-FS Kylle Robertson, So.; RB Oord; RB Sisto Santana Pina, Jr.; RB Liam Ollila, Jr.; OL Greager; OL Anthony Hill, Sr.; OL Forrest Reading, Sr.; WR Perrins; WR-DB Tyler Merkel, Sr.; WR Chris Murbach, Sr.; WR Andrew Castillo, Sr.; WR-SS Tyler Woodring, Sr.; DT Mike Hernandez, Sr.; DT Brandhorst; LB Thomas Kirk, So.; LB Sterling Farrah; DB Houser.
Quick hits
* Lot of big names gone, but Umemoto, Houser and Swinyard had nearly 1,200 yards and 16 TDs combined last year. Five returning players scored TDs last season. Also, O-line should be even better than last year.
* New faces along D-line and at DB, but LB corps best in league with returning unanimous first-teamers Oord and Umemoto, a third-year starter. If depth across line holds up, Braves will make things tough for opposing QBs.
* With Tim White gone (and his 7 return TDs), special teams might not be the points machine it was last season.
Outlook
Reaching the state title game is a tough act to follow. But Biglin says it takes two good back-to-back classes to go deep in the playoffs, and now it is time for last year's juniors to take over. Plenty of talent here that was stuck on sidelines last season, which means the Braves will again be in the league title hunt with an eye on another postseason run.
