Here is a preview of the Walla Walla Blue Devils for the 2011 Columbia Basin Big Nine 4A football season:
Coach: Eric Hisaw (First year).
Last league title: 1999.
Last playoff berth: 2009.
Home field: Borleske Stadium.
Projected starters
OFFENSE POS YR HT WT
Dakota Turner QB Jr. 5-9 170
Jonah Hoe RB Jr. 5-10 165
Matt Wickham FB Sr. 5-9 165
Moe Handcox WR Sr. 5-11 170
Kyle Jameson WR Sr. 6-1 180
Rob Ferenz TE Sr. 6-4 230
Jeremy Larson C Jr. 5-11 260
Matt Rothstrom G Sr. 6-2 225
Logan Reardon G Jr. 6-3 225
Quinn Piver T Jr. 6-7 285
Simon Quackenbush T Sr. 6-3 225
Dean Atkinson K Jr. 5-11 150
DEFENSE POS YR HT WT
Simon Quackenbush DE Sr. 6-3 235
Zack McMakin DT Jr. 5-11 225
Joel McClure DT Sr. 6-0 230
Rob Ferenz DE Sr. 6-4 230
Kyle Jameson LB Sr. 6-1 180
Logan Reardon MLB Jr. 6-3 225
Matt Wickham LB Sr. 5-9 165
Moe Handcox S Sr. 5-11 170
Blake Rowley CB Sr. 5-8 140
Jonah Hoe CB Jr. 5-10 165
Keltan Fulmer S Jr. 5-9 165
Dean Atkinson K Jr. 5-11 150
Others to watch
LB/TE Paul Trapani, Jr. (5-10, 185); DB/WR Caleb Alaniz, Sr. (6-2, 185); LB/WR Fernando Garcia, Sr. (6-1, 200); LB/RB Richard Jimenez, Sr. (5-10, 174); DL/OL Travis Locati, Sr. (6-0, 260); DL/OL Juan Garcia, Sr. (6-0, 210); DL/OL Daniel Benavides, Jr. (6-1, 240); DL/OL Bryce Spendlove, Jr. (5-11, 230); DL/OL Ashaunte Brown, Sr. (6-3, 210).
Quick hits
* WR Handcox is one of CBBN's best athletes. So good that Hisaw is playing with the idea of him as a QB. He led the CBBN with 40 catches and 11 receiving TDs in 2010. He's just 2 TDs off the Blue Devils' career mark for TD catches.
* Look for big differences in Wa-Hi's offense, which will jettison the spread for a more run-oriented attack. Several different formations -- maybe even the Wildcat -- will keep defenses guessing.
* DB Rowley is one of the smallest starters in the CBBN 4A, but he also may have the biggest heart. "He's 145 pounds dripping wet in pads with mud on his feet. But he is a rock for us," Hisaw said.
* Hisaw is a big fan of CB Rowley. "He's 145 lbs dripping wet with pads on, but he's a rock for us."
Outlook
With a loaded interior line -- only one starter lost -- and a promising outlook, don't look for the Blue Devils to repeat their 2-7 season.
"I'm all kinds of excited. I think we're going to be good," Hisaw said. "The kids are practicing to play, and they're just doing things right."
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