2011 preview: Walla Walla Blue Devils | Tri-City Herald

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."