MOUNT VERNON — Under first-year head coach Jaxon Schweikert, the Mount Vernon Bulldogs plan to play a fast-paced, no-huddle offense this season.

Schweikert has a more colorful term for it: “We like to think of ourselves as fast-break offense on turf,” he said.

Schweikert, a former college defensive end who took the reins of the Mount Vernon program a few weeks ago, will help lead the Bulldogs into the season a year after a six wins, a playoff appearance and a near-upset of the highly regarded Ferndale Golden Eagles.

Part of the team’s identity will be found in its offense, which will spread the field, throw the ball to several targets and rev up to a breakneck speed in order to test opponents’ defenses.

“This year, we’re not going to huddle once. We’re going to go, go, go,” senior quarterback Ray Walser said. “We’re trying to get 80 plays off a game, which is ridiculous. It’ll keep defenses on their toes.”

The Bulldogs are trying to speed up the pace in practice, Schweikert said, with the goal of getting a play off every 20 seconds.

“Right now we’re at 45 seconds,” he said Wednesday. “It’s coming down. It’s a lot faster, a lot faster.”

Walser (6-4, 210) threw for 1,483 yards and 13 touchdowns last year to help the Bulldogs to the postseason, and so far, Schweikert said he likes how the QB has handled the learning curve.

“The biggest thing in our system is our quarterback has to be intelligent. Every other player can focus on his position. We make that easy — except for the quarterback. He has a tremendous amount to learn and to know. It takes a special kid and he (Walser) is special. He’s intelligent, commands the team and is a natural leader.”

The Bulldogs graduated leading rusher Jess Miller, who had 998 yards and nine touchdowns last season, but will boast a group of skill players including receiver Colin Findley-Meier (5-9, 140) who had two kick returns for touchdowns and averaged 15.6 yards on his catches, and running back Joe Barrington (5-8, 166), of whom Walser said, “He’ll be a good addition. He’s a little bowling ball.”

“Because we try to distribute the ball to everyone, everyone’s involved,” Schweikert said. “They really take ownership of it. They know they’re not the decoys, not just guys who take up space.”

Schweikert said he has enjoyed seeing the offensive line — a senior-laden group — improve in the new offense.

“We’re expecting big things from those guys,” he said.

While the Bulldogs hope the new offense will be gaudy, Schweikert, who played at the University of Idaho, said the players and coaching staff are giving plenty of attention to the defense as well.

He said the linebackers and safeties are good groups, and the defensive line’s quickness will be able to harass opposing offenses, making up for a lack of size.

“We’ve got a bright future there,” he said.

Jonathan Osman, a senior who will be one of the linebackers, said the coaching staff does a good job keeping assignments simple, allowing players to concentrate on the task it hand.

“We’re going to keep it downhill and aggressive,” he said. “We just keep it simple.”

The Bulldogs will host Anacortes to begin a schedule that includes a non-conference road game against Oak Harbor (Sept. 26), a home game against state Class 2A runner-up Burlington-Edison (Oct. 10) and a regular season-ending rematch with Ferndale (Oct. 30).

Ferndale kicked a field goal in overtime to beat the Bulldogs 13-10 last season, then beat them 14-0 in the first round of the state playoffs.

• Trevor Pyle can be reached at 360-416-2156 or by e-mail at