SEDRO-WOOLLEY — New Sedro-Woolley football coach Bryan Alexander’s changes have brought energy back to the Cubs’ football program.

“Anytime there’s some change, there automatically comes a little enthusiasm with it,” said Alexander, who was hired to replace Doug Preston. “We’ve been really solid with what we believe and what direction we want the program to go. The seniors have bought in and they’re doing a really good job of leading and helping us as coaches too.”

But Alexander, who has been assistant for 10 years and shared co-head coaching duties with Dan Teeter in 2004, faces a tough task in trying to return the team to respectability.

Sedro-Woolley has had just one winning season since 1998, and that came in 2002. Since then, the Cubs are 10-39. They went 1-9 last season, with their lone win coming over Squalicum.

Even so, there’s reason the players are excited. Sedro-Woolley has seven seniors starting on offense and nine on defense.

“I think it’s going to be a really great season,” said senior Wes Wood, the team’s 5-foot-8, 235-pound center. “Big things are expected.”

Another reason for Wood’s optimism stems from what he said is a change in attitude from the coaching staff. Alexander has focused on team-building activities, he said.

“We’re more of a family here,” Wood said.

The Cubs attended football camp at Western Washington University, then took a team retreat on Aug. 27 to Camp Brotherhood near Lake McMurray.

“It’s just another thing to get away from distractions and focus on football,” tackle Eian Andrew (sr., 6-3, 205) said of the retreat.

Andrew and Wood said Alexander has also simplified things on offense, which has helped the younger players learn the system.

While taking over a program can be tough, seeing the team improve has been rewarding, Alexander said.

“There’s a lot of new pressures that come with it. It’s fun to see guys buying in to what you want them to do,” he said. “I think anybody who strives to be a head coach always thinks about what they want their program to look like and what they want the kids in their program to get out of it.”

Andrew and Wood will be key parts of an offensive line that will be protecting a small but dangerous quarterback.

Two-time defending state wrestling champion Derek Garcia moves into the role full-time this season.

Garcia (jr., 5-6, 160) began last season as a running back, but moved to quarterback for the final two games. He completed 23 of 39 passes for 339 yards and four touchdowns.

He also rushed for 591 yards on 194 carries.

“Derek’s a very bright young man,” Alexander said. “Not only is he a good athlete, he’s very smart. He makes good decisions. He’s calm under pressure. You can’t break him.”

To get Garcia out from behind his linemen, all of whom are taller than him, the Cubs will be running a lot of plays from the shotgun.

In addition, Garcia will be rolling out of the pocket and running option plays that will allow him to pitch, pass or run the ball.

“It should be fun,” Garcia said. “It should be really fun, actually.”

The change allows Ryan Morgan (sr., 5-8, 150) to move to halfback.

Morgan started the Cubs’ first eight games at quarterback last year. He threw for 577 yards and four touchdowns.

Sedro-Woolley opens the season with a tough test. The Cubs host Class 2A state runner-up Burlington-Edison on Friday night.

With Squalicum’s move to Class 2A, that leaves Ferndale and Mount Vernon as Sedro-Woolley’s Class 3A competition in the Northwest Conference. The number of district playoff allocations won’t be announced until October, but it’s possible that only one team may earn a playoff berth.

“Our goal is always to win every game we play,” Alexander said. “I don’t know how realistic that is sometimes, but we go into every game expecting to be successful.

“Our goals, and we say it every day, that every day we are going to get better. Every practice, every game, everything we do, we’re going to continue to get better. If we’re working hard, playing together as a team and being good people, the wins are going to come.”

• Ben Davis can be reached at 360-416-2139 or by e-mail at