STANWOOD — The Stanwood football team hopes that last year’s youth movement will pay off on the field this year.

The Spartans played a large crop of sophomores last season, going 1-7 in the Western Conference North Division and 3-7 overall. This year, those sophomores have matured into a large, talented junior class that coach Dick Abrams hope will lead to the team’s revival.

“It’s a strong junior class and a senior class that’s kind of small,” Abrams said.

Tom Enquist, who is a senior expected to hold down spots at center and linebacker, said the experience will begin to pay off this season.

“The kids will know what to do. There won’t be any cold feet and we’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Quarterback Mike McCune (jr., 6-2, 180) seconded Enquist’s thoughts.

“It’ll help us,” he said of the experience. “We got to see what it’s like to play at the varsity level. The speed of the game is different.”

One of the strengths of the team will be its offensive line. The young group (three juniors, one sophomore and a senior) will be charged with protecting McCune and opening holes for runners such as Ben Zipp (jr., 6-1, 205), Ryan Schroyer (jr., 5-11, 175) and Michael Vaughan (sr., 5-10, 180).

The line features Enquist (6-0, 215) at center and sizable sophomore Dexter Charles (6-4, 250) at one of the guard spots.

“Dexter Charles is a sophomore and he’s starting at guard for us,” Abrams said. “I think Dexter’s got the potential to be a very good player down the road.”

With the graduation of leading rusher Ryan Norman, many of the rushes will fall to Zipp, who carried the ball 29 times for 95 yards last season. Schroyer, who got time at quarterback last season, and Vaughan will also see time carrying the ball.

Abrams said the team may pass the ball more this season than in some previous years, with McCune at quarterback.

“We’re excited to do that,” McCune said, adding that the qualify of the line will help.

McCune was 8-for-28 last season with two touchdowns.

Abrams said the defense, which features eight juniors and will show a 3-4 front, is poised to upend some other teams.

“I think we’re going to play well. I’m really excited about our defense,” he said. “I think our defense is going to surprise some people.”

The Spartans’ schedule features some wrinkles this season. They open with a non-league contest against Jackson at 5 p.m. Friday, and will also visit Class 3A power Ferndale on Oct. 24.

“We really have a tough non-conference schedule,” Abrams said. “It should make us better for the conference schedule.”

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