Yellow Pages
SEDRO-WOOLLEY — The Sedro-Woolley football team enjoyed success so much last season that it wants more in 2009.
The Cubs went 6-5 in 2008 and made the postseason before losing to eventual Class 3A state champion Bellevue. With returners includeing quarterback Derek Garcia and a seasoned offensive line, the team hopes to make the postseason again.
“Any time you have success, you know what’s possible,” Sedro-Woolley coach Bryan Alexander said. “Big-game experience is invaluable, and we hope to be back in some again.”
Lineman Koenrad Swartz said, “That mental step is big.”
The foundation of the offense will likely be a veteran offensive line that brings back four starters: Tanner Chamberlain (sr., 6-3, 250), Taylor Knutson (sr., 6-4, 190), Austin Pulver (sr., 6-0, 190) and Swartz (sr., 6-5, 265).
“We’re going to be pretty good up front,” Alexander said.
“We have a high intensity level, a good work ethic and we push ourselves hard,” Chamberlain said. “The strength of the team will definitely be the offensive line and running game.”
Knutson was an all-Northwest Conference pick for the Cubs last season.
Behind the line will be a number of scoring weapons, led by Garcia, last year’s Skagit Valley Herald Offensive Player of the Year. Garcia (sr., 5-8, 175) ran for 965 yards and 15 touchdowns, and threw for 803 yards and three touchdowns.
“We’re not as deep (as last year), but the players we have are more threats,” Garcia said.
Running the ball will be Ian O’Bryan (sr., 5-4, 140), whom Alexander said is primed for a big season; as well as Clayton Johnson (jr., 5-10, 180) and Harley Lee (sr., 5-6, 180).
O’Bryan rushed for five touchdowns last season, despite limited carries for the Cubs.
Kellen Engberg (sr., 6-3, 215) will man the tight end position. Recievers will include Dylan Powell (jr., 6-2, 185), Joe Janicki (jr., 6-2, 195) and newcomer Levi Stewart (sr., 5-10, 145).
Garcia, Powell and Lee will all hold down spots in the defensive secondary, while Pulver, Engberg and O’Bryan are expected to be stalwarts at linebacker, a group that will also include Zach Adams (sr., 5-10, 200).
Chamberlain, Janicki, Swartz and Knutson will play on the defensive line.
“The defense is very downhill, very aggressive ... we have a mostly senior defensive line and seniors in the backfield,” Swartz said.
“We’re a really physical group,” said Alexander. “We’re got a lot of toughness. A lot of last year’s (toughness) came from this year’s seniors, and they’ve gotten better and improved. They’ve grasped the offense and defense well this year ... they’ve really picked it up.”
Trevor Pyle can be reached at 360-416-2156 or by e-mail at .
