Anchorage Daily News

Three new coaches in the Cook Inlet Conference, a whole new team in Southeast and a brand-spanking-new scoreboard at Chugiak mean things will look a bit different as the nation's earliest high school football season begins today.

Yet one thing remains the same: Nobody is sure who the favorites are.

"It's gonna be a dogfight," Bartlett head coach John Jessen said.

In the small-schools division, three-time defending state champion Soldotna will be searching for history Saturday when it takes the Anchorage Football Stadium turf against host West. Riding a 29-game winning streak, SoHi can break a tie with East for the longest run in state history.

The Stars also have a chance this season to break a tie with three-time champion Kenai for the most small-schools titles. But SoHi coach Galen Brantley said that unlike last year, when the Stars rolled over opponents, his squad will travel a more difficult road.

"We've got our work cut out for us," said Brantley, whose team lost a number of key seniors, including Gatorade Player of the Year Anthony Griglione.

Brantley said Eielson should provide a hefty challenge, as will Kodiak, last year's runner-up, and Barrow, which begins its fourth season after reaching the playoffs for the first time last season.

Hoping to emulate Barrow's rise to prominence will be Juneau's Thunder Mountain, which gets its fledgling football program going Saturday at fellow independent Sitka.

In the large-schools division, defending Railbelt champion North Pole opens the year as the team to beat by virtue of its No. 1 ranking by both the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network and Maxpreps.com, a nationwide high school sports Web site.

A bevy of others hope to hoist the ASAA/First National Bowl trophy on Oct. 17. Included in that group is defending large-schools champion Service, which has 24 players back with varsity experience, including 8 to 10 starters.

In order for the Cougars to again dance on the AFS turf, they'll have to get through a Cook Inlet Conference that coaches said is as competitive as it's ever been. Here's a rundown of what CIC fans can expect to see this season:

Service Cougars

LAST SEASON: 8-3, Alaska large-schools champions

THE BUZZ: With more than 120 athletes -- including more than 40 on the varsity team -- head coach Jason Calderera will have plenty of weapons to choose from as the Cougars reload for their title defense.

"After a couple successful years, the kids have really bought into our program here," he said.

Service lost all-everything running back/defensive back Leo Aukusitino, but Calderera said he's got plenty of players looking to replace one of the state's most exciting players.

"We've got a good group of kids and we'll see if we can find our own identity," he said.

Service finished second in the CIC to rival South, a team the Cougars have yet to beat since the Wolverines started play in 2004. Service won't have to wait long to get a shot at reversing that trend, as the two squads are set to square off Saturday at Dimond at 4 p.m.

Calderera said the rivalry is a heated one, but he's seen the level of hatred between the schools diminish in recent years.

"I don't think there's as much contentiousness as in past years," he said. "They're friends with each other - sometimes live right across the street from each other."

But those friendships don't go too far on the field.

"Obviously they know it's a very competitive game," he said.

Leading the way for the Cougars will be returning all-state center Joe Sokimi, who will anchor an offensive line nearly intact from last year. On defense, senior linebacker Dalton Riggs will be counted on to key a defense that allowed just 15 points a game last season.

The quarterback spot is perhaps Service's biggest question mark. Fighting it out will be sophomore J.J. Christy and transfer Xavier Jackson, who started his high school career at Service before moving to California. Jackson can also play wide receiver, and Calderera said he expects to have the playmaker on the field a lot this year.

South Wolverines

LAST SEASON: 9-1, lost in state semifinals

THE BUZZ: Like Service, South has more than 120 players out, but coach John Lewis said that doesn't mean much until the team hits the field.

"You have to prove yourself," he said.

The Wolverines lost 32 seniors from last year's CIC championship team, and return just one starter, senior offensive lineman Dylon Short.

But Lewis isn't too concerned.

"Our low-level programs have done a fantastic job" of getting players ready for varsity, he said.

Along with Short up front, Lewis said he also expects big things from senior guard Tyler Denman and senior tackle Steven Bezousek. At quarterback, senior Kyle Kirn will take the snaps.

Lewis said the road to the title will be a difficult one for South, and he's calling the Cougars the favorites.

"Service is the reigning champs," he said. "...Until someone knocks them off."

Bartlett Golden Bears

LAST SEASON: 5-4, 3rd in CIC

THE BUZZ: The word on Bartlett is speed.

"We always have a lot of fast kids here at Bartlett, and all of our fast kids are involved in track, so we benefit a lot from that," head coach John Jessen said.

At the front of the pack are a pair of speedsters who had explosive summers Outside. At the prestigious Nike football camp at the University of Oregon, senior running back Jamal Hale was named camp MVP while junior running back Cyrus Chenault was named all-combine.

Senior defensive tackle Troy Masalasala anchors a defensive unit that also includes standout defensive backs Jordan Blount-O'Connor and Willie Highlander.

Bartlett has had to deal with a rash of illness and injuries in the preseason, and Jessen said his team will have to fight through some early adversity if it wants to return to the playoffs.

But at least one coach in the conference believes the Golden Bears could be a team to keep an eye on.

"Bartlett bothers me," Dimond's Sonny Rodriguez said.

Dimond Lynx

LAST SEASON: 4-5, T-4th in CIC

THE BUZZ: Dimond returns its starting backfield from last season's playoff team, including senior quarterback Ahmed Nasir and second-team all-state running back Gibson Scanlan, who's back at full strength after suffering a broken ankle.

On defense, Rodriguez said the Lynx should be tough up the middle, with nose tackle Managiumanu Fatafa and linebacker Andrew Scanlan counted on to stuff opposing offenses.

Getting off to a hot start Saturday at Palmer will be important, Rodriguez said.

"Kids' confidences are pretty fragile," he said. "If we come out and win, we could ride that confidence train right away."

Chugiak Mustangs

LAST SEASON: 3-5, T-4th CIC

THE BUZZ: With approximately 1,200 students, Chugiak is one of the smallest schools in the large-schools division. But head coach Duncan Shackelford said he's not too concerned with the lack of numbers.

"We'll just have to be small and tough," he said.

What's not small is the Mustangs' new scoreboard, which measures 25-by-36 feet and weighs three tons. Though Chugiak opens its season on the road against East at AFS on Saturday, Shackelford said the scoreboard is the crown jewel of his school's stadium.

"I think we have one of the nicest high school stadiums in the Pacific Northwest," he said.

Whether or not the Mustangs will be able to light up the scoreboard is another question. Chugiak tied for last in the CIC in offense last season, a trend Shackelford said needs to change. In order to do that, his smallish team will have to outwork its opponents.

"We've been putting some miles on 'em in practice," he said.

Shackelford said he's seen big improvements from quarterback Chris Wood, who'll be calling signals again this season.

"He's a great leader," he said. "And this year he's throwing the ball so much better."

Erik Moore will likely be Wood's top target, in addition to being the team's top defensive back and Wood's backup under center.

Other players to watch on the Mustangs include senior center Casey Bridges and senior lineman Wes Rabung.

East Thunderbirds

LAST SEASON: 3-4, T-4th CIC

THE BUZZ: New head coach Nick Middleton said he thinks his team is ready to compete for a playoff spot after just missing out a season ago.

"We have high hopes," the former T-Birds defensive coordinator said. "We've just gotta put it together."

Middleton said his team will be led by quarterback Jeff Debrill, the team's most vocal player.

"He's our hype guy. He gets us going," Middleton said.

Other top players are linebacker Alvin Paleo, who like Debrill is a senior who's not afraid to lead by example, and wide receiver Caleb Holley, a third-year varsity veteran who might be the team's most explosive player.

East's biggest challenge, Middleton said, will be to make sure the team hangs together through what promises to be a bruising CIC schedule.

"In the beginning of the season it's all about coming together as a team," he said.

West Eagles

LAST SEASON: 3-5, T-4th CIC

THE BUZZ: Former Service co-offensive coordinator Tim Davis is the new head coach at West, a squad short on numbers but not on talent.

"As far as what we do on the field, we just try to take our athletes and put the best 11 guys on the field and then put the ball in the hands of our playmakers," Davis said.

Chief among those playmakers is quarterback Justin Kauffman, who Davis thinks could be one of the top players in the conference.

"He's just a stud," he said.

On defense, West will be led by middle linebacker David Solomona, a senior who Davis said has matured into "a beast."

"He's really taken charge of that defensive unit," he said.

West will rely on a small core of players, including some who'll play on both sides of the ball. With 80 players the Eagles don't have the numbers other Anchorage schools do, but Davis likes his team's athleticism.

"We can hold our own with anybody," he said.

Eagle River Wolves

LAST SEASON: 1-7, 8th CIC

THE BUZZ: Eagle River has never won a conference game. Head coach Kenny Ray thinks that may change soon.

"If we stay disciplined, we have the opportunity to win some football games this year," he said.

Ray has 90 players out, including 22 seniors. That group is hungry for wins, Ray said, and from what he's seen in practice, it has a chance to feast on anyone taking them lightly.

"We can be competitive," he said.

Ray plans to use a wishbone attack to grind down opponents.

"(Former Chugiak coach) Bruce Shearer and (former Eielson coach) Buck Nystrom won a lot of fooball games in this state running the football," he said.

Senior quarterback Augie Ortiz, senior running backs and brothers Buron and Malcom Bell and senior utility player Brandon Metzel will key the offense. On defense, Cason Leman will anchor the linebacking corps, while Ben Cozak is expected to be the team's top lineman.

"It all boils down to lacing up our shoes, strapping on our helmets and getting busy," Ray said.

---

Daily News reporter Matt Tunseth can be reached at mtunseth@adn.com or 257-4335.

High school football season-openers

Friday Lathrop at Kenai, 6:30 p.m. Nikiski at Homer, 6:30 p.m. Chugiak at East, 7 p.m., Anchorage Football Stadium Bartlett at Wasilla, 7 p.m. Saturday Thunder Mountain at Sitka, 11 a.m. Delta at Monroe, 1 p.m. Valdez at Skyview 2 p.m. Eielson at Seward 2 p.m. Houston at Eagle River, 2 p.m. (at Chugiak) Service at South, 4 p.m. (at Dimond) Soldotna vs. West 4 p.m., AFS North Pole at Colony, 4 p.m. Dimond at Palmer, 7 p.m. Kodiak at Barrow, TBA West Valley at Juneau, 8 p.m. High school football season-openers

Today

• Lathrop at Kenai, 6:30 p.m.

• Nikiski at Homer, 6:30 p.m.

• Chugiak at East, 7 p.m., Anchorage Football Stadium

• Bartlett at Wasilla, 7 p.m. Saturday

• Thunder Mountain at Sitka, 11 a.m.

• Delta at Monroe, 1 p.m.

• Valdez at Skyview 2 p.m.

• Eielson at Seward 2 p.m.

• Houston at Eagle River, 2 p.m. (at Chugiak)

• Service at South, 4 p.m. (at Dimond)

• Soldotna vs. West 4 p.m., Anchorage Football Stadium

• North Pole at Colony, 4 p.m.

• Dimond at Palmer, 7 p.m. • Kodiak at Barrow, TBA

• West Valley at Juneau, 8 p.m.

ADVERTISEMENT

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@