FOOTBALL 2001

New-look Owls hope enthusiasm equals wins

MARCUS BURNS, THE OLYMPIAN

MATLOCK -- Last year's success helped bring new faces into the Mary M. Knight football program and first-year head coach Mike Cordle hopes the transfusion of talent and enthusiasm will return the Owls to the playoffs.

Cordle, an assistant coach last season, returns just three starters to a squad that went 4-4 last season before losing in the post-season to Taholah.

"We've got so many new faces," he said. "Without a lot of returning veterans, the biggest hurdle we have is so many new people. Last year's season sparked some interest so we've even got several people who've never played football before."

Some of the players are so new they won't have the WIAA-required number of practices before the season begins. But by the second game, the Owls figure to be at full strength.

"By the second game, I expect to put a better team on the field. Normally your biggest improvement is between the first and second games but with the added personnel, that will give us some extra punch," he said.

Along with the new personnel is a new offensive look, a more wide-open passing attack that Cordle hopes will take advantage of his team's quickness, something he counts as the primary strength of the squad.

"This year we've already got five kids who've attained or surpassed the (40-yard) times of our fastest guy last year, and one more right on the cusp, so it's a quick team. It's not a big team -- we're not going to be able to blow anybody away if we start going mano-a-mano up the middle.

"We're running some new offense this year, more spreads, sort of a West Coast-style offense. And last year we installed a whole new defense so we'll just work on refining that."

Vying for the quarterback job in the new offense are rookie junior Josh Smith and sophomore Jerry Shumate, who was on the team last year but injured early in the season.

Both will start in Cordle's backfield regardless of which wins the signal-caller's spot.

"Jerry and Josh are both working hard for the starting quarterback job," Cordle said.

They will have their work cut out for them, as this year the Owls are full members in the Pacific 8 League and will need to finish in the top three to assure themselves a postseason berth.

Last year's unaffiliated team only needed to beat State Deaf to get into a pigtail playoff.

"The road to the playoffs is a little different for us this year, but in reality, if we can duplicate what we did last year, I'd be happy," Cordle said.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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Mary M. Knight Owls

- COACH: Mike Cordle (1st year).

- 2000 RECORD: 4-4.

- RETURNING STARTERS: 3

- KEY RETURNERS: Aaron Brehmeyer, RB, jr., 5-11, 200; Lee Ortis, OL, sr., 6-0, 230; Kyle Chaplin, OL, sr., 5-10, 180.

Schedule

Fri., Sept 7 at Taholah, 7

Fri., Sept. 21 at Oakville*, 7

Sat., Sept. 29 LAKE QUINAULT, 1

Fri., Oct. 5 at Clallum Bay, 7

Thu., Oct. 18 STATE DEAF, 2

Sat., Oct 27 at Wishkah, 1

Sat., Nov. 3 CRESCENT, 1

Sat., Nov. 10 QUILCENE,

*non-league

Home games in CAPITALS.