by Joey Crandall [email protected]
The schools will be wearing the same colors and playing on the same fields (except for Reed, which installed new turf this offseason), but Northern Division I football is going to look a whole lot different this year.
In a true rarity, all 11 Division I teams are replacing their starting quarterbacks from last season. Eight of the 11 will be replacing their top running back.
And four of the region's 11 head coaches are new this season.
"It's been a unique transition," said Douglas High football coach Ernie Monfiletto. "There has been a huge turnover in the coaching ranks, and that is something as coaches you never want to see.
"But the guys coming in, across the board, are doing it for the right reasons. They've each made progress in their respective programs. It's going to be very interesting to watch."
What hasn't changed is the proverbial favorites entering the year, with both Reed (four regional championships in the past five years) and Carson (four league titles in the past five years) each looking exceptionally strong.
"Heading in, I think you have Reed and you have everyone else," Monfiletto said. "And Carson is another team that returns a lot of kids and has had success with their lower programs. But it's a league where everyone has a shot every week and that makes things a lot of fun."
Douglas is looking to build on a strong defensive campaign in 2013 and rejuvenate the offense to the numbers it was churning out several seasons ago.
"We're going to be more diverse on offense this year," Monfiletto said. "We have to eat some time on the clock offensively and not let the defense sit on the field so long."
When it is on the field, though, the defense could be a special group to watch.
Last year's Tiger defense was the top-rated rushing defense in the North during the regular season (136 yards per game) and the fifth-rated defense overall.
"Our big strength coming into the year is that front seven," Monfiletto said.
Zach Singer returns to Douglas' defensive front seven this season.
Linebackers Kaleb Foster (one of the region's leading tacklers in 2013) and Cale Kynett return along with defensive linemen Zach Singer and Andrew Jensen.
Tyler Marguth, who played in the Douglas program as a freshman but moved to Wisconsin where he played for 5A state champion Arrowhead, returns to Minden this year and will slide into a defensive end starting spot.
Monfiletto said junior Jonah Hedlund (5-11, 205), and sophomores Taran Grove (6-4, 205) and Reagan Roberson (6-1, 215) will compete for the remaining starting spots in the front seven.
"We like what we have up front with four returning starters and some talented kids coming in," Monfiletto said.
He added that he has been pleasantly surprised with the devlopment of the defensive secondary, which returns Ryan Wasser.
Bryce James, Tre Jackson, Luke Houghton and Isiah Schat are competing for starting safety spots while Wasser, Cody Ball, RJ Ake, Alex Zampardo, Trevor Tierney and Sam Melhus will compete for time at the corners.
"As a group, they have really progressed and improved through the spring and summer," Monfiletto said.
Offensively, Nick Abreu -- the Tigers' top rusher in 2013 -- likely slides into the starting quarterback spot. Bryce James is also in the mix early on.
Photo by Ron Harpin/ www.rahphotosnv.com Cale Kynett carries the ball against Carson last season.Photo by Ron Harpin/ www.rahphotosnv.com
Cale Kynett carries the ball against Carson last season.
At running back, look for Kynett and Foster to see the majority of carries while Melhus and Leo Cruz will be pushing for time.
"Those younger guys are going to battle for some carries, and obviously we have a bunch of guys who will see time on both sides of the ball," Monfiletto said. "So the younger guys will see time out there and it's going to be very important that everyone contributes."
Photo by Ron Harpin/ www.rahphotosnv.com TJ Duzan will be one of several strong options at tight end for Douglas this season.Photo by Ron Harpin/ www.rahphotosnv.com
TJ Duzan will be one of several strong options at tight end for Douglas this season.
Douglas will also be utilizing more tight end sets this season with Marguth, TJ Duzan, and Grove all capable of playing there.
"It's weird to talk about having a tight end again, but we have guys there that make the position a strength for us," Monfiletto said.
At receiver, Tomas Leitenbauer, Cody Ball, Luke Houghton, Wasser and Tierney are competing for time.
The offensive line should be another strength with both Jensen and Singer anchoring things down and Johnny Gonzalez moving from guard to center.
Josh Jensen and Tommy Reed are competing at tackle, Ian Pieller and Jonah Hedlund are competing at left guard and the sophomore Roberson will slide into a tackle spot.
On the sidelines, the program has welcomed back a number of alumni to the coaching staff across all levels.
Stormy Herald and Marc Walling join the varsity staff which already included alum Joe Andrews; Ryan Moglich, Ben Johnson and Troy Valenzuela will help out at the freshman level, which is headed by alum Ollie Herald; and Cory Hartzell joins the JV staff, which is headed by first-year head coach Mark Rhoads.
"We're excited about this overall," Monfiletto said. "We have 33 kids, but they are 33 great kids. We need to stay healthy and kids have to be ready to play at any time."
Douglas opens its season against Minico, Idaho at Holt Arena on the Idaho State University Campus in Pocatello, Idaho on Aug. 30 at 10:30 a.m.
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