Back to the drawing board for Wahluke

MATTAWA - It will be young and younger for the Wahluke High School football team in a rebuilding season for second-year head coach Brycen Bye.

The building will start right at the top. Bye has been trying to determine the No. 1 quarterback from among 5-9, 160 pound sophomore Michael Coulson and 5-7, 150 pound freshman Jose Madrigal.

Despite their scrambler physiques, both candidates are passers first. Both have good arms, Bye said.

Bye inherited a team with experienced seniors last year and was looking for a breakout season for the Warriors. It appeared they had it through four and a half games.

Coming back from a 21-7 halftime deficit, Wahluke defeated Granger 28-21 for a 3-1 start to the campaign. In the next game the Warriors scored first against Royal and were in a tight game through the half.

Royal rolled in the second half, and Wahluke started to crumble. Injuries to key players and academic problems plagued the team the rest of the way.

"I learned a lot that first year," Bye said.

Including the fact that not everything is under a coach's control. You never know which group is going to struggle or excel. This younger team could outperform last year's veteran team.

"It's all going to depend on how fast we can learn," Bye said. "We have talented kids but very little experience."

There are three experienced players, and their leadership will be important in their areas of the field.

Coulson or Madrigal will be handing off to 5-10, 210 pound senior fullback Jaime Jimenez, who has two years on varsity.

"We're relying on him a lot," Bye said. "He's the kind of guy who runs over people. He's a good blocker, too, and will give our throwers good protection and open some holes for our tailback."

The offensive line will be anchored by 6-2, 230 pound junior Jonah Gallacci at tackle. He was a varsity starter last year who knows how to lay a block.

The defensive line will have 6-1, 205 pound junior Dario Prudente at one of the end positions. He was a good pass rusher for the varsity last year and knows how to contain outside run.

Prudente will help on offense this year, taking over tight end duties. He's got the size and speed to break through tackles in the open field.

After these three, Wahluke drops off in experience, but there is quality. Moises Testa, a 5-9, 170 pound sophomore with speed is slated for tailback. He has moves, and he has Jimenez leading the way.

There will be alternating slot receivers. Juniors Martin Tello and Alexis Anaya will share the duty with senior Misael Sanchez. They were all on junior varsity last year, but each played in a couple of varsity games.

The chief wide receiver will be 5-9, 140 pound sophomore Alex Chiprez. He was on JV last year.

In addition to Gallacci, the interior line will have 6-0, 185 pound junior Jack Yorgesen at center. He was on junior varsity last year. One of his greater attributes is his experience on the wrestling team.

Guard duty will be shared by 5-10, 160 pound senior Jason Yorgesen, 5-9, 205 pound junior Juan Mendoza and 5-10, 190 pound junior Salvador Gonzalez. All three were on JV last year.

The second tackle slot will also be shared. Joel Salazar, a 5-9, 230 pound sophomore, will alternate with 5-9, 215 pound senior Gilberto Mejia. Both were on JV last year.

When the Warriors go to defense, most of the same players will be on the field.

The end positions will see Prudente, Jack Yorgesen and Gonzalez alternating. Jimenez will anchor the defense at middle linebacker. He will be flanked by alternating outside linebackers Testa, Coulson and Jason Yorgesen.

Sanchez and Anaya will share one cornerback post, and 5-9, 150 pound junior Steven Machuca will man the other. The safeties will be Chiprez and Tello.

The South Central A Conference will be tough again, Bye said. Royal has a ton of experience on both sides of the ball, and Bye considers the Knights the favorites.

"But you never know about Connell," he said. "They always come up with something."

The Eagles, who won everything last year, do have a couple of dents in their armor. They've lost the state player of the year and the all-league quarterback.

Two more SCAC East teams Bye sees on the rise are Riverview and Kiona-Benton. The West is expected to have a state power at Cle Elum.

As for his own team, Bye just doesn't know. It will all depend on how the young Warriors handle varsity game pressure. Bye will know after the first game, a non-leaguer at White Swan.

"White Swan is going to be really good," he said. "They made it to the 2B quarterfinals last year, and they lost only three seniors. They have last year's league player of the year at running back."