Jacks look to build on playoff success

QUINCY - The Quincy Jacks football team was able to advance to the 1A state playoff quarterfinals in 2012 and look to go even deeper in 2013.

"We'd like to improve on last year, it's that simple," Head Coach Stephen Wallace said. "We've got enough returning guys back this year that put a lot of off-season stuff in."

A point of emphasis this season is starting out strong. The past two seasons Quincy has started 0-3.

Last year, the Jacks were able to rebound from their slow start to finish 7-5 before falling to River View in the state quarterfinals 0-14.

The turnaround included five straight wins over Brewster, Omak, Chelan, Tonasket and Okanogan.

Wallace and his staff have spent time this off season figuring out how to better prepare the team for the adjustment from practice speed to game speed.

"We did an analysis and saw that the first two games of the year we basically died out in the fourth quarter," he said. "That's why you see we're doing a lot of running right now."

Wallace believes his team has bought into the idea of being better prepared to open the season and have spent ample time in the off season weight training and working on conditioning.

"Guys have been in the weight room, they've been running in the off season," he said. "So they're coming in a little more better shape, we don't have to get them in shape right now. Now we're kind of fine tuning things instead of the last two years it's coming in and trying to get them up to that level."

The coaching staff introduced a new wrinkle this season playing music, mostly rock, to help the players get excited during practice.

"Unlike some sports, where you get batting practice or you get to shoot around, football practice is tough," Wallace said. "You're going to be hitting, you're out in the heat, you're wearing all the gear. It's hard just to do it all the time."

There were a few key players lost to graduation including last season's starting quarterback Jacob Durfee. Linebacker Armando Tafoya and running back Darren Hodges also graduated.

The Jacks have been bit with the injury bug to start the season as all-league defensive end Carter Bushman will miss time. Between Bushman and Tafoya, the team will have to replace 260 tackles.

Wallace will lean on senior quarterback Dallas Basset to shoulder the load this season.

"Even though he hasn't been the day 1 starter he started a few games for us as a sophomore," he said.

Basset also received varsity reps for a three-game stretch this past season and played the entire fourth quarter of Quincy's playoff loss to River View.

"He's the guy that's going to have to step up and play like we know he can." Wallace said.

Quincy will be tested to open the season facing the rival Ephrata Tigers in the Battle of the Basin 7 p.m. Friday at Kiwanis Field.

The Jacks dropped a tough game to the Tigers last year at home 22-21. The game was decided on a controversial call when referees overturned a Quincy two-point conversion that would have given the Jacks the lead with 90 seconds left.

Wallace is glad to face the Tigers to open the season because it has helped his team get motivated.

"It's not just a regular non-league game, it's a fun rivalry game," he said. "If they win they get bragging rights for a whole year."