High school football nears: Outcomes are uncertain, though clues abound

To the victors go the rings — and, apparently, the repartee.

Nine months after directing an East High crew boasting more than two dozen seniors to the school's first large-school state football championship in 13 years, head coach Jeff Trotter noted this season's team will not be nearly as mature and experienced.

"I've got the Desitin and the Pampers in the car,'' he said with a playful smirk. "We're babies.''

This was Wednesday morning, on the first official day of practice. Early rain diminished to mere sprinkles as Trotter and company assembled on the school's artificial-turf field. After a couple of lean campaigns a few years back, Trotter believes his program has methodically developed players, and standards, that furnish a consistency and a culture to forge it into an annual contender.

"We've been building from the bottom,'' he said. "Even the two years we weren't very good, we didn't bring (junior varsity) guys up to varsity. We really wanted to get the foundation set, so the house was more stable.''

And so begins another season in Anchorage football, where outcomes are obviously uncertain, though clues abound.

At East, conquering delivered confidence, recognition that grinding is a springboard to greatness and, well, the memory of a lifetime. Returner Colton Herman, who snagged an interception in the state championship game, said it took the Thunderbirds some time to digest they were champions.

"About a week later, we were looking at rings, and sizes, and it set in — 'We really did win state,' " he said.

Talent and depth matter deeply, of course. But, as Trotter noted, so do myriad factors, both on the field and off: "A little luck, choices, grades…"

Across town, count on Tim Davis to have West prepared to be among the best. The Eagles fell to East, 13-7, in the championship game in October. They've been to four straight championship games, and five in Davis' eight seasons, and seized three crowns.

"It starts in January, with these kids and what they do in the weight room,'' Davis said Wednesday afternoon during practice. "Every year we've been good, we've been good in January.''

Bartlett, which lost 28-27 to West in the state semis last season, has established consistency, and a wickedly relentless running game.

"Barring some weird injuries, I'd say we're a state contender,'' said co-coach John Jessen. "We have high hopes.''

Returning lineman Thomas Sio believes.

"We're all held to the same standard, a high one,'' Sio said as he surveyed his teammates. "And if we execute to our expectations, we're unbeatable. Each and every one of them want a championship.''

The Golden Bears begin the season grieving. Their teammate Mlooglug Chervang died recently, weeks after a swimming accident in Goose Lake. He was a kid everyone loved, dedicated and upbeat and a light. To honor Chervang, each Bartlett player will wear a sticker on his helmet bearing his No. 34.

"We've taken it pretty hard,'' Sio said. "We're dedicating this season to him. Great kid. He was a wonderful singer and brought joy to everyone.''

Elsewhere in the Cook Inlet Conference, Service reached the semifinals last season too — the semis were an all-CIC gathering. South and Dimond, outside the playoff mix a season ago, enter this season seeking redemption.

And, of course, any discussion of high school football has to address the beast down south — mighty Soldotna. The Stars play in the medium-school division, but that designation is merely based on enrollment. Soldotna was the best team in the state a year ago.

All the Stars did was reel off another 10-0 season, win their fifth consecutive championship and run their state-record winning streak to a jaw-dropping 49 games. Along the way, they beat both East and West — you know, the teams that contested the large-school championship.

Soldotna coach Galen Brantley Jr. — eight state titles in 10 seasons — ducks no team, which is why the season opens Aug. 11 with another delicious clash against West. Let the hype begin. This time, the game will be played at West. Davis, the Eagles coach, is psyched about an opponent and an opposing coach he respects and admires.

"You get to play a group of guys who have chosen the right thing in the weight room and the classroom, and on the field,'' Davis said.

Granted, that game is just the season-opener. Yet it's also the beginning of journey that ends in October, and shortly after that, players from the best teams will be getting sized for rings.

This column is the opinion of sports reporter Doyle Woody. Reach him at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com and follow him on Twitter.com/JaromirBlagr