North Star League

In predicted order of finish:

LAKESIDE KNIGHTS

1995 record: 8-2

Coach: Ron Miller

Years coaching, record: five, 14-22

Top returners: Mario Falciani, senior, 5-9, 150, wide receiver/cornerback; Buck Allen, junior, 5-10, 170, running back/cb; Sam Lozeau, jr., 6-0, 190, rb/ linebacker; Ken Pluff, jr., 6-0, 160, quarterback/cb; Barrett Morris, 6-0, 175, tight end/lb; Brock Halstead, jr., 5-11, 240, defensive line/guard.

Top newcomers: Mike Bone, sophomore, 6-1, 150, g/de; Robbie McPeak, soph., 5-7, 145, qb/lb; Justin Hoffman, freshman, 5-9, 175, g/dl.

Quick kicks: After losing in a tie-breaker in the championship to Mullan last year, Lakeside will be favored as it returns six of eight offensive starters and five of eight defensive starters. The Knights should be the team to beat for the next couple of years as Falciani is the only key senior playing on a team full of juniors with three years starting experience.

Coach’s comment: “We’ve got a lot of kids who are battling for positions, so we’ll be two-deep at most positions and that will be a huge advantage.”

Outlook: With three of the top five players in the league and a turnout of 28 players, the Knights are not only talented but they’re also deep. That should add up to Miller’s first NSL title. If there is an Achilles’ heel to this squad, it’s size. The team average is about 160 pounds, but great team speed should counter the lack of size.

MULLAN TIGERS

1995 record: 8-2

Coach: John Drager

Years coaching, record: 31, 223-49

Top returners: Dan Fritz, sr., 6-1, 155, qb/db; Brad Ban, sr., 5-10, 145, rb/db; Adam Frank, sr., rb/dl; Al Sisk, sr., 6-3, 168, te/lb; Chris Angle, sr., 6-4, 200, te/ lb; Larry Hammerberg, sr., 6-0, 165, ol/ lb; Tony Lunen, sr., 6-0, 150, ol/dl; Jason Christopherson, sr., 5-9, 140, te/db.

Top newcomers: Kjell Truesdell, sr., 6-2, 185, c/dl; Eugene Chavez, sr., 5-7, 135, rb/db; Noah Hoven, fr., 5-8, 220, ol/ dl.

Quick kicks: All eight starters are seniors. This experience could be a foil for Lakeside’s depth. Fritz said the Tigers have been gearing up for months for Friday’s home game with Lakeside.

Coach’s comment: “It’s a completely different feeling knowing you’re getting close to the end, so I’ll enjoy it more this year,” Drager said on coaching his final season.

Outlook: The defending champion Tigers have been the perrenial power of the NSL throughout Drager’s 31-year head coaching career. School officials renamed the team’s field John Drager Field in honor of the veteran coach.

CLARK FORK WAMPUS CATS

1995 record: 2-7

Coach: Frank Hammersley

Years coaching, record: eight, 38-28

Top returners: Ian Reuter, sr., 6-0, 165, wr/de; Mike Conn, sr., 5-8, 180, rb/lb; Brent Stevens, jr., 5-8, 180, rb/cb; Nate Stutzke, soph., 6-1, 170, qb/cb. Top newcomers: George Klontz, soph., 5-11, 185, fb/lb; Chris Scarlett, jr., 5-9, 180, ol/dl; Ben Wells, jr., 5-9, 180, ol/dl.

Quick kicks: The Wampus Cats will have a different look this year as three-year starting quarterback Ian Reuter will pull a “Kordell Stewart-esque” move to receiver.

Coach’s comment: “With only 15 players, we’re gonna be playing some ironman football. Most of our guys will play both ways.”

Outlook: Clark Fork will put a quality eight players on the field, but the lack of depth will take its toll. This was evident in the Wampus Cats’ first game last weekend at Lakeside when they were beaten 58-12. They should still be exciting to watch as Stutzke should display good arm strength on deep passes to Reuter.

KOOTENAI WARRIORS

1995 record: 0-9

Coach: Scott Shafer

Years coaching: 3, 3-14

Top returners: Randy Reinhofer, jr., 6-6, 250, te/de; Jeremy Prickett, jr., 6-0, 230, ol/dl; J.D. Tiller, soph., 5-10, 195, ol; Tim Ausman, jr., 6-2, 165, wr/db. Top newcomers: Scott Johns, soph., 5-10, 160, rb; A.J. Lawson, sr., 6-0, 220, fb/lb.

Quick kicks: The Warriors have nowhere to go but up and should do so if some young players can step up. With only one senior on a 22-man roster most starting positions are open, including quarterback. Shafer has no clue who the quarterback will be, and is hoping someone will step up in practice.

Coach’s comment: “I can tell from practice that we’ve already improved. We’re going to be especially strong on the line and on defense.”

Outlook: If the Warriors find a quarterback, a third place finish could be possible. Kootenai had no junior high program until this year, so freshmen talent is a non-factor until next year. Kootenai’s team speed, size and numbers are improved from last year and Reinhofer is a legitimate talent. Still a year away from playing with Lakeside and Mullan.

FALLS CHRISTIAN EAGLES

1995 record: 5-4

Coach: Rick Alexander

Years coaching, record: First

Top returners: Matt Smith, jr., 6-0, 263, og/rb/de; Matt Derrick, jr., 5-11, 195, ol/ dl; Seth Whaley, jr., 6-1, 175, qb; Lennart Nacke, jr., 6-4, 240, ol/dl; Aaron Mitson, jr., 6-0, 155, rb/s.

Top newcomers: Clint Griffin, fr., 5-8, 170, ol/dl; Nick Ponce, soph., 5-7, 192, ol/dl; Brandon Beck, soph., 5-10, 170, ol/ dl; Abe Staggs, soph., 5-10, 153, ol/dl.

Quick kicks: With a new coach and no seniors on the roster, the Eagles will have to grow as a team. If the offensive line gets healthy it will be one of the biggest lines in the league with four players more than 190 pounds.

Coach’s comment: “There’s no limit to our potential once we’re healthy. It’s the most together team I’ve ever coached as far as team unity.”

Outlook: The Eagles lack of a running game was exposed in their season opener at Mullan. This should shore up when Ponce and Derrick are healthy. Derrick was hurt in the season opener and Ponce was hurt skateboarding just days before the Mullan game. Alexander just arrived from California where he coached at private schools.

, DataTimes MEMO: See related story under the headline: Knighthood?

This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH 1. Buck Allen, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, junior, running back/ linebacker, Lakeside. Allen has well-known running ability, but is equally valuable as team’s defensive leader. 2. Ken Pluff, 6-0, 160, junior, quarterback/cornerback, Lakeside. Multi-talented player who is believed to possess the most athletic ability in the league. 3. Mario Falciani, 5-9, 150, senior, wide receiver/cornerback, Lakeside. The Knights’ inspirational leader. Will be Pluff’s main target. 4. Dan Fritz, 6-1, 155, senior, quarterback/defensive back, Mullan. Four-year starter attempts to lead Tigers to third straight NSL title. 5. Ian Reuter, 6-0, 160, senior, wide receiver/defensive back, Clark Fork. Reuter moved to wide receiver after three years at quarterback.