Frontier League

In predicted order of finish

Cheney Blackhawks

1997 records: 6-0, 6-3-1, lost in first round of playoffs

Coach: Tom Oswald

Years coaching, record: 23rd, 21st at Cheney, 133-71-7

Starters, lettermen returns: 7, 25

Base offense, defense: Wing T; 52

Top returners: Matt Fox, sr., 6-0, 205, RB/ILB, first-team all-league RB; Seth Morris, sr., 6-0, 215, C-NG, first-team all-league C; Pat Laughlin, sr., 6-0, 205, RB/OLB; Blake Falor, jr., 6-2, 225, TE/LB; Jeremy Parker, jr., 6-0, 195, RB/ILB; Lewis Pardun, jr, 6-3, 315, OT/ DT; Jason Stoddard, jr., 6-3, 235, OT/ DT; Joel Warren, jr., 5-9, 165, WR/CB.

Top newcomers: Chris Oyolokor, sr., 6-3, 195, QB/FS.

Quick kick: Oyolokor is playing football for the first time since seventh grade.

Coach’s comments: “If we mature on the defensive side of the ball and Chris Oyolokor plays at quarterback like we think he is capable of, we will have a pretty good football team.”

Outlook: Obviously, the burden falls on the quarterback to run Cheney’s streak of league titles to five, but if the Blackhawks falter, there are numerous challengers.

West Valley Eagles

1997 records: 0-6, 2-7

Coach: Tim Trout

Years coaching, record: 1st, 0-0

Starters, lettermen returns: 12, 19

Base offense, defense: Spread; 3-4

Top returners: Brad Groh, sr. 6-3, 180, WR/DB; Chris Hilsabeck, sr., 5-9, 170, SB/DB; Lee Rottweiler, sr., 5-9, 180, RB; Rick Collins, sr., 6-1, 175, SB/ LB; Trevor Britton, sr., 6-0, 180, NG; Nick Brumback, sr., 6-2, 190, QB; Corde Kurtz, 5-9, 190, jr., LB; Jesse Oka, sr., 6-0, 210, OL/LB; Matt Hietala, sr., 6-1, 255, OL/DL; Ryan Spivey, sr., 6-1, 220, OL/LB; Ty Roberts, sr., 5-10, 160, WR/DB; Juston Demke, sr., 5-8, 170, SB/NG.

Top newcomers: Jamie Brown, sr., 5-9, 220, OL/DL; Dustin Griffith, sr., 5-11, 170, DB; Wes Hood, 6-2, 180, C/LB.

Quick kick: Under new coach Trout, the veteran Eagles will give Frontier foes a new look with a short passing game and one-back offense.

Coach’s comments: “I told ‘em last year’s over and done with, this is all new dreams, and let’s just start from scratch and start again.”

Outlook: The Eagles have talent. It will just depend upon how quickly they adjust to a new system.

East Valley Knights

1997 records: 3-3, 5-4

Coach: Jim Clements

Years coaching, record: 18th, 7th at EV, 100-63-3

Starters, lettermen returns: 5, 19

Base offense, defense: Wing T, 4-4

Top returners: Blake Horgan, jr., 6-2, 230, TE/LB, first-team all-league TE; Andrew Gillespie, sr., 6-0, 175, LB/RB; Adam Sitton, sr., 6-0, 170, FS/RB; J.J. Honoroff, sr., 5-10, 225, OG/DT; Chris Dassow, sr., 5-10, 190, OL/LB; Nick Fisher, sr., 6-2, 200, C/DL.

Top newcomers: Matt Monte, jr., 5-8, 167, RB/DB; Jesse Quirk, sr. 6-3, 175, QB; Aaron Herath, jr., 5-9, 174, RB/LB; Nolan Fridley, jr., 6-3, 189, OL/DE; Steve Henderson, sr., 5-10, 144, WR/ DB; Kyle Stafford, sr., 5-9, 273, OL/DL.

Quick kick: This is EV’s final year in the Frontier League. Next year, the Knights move into the GSL.

Coach’s comments: “It’s anybody’s race as far as I see it. We’ve got the necessary personnel to be very competitive in league.”

Outlook: The Knights have had their share of top-two finishes, but their last league title came in 1981. Horgan is one of the best players in the league, but an overall lack of depth will hurt the Knights.

Clarkston Bantams

1997 records: 3-3, 4-5

Coach: Dave Curtis

Years coaching, record: 21st, 11th at Clarkston, 122-77-2

Starters, lettermen returns: 8, 13

Base offense, defense: I; 4-3

Top returners: Drew Storm, jr., 6-0, 160, QB; Josh Landrus, sr., 5-8, 170, RB/LB; Russ Griffin, sr., 5-9, 260, OG/ DT; Shawno Horne, sr., 5-10, 200, C/DT; Brent Larsen, sr., 5-9, 235, OG/ DT; Justin Romesburg, sr., 5-9, 150, WR/CB; Brandon Ellis, sr., 5-8, 150, WR/CB; Paul Holman, sr., 6-0, 160, WR/CB; Morgan Smith, sr., 5-10, 170, Slot-S.

Top newcomers: None listed.

Quick kick: The Bantams open against Lake City, Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene.

Coach’s comments: “We have quite a bit of speed. The key is how well we play defense. We need to be more physical than we were last year.”

Outlook: Storm is considered the best QB in the league, but three big Idaho schools is not a good way to open when depth is a factor, especially when your league foes are more experienced. NEWS AND NOTES Tom Oswald is out, and in, as Cheney coach. Former EWU player Tim Trout out of Kennewick is in as West Valley coach, coming from the Mt. Spokane staff. Chris Oyolokor is in as Cheney quarterback. No current FL team has been in the second round of the playoffs since Cheney in ‘90. It is ‘89 for Clarkston, ‘88 for EV and ‘87 for WV. Only the league champion is in the playoffs.