NEA Preview Football

Offense

Freeman has an edge on offense. The Scotties return senior Andrew Dresback, who begins his third season as the team’s starting quarterback, and senior Chad Davis, starting his second season at tailback. One of Lakeside’s three returning starters is quarterback Travis Corigliano, who threw 14 touchdown passes a year ago and was picked off only twice in an offense that stresses running the football. Chewelah will move running back Andrew Peaker to quarterback, where he will operate behind the biggest offensive line in the league. Kettle Falls will look to senior standout offensive guards Brandon Hoover and Jay Clemens to open holes for an experienced running attack. Newport has just three seniors on varsity, but one of them is quarterback Paul Ratcliff.

Defense

Lakeside returns a sterling set of linebackers, including seniors Scott Richards, a second-team All-GNL outside linebacker pick a year ago, and Nick Phillips, a hard-nosed inside linebacker. Freeman’s run of league championships coincided with the arrival of Jim Woods, the defensive coordinator under head coach Jeff Smith – Woods continued to stress defense when he took over as head coach last year.

Notables

Chewelah has two factors in its favor: The Cougars have good numbers (more than 70 players turned out) and good size – the team should start an offensive and defensive line that averages well over 200 pounds per player. Of all the teams in the league, Kettle Falls features the most returning starters with an even dozen.

Questions

The league appears to be balanced on paper. The question marks boil down to who can best stay healthy. “We are all going to substitute players,” Colfax coach Mike Morgan said. “It comes down to who can do that with the least drop off first string to second string.”