Same high hopes

The Whitworth Pirates have won the last two Northwest Conference football titles, but you won’t catch head coach John Tully mentioning that to his players.

The Pirates were passed over for the NCAA Division III playoffs last year, despite an unbeaten conference record and just one D-III loss. That won’t be a topic of discussion either.

What occupies Tully’s thoughts – and his players’ thoughts, he hopes – is the here and now, especially with Saturday’s season opener against La Verne (Calif.) at the Pine Bowl fast approaching.

“We felt that we had grown as a team where we could have had success in the playoffs,” Tully said of the playoff snub. “We were surprised, but you know what, I never bring it up. The (2006) season we won 11 straight games – I didn’t bring that up to last year’s team. This is a new group that is going to create their own experiences.”

Many of the names have changed, but the Pirates’ goals haven’t. They believe they can challenge for another NWC title – that comes with an automatic berth to the playoffs this year – and then make some noise nationally, despite having to replace nine defensive starters, all of whom earned first- or second-team All-NWC honors. The 2007 defense led the nation in takeaways (35).

“As we grow, I think we’ll be able to keep it going,” said junior nose guard Brandon Martin, a first-team All-NWC selection last year. “It’s going to be a little rusty because we haven’t played as a unit, but I think our defense will come on strong.”

The offense has proven playmakers in quarterback Kory Kemp and running back Adam Anderson (Riverside High, University of Idaho transfer) to go along with four returning starters on the line.

“We have a lot of people that will be new to starting (mainly on defense), but we have a group that has been with us,” Tully said. “And now it’ll be their time to step forward.”

For example, graduation wiped out the back seven of the defense, but the replacements aren’t as green as they would appear.

“We really feel like we recruited a very good group of linebackers a couple of years ago,” Tully said. “They just need to have experience.”

Nate Hadley, Alex Couette, Layton Brown, Dane Gilbertson and Paul Werhane are in the mix at linebacker. Senior Jesse Clark (Mt. Spokane) and sophomore Derek Stottlemyer are probable starters in the secondary.

Martin anchors the front.

“He’s one of the very best players in the league,” Tully said.

Prior to last season, most of the questions centered on quarterback. Kemp eventually won the job and delivered a steady season with 1,246 yards passing, 260 yards rushing and nine touchdowns (six passing, three rushing). He threw just four interceptions.

“Last year during camp I was just fighting for that spot,” Kemp said. “This year everything is just coming a lot easier. Watching film, I see a lot more. Everything is going a lot smoother.”

Tully pointed out that Kemp has thrown only one interception in fall drills, and that was on a tipped pass.

Anderson rushed for 958 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning NWC offensive player of the year honors in 2007. The top returning receiver is junior Andy Largent (Shadle Park), who had 12 catches a year ago.

The line features Dan Sanders (Freeman), Jeff Kintner, Michael Nahl and Michael Cozad.

“Those guys make us strong up front and our running game is so solid from last year, we should be able to open up the passing game,” Kemp said. “We have a lot of weapons.”

The Pirates were picked second in the NWC coaches’ poll, behind Linfield. Pacific Lutheran and Willamette are considered contenders.

“It’ll be interesting to see how this team comes together,” Tully said. “The neat thing about our guys is they think they’re going to be good and they’ve worked hard. Now, we just need young people to gain experience.”