PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEWS ’09: KR returning to ‘smashmouth’ football

Out with the old, in with the new. That seems to be the theme these days on the Kentridge High football field, where the Chargers are feverishly learning the finer nuances of the I-formation in a new-look offense that’s hoping to turn some heads this fall. Kentridge has run the spread offense the last two years, but has shifted to the more run-friendly I-formation primarily due the talent on the field.

“I think it will help us with ball control and allow us to utilize our strengths better,” said Kentridge coach Marty Osborn, who is now entering his 19th season with the program. “The spread’s a great offense, but it puts a lot of pressure on your quarterback to be a playmaker.”

That’s not to say the Chargers don’t have a talented quarterback, though the position remained up for grabs a week into practices. Rather, it’s a tip of the cap to the Chargers’ potentially explosive backfield combination of seniors Devin Topps and Alex Tyson. Both showed considerable ability last season, Topps rushing for 484 yards and four touchdowns on 93 carries, and Tyson adding 283 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries.

However, in the spread offense, which focused more on the athletic ability of Brandon Reiter last year and Brandon Turner the year before, neither Topps or Tyson were given the chance to carry the load.

That will change on Friday at 7 p.m., when Kentridge squares off with South Puget Sound League North Division rival Kentlake at French Field in the season opener.

The change in offensive schemes has brought an entirely new look to Topps and the rest of the Chargers, who glowed of rejuvenation during the first couple weeks of practice.

“I like (the change) a lot because it’s more straight ahead, and we actually get more blocking than in the spread,” said Topps, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior who runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. “It’s just smashmouth football now.”

Smashmouth and ball control. Kentridge’s 12 interceptions were the third-most of any North Division team last year. With a ground-oriented, clock-eating game plan, that number should fall considerably.

Throw in the fact that KR used the run-based wing-T offense for 16 consecutive seasons before switching to the spread three years ago, and it’s as though the Chargers are simply going back to old times.

“I think the I (formation) just suits our style a bit better,” said Osborn, who has a 116-65 overall record at the school. “We’re going back to our roots, so to speak.”

The Chargers officially turned to the I-formation in Week 7 of last season and went on to win three of their final four games, outscoring their opponents during that span 76-41. Their 19-point-per-game average was just slightly higher than the 18.9 points they averaged in two years of using the spread offense. However, considering the late-season nature of the change, the results were impressive — especially from Topps, who rushed for 150 yards in the season finale, a 27-14 nonleague victory against Spanaway Lake.

“This is going to help a ton,” said Dylan Zylstra, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder who is the emotional leader of the offensive and defensive lines. “We had the pieces for the I. We didn’t have all the pieces for the spread.”

And while the offense is taking on a new look, the defense remains relatively intact. That can only mean good things for the Chargers, a group that allowed just 15 points per game a year ago.

Along with Zylstra, Tyson (defensive back) and Topps, who was a first-team linebacker last year, Kentridge also is bringing back on defense Jason Didis (defensive back), Austin Robinson (lineman), Harrison Rosane (linebacker), Cameron McKernan (free safety) and Sean Ringor (defensive back).

“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people. The thing about us is, we’re always overrated, never doing what we’re expected to do,” said Zylstra, who helped the school’s basketball team take third at state last winter. “This year, I think that will turn around. I think we will be expected to do less and we’re going to come out and do it.”

“I think this year, we’ve really got it figured out.”

KENTRIDGE CHARGERS: AT A GLANCE

• Coach: Marty Osborn, 19th season, 116-65

• Last year: 4-4 in the South Puget Sound League North Division, 6-4 overall.

• Type of offense: I-formation.

• Top offensive returners: Devin Topps, senior, RB, 6-2/215; Dylan Zylstra, senior, OL, 6-5/223; Wes Concepcion, junior, kicker, 5-10/150; Alex Tyson, senior, RB; Jason Didis, senior, WR, 6-2/201; Jon Kwon, senior, OL, 5-10/215; Ian Anderson, senior, WR/QB, 5-10/160; Austin Robinson, senior, OC; Cameron McKernan, junior, WR; Sean Ringor, senior, kick returner.

• Type of defense: 3-3 stack.

• Top defensive returners: Devin Topps, senior, ILB, 6-2/215; Dylan Zylstra, senior, DE, 6-5/223; Alex Tyson, senior, DB; Jason Didis, senior, DB, 6-2/201; Jon Kwon, senior, LB, 5-10/215; Austin Robinson, senior, DL; Harrison Rosane, senior, ILB, 5-9/192; Cameron McKernan, junior, FS; Sean Ringor, senior, DB.

Impact newcomers: Jordan Dash, RB/DB, 5-9/165; Justin Dash, senior, DE, 5-11/195; Nico White, senior, TE/DE; Carl Samoa, soph., OL, 6-2/242; A.J. Archie, soph., OL, 5-11/258; Brian Englund, senior, TE/DE, 6-3/192; Donovan Ward, junior, DE/FB, 6-2/217; Michael LeClaire, senior, CB, 5-11/155; Axl Snure, junior, RB/LB, 5-11/193; Caleb Smith, sophomore, QB, 6-5/237; Blake Corker, senior, OG, 5-10/262.

• Outlook: The Chargers will take on a whole new look this season as the offense is changing schemes from the spread to the I-formation. That should give the running game a considerable boost and make Kentridge a more dangerous team, especially with Devin Topps and Alex Tyson in the backfield. KR used the spread for the past two seasons, but never appeared completely comfortable in the system and should benefit from the switch. In addition, the Chargers return seven offensive and six defensive starters, more than most teams in the league, and didn’t graduate too many key pieces. So there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic. On the flipside, Kentridge has possessed plenty of talent in recent years but hasn’t been able to put all the pieces together. This team could get past that hump.

• Key game: Week 8 (Friday, Oct. 23) at Kentwood. This is typically the time of the season when playoff berths are decided. Add in the rivalry between these two schools and the fact that both should be in the hunt for a playoff spot, and this could be the game of the season. And with KR’s change in offensive philosophy, these two teams very well could end up being mirror images of each other.