• Coach: Trevor Roberts, 2nd year.
• Last season: 3-4, tie 5th in SPSL North; 5-5 overall.
• Offense: Multiple.
• Defense: 5-2
• Returning players (Year, name, position, height/weight): Sr. Isaiah Walker, OT/DT, 6-4/235; Sr. Nathan Smith, OG, 6-2/260; Jr. Va Logotala, NG, 5-7/215; Sr. Chravis Fuimaono, LB, 5-10/210; Jr. Thomas Reinhart, OLB, 6-1/190.
• Key newcomers: Sr. Artise Gauldin, HB/CB, 5-10/180; So. David Jones, QB, 6-0/190; Jr. Ronald Molere, WR/DB, 5-10/185; Jr. Saiipele Siafuafu, OL/DL, 6-1/235.
• Outlook: Most teams graduate 20-plus players and talk about rebuilding. Not only is that word nowhere to be found in K-M’s camp, there seems to be a quiet confidence that the Royals can do even better than last year in spite of losing some top talent. No one here is a household name yet, but that could change quickly. Some young ones definitely will be getting their chances. “When we reload with young kids, that hurts your depth. Our sophomore class is really going to have to step up to do that,” Roberts said.
• Can’t-miss game: The Royals open at home on Sept. 4 against Auburn Riverside. These two teams are similar in that both are on the way up and no longer are the breather on anyone’s schedule. While season openers are important to everyone, the winner here could go far in setting a tone for a run at the postseason. The annual Taylor Trophy game against Auburn is Sept. 19 at French Field, with K-M out to snap a nine-game losing streak in that rivalry. The other circle-the-calendar contest will be the following week, Sept. 26 at Tahoma. The Royals pulled off a 14-8 upset last year.
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