Lewi Larson runs through the play over and over again in his head.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d done it a thousand times before.<\/p>\n
This time, however, a missed block turned a routine three-step dropback pass into a mad dash for Kentlake\u2019s 6-foot-1, 210-pound quarterback.<\/p>\n
It was a mad dash that Larson would lose. And one that ultimately would cost him his junior season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI scrambled to get out of the way, but the guy caught me. When he landed on me, my (right) clavical popped out,\u201d Larson said of the play, which came in the final quarter of a 20-12 nonleague loss to Bethel in the second week of last season.<\/p>\n
Larson, now a senior but who shared starting duties in each of his two previous years, missed the following six weeks with the injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably the worst thing that could happen to any football player\u2019s season,\u201d said Larson, who also stars in baseball and basketball at Kentlake. \u201cIt all went shooting down after the second game, when (the injury happened). I tried coming back, but it was too little, too late.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indeed.<\/p>\n
Even so, the Falcons made a valiant push for the playoffs, remaining in the hunt for a berth late into the season. They ultimately fell short as Larson was just one of several key players who lost time to injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen (Larson) got hit against Bethel, everybody was in shock,\u201d said running back Travis Felchlin, an all-league second-team selection last year. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know how to respond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike Shepard, who\u2019s heading into his third season as head coach, agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt Smith did a great job filling in, but our offense had to change when Larson got hurt,\u201d Shepard said.<\/p>\n
The result was plenty of close games that didn\u2019t end up in Kentlake\u2019s favor as it finished with a 3-4 South Puget Sound League North Division record. Literally adding insult to injury, four of the losses were by eight or fewer points, including pivotal defeats to Tahoma (14-7) and Kentridge (14-9). Turn around just two of those four losses, and the Falcons would\u2019ve flown into the playoffs for the first time since 2003.<\/p>\n
That being the case \u2013 and with a healthy Larson back in fold this season \u2013 Kentlake is looking for a better response this time. And the Falcons get an immediate test in the season opener on Sept. 5 at French Field against traditional playoff contender Kentridge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think as Lewi goes, Kentlake will go,\u201d Shepard said. \u201cI am not trying to disrespect my other two quarterbacks, but we will be a different team with Lewi on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such was the case in last year\u2019s season finale, when Larson connected on 5 of 11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in a 35-14 nonleague thrashing of Beamer.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s that kind of potential Larson flashed both as a sophomore and junior, but has yet to have the opportunity to do so full-time.<\/p>\n
Health pending, that changes this fall.<\/p>\n
And though Larson holds the key to this year\u2019s season, the laid-back 17 year old is feeling optimism rather than pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to make a run for the playoffs and, hopefully, win a couple games from there,\u201d said Larson, who completed 30 of 58 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns in three games last fall.<\/p>\n
Sure, every team has reason for optimism before the opening kickoff. But for the Falcons, there\u2019s legitimate reason to believe as they return eight starters on both sides of the ball, including Larson and Felchlin on offense and all-league linebacker Stephen Morse on defense.<\/p>\n
Felchlin, a senior, remains the linchpin of the running game. But the 5-10, 195-pounder will have plenty of help with Taylor Angevine also back in the mix.<\/p>\n
The key to the offense?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the passing game and the line play, for sure,\u201d Larson said.<\/p>\n
The Kentlake quarterback will have plenty of options at his disposal, too, including wide receiver Tyler Wright and tight end Carson Crooks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the best corps of receivers the school has ever had,\u201d Shepard said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to miss Raphael Hall, but we have speed all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Much of that speed doubles on defense, where Morse will lead a linebacking crew that should be among the North Division\u2019s stingiest.<\/p>\n
What now remains paramount is the health of Larson \u2013 and, of course, getting this group to believe after four straight losing seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have as good of talent as we\u2019ve ever had,\u201d Shepard said. \u201cIf I can get these kids to believe, the sky\u2019s the limit.\u201d<\/p>\n
KENTLAKE FALCONS<\/b><\/p>\n
AT A GLANCE<\/p>\n
\u2022 Coach: Mike Shepard, 3rd year.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Last season: 3-4 in SPSL North, tied for fifth place, 4-6 overall.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Offense: I-formation.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Defense: 3-4.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Top returners (Name, year, position, height\/weight): Tyler Wright, jr., WR\/CB, 5-10\/175; Carson Crooks, sr., TE\/OLB, 6-4\/205; Jon Parker, sr., OG\/DL, 6-0\/225; Mike Holzberger, jr., C, 6-4\/240; Ryan Esping, sr., WR, 5-10\/180; Travis Felchlin, sr., FB, 5-10\/210; Taylor Angevine, sr., TB, 5-9\/170; Lewi Larson, sr., QB, 6-1\/205; Cody Arp, sr., S, 6-0\/180; Mitch Harb, sr., S, 5-8\/170; Dallin Grover, sr., LB, 6-4\/215; Stephen Morse, sr., LB, 6-0\/180; Alex McMahon, sr., LB, 6-0\/180.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Key newcomers (Name, year, position, height\/weight): Sam Brooks, so., OLB, 6-0\/185; Derek Straus, sr., DE, 6-2\/190; Tyler Jewett, so., OT, 6-3\/240; Cody Duncan, FB, 5-5\/200; Nick Kramlich, so., TB, 5-8\/170; Warren Powell, jr., OL, 6-4\/240.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Outlook: This team has plenty of reason for optimism, winning more games last season (four) than the previous two years combined. And with a little luck, the Falcons likely would\u2019ve won a couple more games a year ago as they lost four times by eight or fewer points. Injuries really hampered this team last fall as it lost quarterback Lewi Larson in Week 2 to a dislocated shoulder and had to piece together a few other positions as the season wore on. Larson has the arm and the accuracy to be one of the North\u2019s elite quarterbacks. All he needs is a clean bill of health, which he currently has. Larson should get plenty of help, as well. Running back Travis Felchlin came into his own late last season, rushing for 94 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-10 victory against Thomas Jefferson in Week 7. In addition, linebacker Steven Morse, a second-team all-league selection, led the entire SPSL in tackles last season with 84.5. Meanwhile, Kentlake didn\u2019t graduate too much top-shelf talent and returns enough skill-position players to be a factor in the playoff race.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Can\u2019t-miss game: Take your pick. For a team on the rise, every game is big. However, even though it\u2019s the season opener, the Falcons should get a good idea of how they\u2019re going to fare when they kick off on Sept. 5 against Kentridge at French Field. Kentlake dropped a 14-9 heartbreaker to the Chargers in Week 6 of last season, a game that didn\u2019t officially put the Falcons out of the playoffs, but made reaching the postseason nearly impossible. A win here would go a long way in helping Kentlake re-establish itself as a North Division contender.<\/p>\n
LAST FIVE YEARS<\/b><\/p>\n
YEAR \tRECORD<\/p>\n
2007 \t4-6<\/p>\n
2006 \t2-8<\/p>\n
2005 \t1-9<\/p>\n
2004 \t3-7<\/p>\n
2003 \t9-2<\/p>\n
SCHEDULE<\/p>\n
DATE OPPONENT \tTIME<\/p>\n
9-5\tat Kentridge 7 p.m.*<\/p>\n
9-12 vs. K-Meridian\t7 p.m.*<\/p>\n
9-20 at Jefferson\t7 p.m.**<\/p>\n
9-26 vs. Federal Way\t7 p.m.*<\/p>\n
10-4 vs. Rogers\t7 p.m.*<\/p>\n
10-10\tvs. Auburn\t7 p.m.*<\/p>\n
10-17\tat Tahoma\t7 p.m.***<\/p>\n
10-25\tvs. A. Riverside7 p.m.*<\/p>\n
10-31\tat Kentwood 7 p.m.*<\/p>\n
* Game at French Field<\/p>\n
** Game at Federal Way Stadium<\/p>\n
*** Game at Maxwell Field<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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