Issaquah's Ryan Bergman eager for test at Qwest Field against Bothell

Ryan Bergman knows he is stepping into a difficult situation. Not only is he making his debut as Issaquah's quarterback, but it just happens to be at Qwest Field.

If that's not enough, he is going up against a Bothell squad coming off two losses to the Eagles last season, including a season-ending 31-28 defeat in the 4A quarterfinals.

But like teammates, the senior is trying to temper his enthusiasm. He doesn't want to put too much pressure on one game.

"It's everything I've worked so hard for and, finally, I get my chance," he said. "I just want to take advantage of it and have some fun. It's really hard to beat a team three times in a row, especially a team as good as Bothell. We're just going to show up and compete with the guys we have and try to come out on top again."

The two teams meet Saturday at 8 p.m. in the final game of the 2009 Emerald City Kickoff Classic.

Bergman has the benefit of a strong running game led by Grant Gellatly, but if the Eagles need a completion, they are confident the first-year starter can get it done.

"A lot of guys wouldn't want their first-time quarterback starter to have to play in that setting against such a quality team, but he's done everything we've asked him to do," Issaquah coach Chris Bennett said. "He's had a great offseason."

Despite the two losses to the Eagles last season, the Cougars have made a point to stay focused on the moment. After turning an 0-2 start into a playoff run in 2008, Tom Bainter's team understands that one loss, especially early, doesn't mean the season is over.

"We see where we're ranked and we know that those things mean very little until the end of the year but, on the other hand, we've got respect out there and we'd like to keep that," Bainter said.

O'Dea football 'Strong at Heart'

While the O'Dea football team as a whole has taken the motto "Strong at Heart," fullback/linebacker Zach Fogerson said the Irish defense has another one of its own: "Seek and Destroy."

"Every game, we're going to go all out every single play," he said.

The 6-foot, 210-pound senior plans to lead by example, in what will be his first year as a full-time defensive starter. Middle linebacker should suit Fogerson's physical style of play.

"On defense, I can hit you without worrying about holding onto the ball," he said with a grin.

Bonney Lake faces

tough opener

Chad Barrett knows all the clichés.

Like you've got to play them all sometime, or you've got to beat the best to be the best.

And you won't hear the new Bonney Lake football coach complaining about opening the 2009 season against third-ranked Lakes of suburban Tacoma on Friday night at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. But there obviously would be more desirable first-game opponents.

"It is what it is," Barrett said. "We've just got to go out and play like we need to play. Anything's possible."

Although he's new to the South Puget Sound League 3A, Barrett is familiar with Lakes as a former Skyline assistant. The Spartans beat a good Lakes team in the 2007 state playoffs, 39-20, en route to the 3A state championship. Lakes was ranked No. 1 in the state at the time.

"They're better than they were in '07," Barrett said.

Notes

• Like most high-school football coaches, Rex Norris is used to long days and nights during the season.

But there is nothing customary about the routine Norris and other coaches in Kent have been forced into since the Kent Education Association went on strike last week.

"The kids have been resilient in adapting and the parents have been great, but it's been tough," Norris, Kentwood's football coach, said, while walking the picket line.

Since coaching contracts are separate from teaching contracts, athletic teams in the Kent School District have been able to practice, but with restrictions. Practices cannot begin before 3 p.m. and coaches are allowed in the school building for only one hour before and one hour after practice.

Norris said he and others on his coaching staff generally start their day on the picket line at 9 a.m. and don't complete their football duties until about 8 or 9 p.m. He said he believes it's important for coaches to be part of the picket lines, "especially football coaches, because we're so visible."

"I'm a teacher first," Norris added.

• Mount Rainier and Hazen don't officially square off in Seamount League play until Oct. 16, when they both will be far more seasoned than they are this week.

But the teams will bang helmets Friday at 7 p.m. at Highline Stadium in a formal scrimmage after receiving forfeits from their respective league opponents, Tyee and Evergreen, which do not have enough eligible players to field teams.

Numbers are picking up at Evergreen and Tyee, although the two schools football programs are fighting different battles in some regards.

Evergreen coach David Lewis said he anticipates having more than 50 players eligible by the second half of the season. Right now, he has only 11.

Some are sitting out because they haven't been able to afford the $40 ASB fee, which must be collected before a player can practice (this is separate from the $50 pay-to-play, which comes due next month). Others are victims of the Highline School District's 2.0 grade-point requirement, which forces them to sit out the first three weeks of the school year — and that equates into five games, Lewis points out.

• Naji Moore-Taylor, WesCo 3A's leading rusher a year ago, is eligible for Friday's opener against rival at Edmonds-Woodway.

Meadowdale coach Mark Stewart confirmed that the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder will play, after attending the necessary amount of practices following his re-enrollment at the school after leaving for undisclosed reasons.

The addition of Moore-Taylor to an offense already featuring senior running back Sam Werner (who averaged 11 yards per carry before suffering a season-ending injury in the third game) and senior tight end Connor Hamlett (a Division-I prospect) gives Stewart "the best trio I've ever had here."

As for game-planning against an E-W team without a Heard in the backfield for the first time in half a decade, the 10th-year coach said "at some levels, you don't want to find yourself relaxing just because they aren't there."

• Call it the year of the first-year coach in the Metro League. Thirty percent of the Metro League has new leadership this season: Eastside Catholic (Jason Gesser), Ingraham (Lee Thornhill), Bishop Blanchet (Aaron Maul) and Cleveland (Fritz Martin).

• Rainier Beach coach Mark Haley has almost three times the consecutive-years experience (26) in the Metro Sound than the six other coaches combined (nine).

• Garfield basketball standout Tony Wroten was able to get in 12 practices for the football team and he will play during the Bulldogs' matchup with Franklin on Saturday. Coach Anthony Allen said Wroten could start at receiver and safety.

Times staff reporter Sandy Ringer and freelancers Joshua Mayers and Darren Fessenden contributed to this report.