KingCo 4A team capsules

* returning starter

Crest Division

Eastlake Wolves

Location: Sammamish

Coach: Gene Dales (5th year), 33-11 record

2009: 6-4 overall, 2-3 league

Key returners: RB/DB Kyle Lappano*, Sr.; LB/OL Matt Uhlar*, Sr.; DB Robert Sharps*, Sr.; OL/DL Gino Bresolin*, Jr.; OL/DL Alex Gray*, Sr.; QB Keegan Kemp, Jr.; DL/OL Kepa Hughes*, Jr.

Impact newcomers: RB/LB Sam Gillis, Sr., LB Sean MacDonald, Jr., LB/RB Dan Grotjahn, Jr.

Outlook: Eastlake graduated many of its skill-position players, but Sharps is one of the best corners in the league and Kemp takes over at quarterback for a team that lost in the state-qualifying round last year.

Garfield Bulldogs

Location: Seattle

Coach: Anthony Allen (5th year), 5-31

2009: 3-6, 0-5

Key returners: RB/LB Valentino Coleman*, Sr.; TE/LB Dae'Shon Hall*, So.; OT/DE Mathis Watson*, Jr.; OT/DT John Trupin*, Jr.; RB/CB Pierre Wright*, Jr.

Top newcomers: OT/DE Alex Antush, Jr.; TE/LB Kellen Taylor, Sr.

Outlook: It has been two years since the Bulldogs won a league game, and this year's team is relatively young. That said, there is a good dose of experience back and Coleman is a three-year starter.

Issaquah Eagles

Location: Issaquah

Coach: Chris Bennett (3rd year), 19-7

2009: 8-4, 4-1

Key returners: WR/DB Evan Peterson*, Sr.; RB/LB Nik Landdeck*, Sr.; RB/DB Taylor Wyman*, Sr.; WR/DB Adam Dondoyano*, Sr.; OL/DL Jay Deines*, Sr.; TE/DL Eric Lemke*, Jr.; OL/LB Austin Richert*, Jr.; WR/DB Spencer Warren*, Sr.; DB Nick Wright*, Sr.; OL/DL Jeff Crocker*, Sr.; RB/DB Blake Miller*, Jr.

Top newcomers: OL/DL Paul Goertz, Sr.; QB/LB Braden Bouwman, Sr.; QB Ethan Kalin, Jr.; DL Trevor Alexander, Jr.; RB/DB Oscar Edwards, Jr.; WR/DB Jake Bakamus, Jr.; WR/DB Reed Peterson, So.; TE/LB Eric Rach, So.; QB/LB Chas Peterson, So.; RB/DB Jack Gellatly, Fr.

Outlook: Peterson is an all-state receiver who set school records with 1,538 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. Landdeck is a talented two-way player, and the Eagles should be in the mix again after losing to Bothell in the quarterfinals.

Newport Knights

Location: Bellevue

Coach: Mike Miller (6th year), 31-27

2009: 5-4, 2-3

Key returners: DE Patrick Taiwo*, Sr.; WR/S Kevin Martin*, Sr.; RB/SS Louie Jachim*, Sr.; TE Nick Clifford*, Jr.; DB Daniel Altchech*, Sr.; OL/LB James Burch*, Sr.; OL/DL Joe Givens*, Sr.; DL Matt Murray*, Sr.; RB Eric Rodan*, So.; QB/S Isaac Dotson, So.

Impact newcomers: QB/DE Lee Stoops, Sr.; RB/DB Jon Luu, Jr.; WR/DB Nick Shankland, Sr.; WR/DB James Ferris, So.; OL/DB Spencer Bursek, Jr.; OL/DL Charles Barefield, Sr.; OL/DL Alin Barsan, Jr.; OL/DL Phil Wilgus, Jr.

Outlook: Jachim is one of the league's strongest backs, and Jachim started the last two games of 2009 at quarterback. Newport has lots of talent returning but again looks up at Skyline, Issaquah and Eastlake.

Redmond Mustangs

Coach: Jeff Chandler (1st year)

2009: 3-6, 2-3

Key returners: QB/DB Mike Conforto, Sr.; TE/DL James Boker, Sr.; LB Troy Thomas, Sr.; WR/DB Cody Klepinger, Sr.

Impact newcomer: RB/LB Billy Del Toro, Sr.

Outlook: As the coach at Eastlake, Chandler guided the Wolves to the KingCo title in 2001. As a player with Pacific Lutheran, he won a national championship in 1980. Now, he'll try to rebuild a Redmond program that hasn't won a playoff game since 1998.

Skyline Spartans

Coach: Mat Taylor (3rd year), 26-2

2009: 12-2, 5-0, Class 4A state champion

Key returners: WR/FS Kasen Williams*, Sr.; WR/CB Mike Ford*, Sr.; WR/FS Jordan Simone*, Sr.; TE/DE Connor Cree*, Sr.; WR/S Teran Togia, Sr.; RB/CB Connor Gilchrist, Jr.; RB/LB Kai Jandoc, Sr.; LB Alex Carey, Sr.

Impact newcomers: QB Max Browne, So.; OL/DL Chris Torres, Sr.; OL/DL Austin Owen, Jr.; OL/DL Adam Bolen, Sr.; OL/DL Ben Vavra, Jr.; TE/DE Chase Huber, Sr.; LB Peyton Pelleur, So.; WR Nic Sblendorio, So.

Outlook: Three-time state champion Jake Heaps is now at Brigham Young, but the Spartans have a capable replacement in Browne, whose older brother Mitch led Skyline to the 3A title in 2000. Oh yeah, and he's got the state's best player in Williams to throw to.

Crown Division

Ballard Beavers

Location: Ballard

Coach: John Bowers (3rd year), 2-16

2009: 1-8, 1-4

Key returners: OL/DE Drew Daley*, Sr.; LB/TE Blake Sechler*, Jr.

Impact newcomers: DE/TE Jhamante Jefferson, Jr.; LB/RB Dominic King, So.

Outlook: Ballard played for the state title in 2004 but has won only two games the past two seasons.Daley and Sechlerwill be the senior leaders, but the Beavers must rely on everyone in another rebuilding year.

Bothell Cougars

Location: Bothell

Coach: Tom Bainter (11th year), 95-23

2009: 12-1, 5-0

Key returners: RB/DB Luke Proulx*, Sr.; DL/OL Dallas Gosselin*, Sr.; OL/DL Landon Lydig*, Sr.

Impact newcomers: WR/DB Trent Sewell, Jr.; OL/DL Elree Carter, Jr.; RB/DB Danny Wilson, So.

Outlook: One of the most consistent programs in the state the past few years, Bothell is again poised for a strong season. Proulx is the best running back in the league and he'll have plenty of holes behind Gosselin, Lydig and friends.

Inglemoor Vikings

Location: Kenmore

Coach: Frank Naish (32nd year), 176-122

2009: 5-4, 4-1

Key returners: OL/DL Alex Carson*, Sr.; QB/DB Mitchell Gunsalus*, Sr.; WR/DB Peter Meisui*, Sr.; RB/LB Sean Mukai*, Sr.; RB/LB Shamus Mukai*, Sr.; WR/DB Todd Raynes*, Sr.; OL/LB Eric Rogers*, Sr.; RB/LB Tanner Sellman*, Sr.; RB/LB Steve Short*, Sr.; OL/DL Obadiah Taylor*, Sr.; OL/DL Niko Tupou*, Jr.

Impact newcomers: QB/DB Alex Morrow, Sr.; RB/LB Davis Walker, Jr.; RB/DB Connor Savage, Sr.; K Rick Gumbotz, Sr.

Outlook: Inglemoor beat Woodinville for the first time since 2000 last year, but the Vikings were stunned in their crossover game against Eastlake. Lots of players are back on both sides of the ball, so the experience should be there.

Roosevelt Roughriders

Location: Seattle

Coach: Jeff Ware (8th year), 20-43

2009: 2-7, 1-4

Key returners: OT/DE Brian Hutchison*, Sr.; QB Peter Ianelli*, Sr.; RB/LB Hunter Stephan*, Sr.; RB/LB Michael Bennett*, Jr.; OT/DT Connor McCarthy, Sr.; OL/DT Eric Reiman*, Sr.; OT/DT Conor Leeds*, Sr.; WR Paul Gray*, Jr.; RB/LB Travis Jones*, Sr.; WR/DB Daniel Iwata*, Sr.; OL/DE Garrett Mack, Jr.; RB/DB Sam Carletti, Jr.

Impact newcomers: RB/DB Anthony Steinauer, Sr.; DT Will Miller, Sr.; RB/DB Spencer Farias, So.; RB/DB Mikko Karanen, Sr.; OL/DT Marquel Stoudamire, So.

Outlook: Roosevelt has just one playoff appearance since 1995 and the Roughriders have another tough road ahead. Ianelli is back at quarterback, and Hutchison is a three-year starter at tackle.

Woodinville Falcons

Location: Woodinville

Coach: Wayne Maxwell (6th year), 46-22

2009: 4-5, 3-2

Key returners: RB/DB Alec Schwend*, Jr.; QB/DB Brett Arrivey*, Jr.; OL/DL Sawyer Whalen*, Jr.; RB/DB Dan Clark, Sr.; RB/DB Joe Ip, Sr.; WR/S Ryland Longoni, Sr.; LB Jake Dobyns, Sr.; WR/DE Doug Sullivan, Sr.; OL/DL Marcus Johnson, Sr.

Impact newcomers: WR/DB Kyle Adkins, Jr.; OL/DL Devon Detrich, Jr.; OL/DL J.D. Chapman, Sr.

Outlook: Woodinville played in the state title game in 2005 and has a host of playoff berths this decade, but the Falcons struggled last season. Arrivey, Schwend and a potentially strong offense will try to lead them back to the postseason.

Derek Belt