NUMBERS GAME

WASILLA — Wins have been hard to come by for the Wasilla Warriors in recent seasons. Since their last playoff appearance in 2007, the Warriors managed to piece together only eight wins in three years.

But despite those struggles, interest in football at Wasilla High is as strong as ever. More than 120 athletes hit the field for the first week of practice. Now, first-year head coach Kent Rilatos is hoping those numbers can help the Warriors improve the number in the win column.

“I’m really excited to have that many kids out,” Rilatos said. “It allows us to do so many things.

“It’s an exciting thing about Wasilla football. I’m excited this many kids want to play.”

Rilatos said the numbers prove people are eager to be a part of the program.

“The numbers speak louder than words ever could,” Rilatos said.

Rilatos said there was a steady group of players working out throughout the summer, with a flood of athletes regularly in the weight room.

“The most kids we had in the weight room was 44, the least was 16,” Rilatos said. “They’ve never had those numbers at Wasilla. Forty-four kids is as big as a P.E. class.”

The freshman and sophomore classes are massive, with 30 to 40 athletes in each group, Rilatos said. But the Warriors also return a nucleus of talent that saw ample varsity time last season.

Leading the group are seniors Devon Teeling, Braydon Kuiper, Tyler Anderson, Allen Bosch and Ryan Pomrenke.

Teeling was a first-team All-Railbelt Conference fullback as a junior, but will become more of a focal point of the offense as a senior, Rilatos said. Last year, while splitting the load of the running game with tailback Tyler Polis, Teeling rushed for 665 yards and eight touchdowns. The number that really stands out to Rilatos, is Teeling’s average — 8.4 yards per rush.

“Last year if he would have carried the ball as much as Skye Rench, he would be a 1,500 to 1,600-yard rusher,” Rilatos said, comparing Teeling to Rench, Colony’s graduated senior who led Valley backs with more than 1,200 yards rushing last season.

This year, Rilatos doesn’t anticipate a shortage of opportunity for Teeling.

“With a back like that, we’re going to feed him the ball until teams stop him,” Rilatos said.

Rilatos said Teeling has the right combination of physical ability and work ethic.

“The weight room work, the camps,” Rilatos said. “He’s got that explosiveness. He’s one of the fastest kids on the team and he lives in the weight room.”

Kuiper also shared a role in the offense last season. He split time with graduated senior AJ Marshall at quarterback. This year, the 6-foot-5 Kuiper, who is also a basketball standout at WHS, could have success at a number of positions, Rilatos said.

“Kuiper could be a quarterback, a wide receiver. He could be an outside linebacker, he could be a safety,” Rilatos said. “He’s an amazing athlete. He could be used all over the field.”

Ben Fielder, who saw varsity action at quarterback as a freshman, returns to the program as a junior after missing his sophomore season. Fielder threw for 596 yards and 10 touchdowns as a ninth-grader. The Warriors also have senior Patrick Clark in the mix at quarterback, the junior varsity signal caller last year.

If Kuiper is split out wide, he could be teamed with another Warrior basketball senior with height, Anderson.

Bosch, Pomrenke and junior Austin Ring will lead the Warriors on the line, Rilatos said. All are returning starters.

Wasilla also has senior Zach Krenzelak and sophomore Quace Wright, a transfer from Colony.

Seniors Nick Parks and Tyler Larimer will see time at tight end. A handful of transfers should help the Warriors on defense, Rilatos said. Twins Justin and Jason Moriarty, who moved to Wasilla from the Reno, Nev., area, will play linebacker. Zach Adair, a transfer from Colorodo, will add depth at wide receiver and defensive back.

Rilatos said he has a good group at defensive back with Anderson, and seniors Abe Fox and Cole Miller.

Dakota Hermons is back with the team, and will play linebacker. Senior Yuriy Makitrin has looked good at defensive line, and senior Raheem Hines will add depth on the varsity squad.

Wasilla kicks off its 2011 season Saturday, hosting Skyview at 2 p.m. The Warriors open Railbelt play against West Valley Aug. 19 at Wasilla.

** Editor’s Note: This is the second piece of a four-part series previewing the Mat-Su Valley prep football programs. For the Palmer football preview, see frontiersman.com/sports. See the Tuesday edition for the Houston High preview. Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.