Palmer football preview: Youth movement

PALMER -- Donning the Palmer High School colors of blue and white, the Moose football squad is also green. Not green, as in a third color to the scheme, but as in inexperience.

Following a season in which the Moose won the Northern Railbelt Conference title and advanced to the post season, the departures outweigh the returners. On the positive side, the Moose had more than 60 players out for their third day of practice, on Wednesday -- about 15 more than the third day last year, according to head coach Rod Christiansen. But about 45 of those athletes are underclassman, many new to the PHS football program all together.

"We have about seven seniors; most of them are green," Christiansen said. "We are definitely building. It is a building situation."

Leading a team of young Moose, will be a talented corps of juniors. Jake Huen, Steel Tubbs, Devon Conroy and Jeremy Weber each started on defense as sophomores last season and look to figure prominantly on each side of the ball during the 2004 campaign.

"They're the guys that have been leading last week at camp and this week so far," Christiansen said.

Huen started at middle linebacker last season, and also saw time at offensive tackle. He is expected to remain cemented in the linebacker spot, but make the move to fullback on offense. Tubbs, another Moose linebacker, could be the focal point of the Palmer running game this season. Conroy and Weber, both talented defensive backs, will also compete for the starting quarterback position.

Whomever inherits the quarterback position will have huge shoes to fill. Gone is All-NRC signal caller Charlie Bentti -- lost to graduation. Conroy could have the edge early, as Weber is still recovering from an off-season basketball injury.

Another off-season injury could spell the biggest non-graduation loss for the Moose. Senior center Tory Johnson, expected to be the anchor of the Moose offensive line, suffered injuries to his left arm, which are most likely season ending. The loss of Johnson, combined with the graduation of All-State guards Junior Aumavae and Nick Pilch, the Moose will have a completely new front five this season. Christiansen said a group of junior varsity players from last season will have to step into those positions. Christiansen noted Paul Eckman and Joe Waterer as possible leaders on the line.

"Those J.V. guys are the varsity line," Christiansen said. "We have some guys that have played football that just need to step up and be varsity players."

With a lack of varsity experience on the squad, the Moose coaching staff is looking for a corps of players to be an impact on offense, defense and special teams and drive the Moose through a schedule that includes difficult conference opponents and non-conference foes, Juneau-Douglas and South Anchorage.

"We're going to have to be an ironman football team," Christiansen said.

The Moose are scheduled to begin the 2004 season hosting Juneau-Douglas, Saturday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.