Outlaws football starts a rebuilding year

After graduating 22 seniors last spring, only three players will return to the Outlaws football squad this season.

Seniors Tyler Miller, Thomas Arends and Andrew Enger will be the foundation that Sisters' new coach, Dusty Macauley, will rely upon.

Miller (6-feet-2-inches, 250 pounds) will start at left tackle and will be the foundation for the offense. According to Macauley, he is the Outlaws' best player.

Arends is a hard worker, knows his assignments and will bring maturity to the offensive line at center, Macauley says.

Enger will start at left guard.

"A lot of our success will depend on the ability these three guys have to open up our running lanes and also protect our quarterback," said Macauley.

With practically an entire team turnover, football fans will see at least 25 new faces at the varsity level this year. Who those players are is still being determined at press time.

Macauley is looking forward to the season and told The Nugget he has high expectations both for himself and the team.

"I want our team to be respectable and one to contend with," said Macauley. "I'll do my job to the best of my ability, find out where we're lacking and fix it.

"I want the kids to be successful and prepared for the challenges they'll face this season. We certainly want to contend for the league title, but I'm not sure how realistic this is right now. We're not extremely deep and we have an entirely new receiving core this year. We're so fresh and young. We at least want to end in the top three. We'll just have to wait and find out."