Kickoff 2010: Auburn reloads for another run at state title

Published 6:22 pm Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Auburn was an unstoppable scoring machine last season.

Behind a fearsome offensive line and fueled by a monstrous three-headed rushing attack, the Trojans punished opponents, averaged 42 points a game and ran away with the South Puget Sound League North 4A title.

The Trojans expect to do more of the same this season as they reload for a league and state title run.

Despite the loss of some key players, notably star running back Chris Young to graduation, the Trojans appear every bit as powerful as last year’s version.

Auburn, 11-1 last season, opens the season against Kentridge at 7 p.m. Friday at French Field.

“Our goal is always to win the state championship. If you’re going to compete, your goal should be to be the best,” said coach Gordon Elliott, whose Trojans reached the state quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons – falling to Skyview of Vancouver, 34-21, in 2009, and 38-2 to eventual state champion Skyline of Sammamish in ’08.

“We don’t dwell on it (not moving on to the semifinals). But we know that’s what is at the end of the road, and it’s the process of getting there that’s important,” Elliott explained. “If you do things right during the season, then you have a chance to play at that level.”

Despite the loss of Young, the Trojans return plenty of punch with Alphonse Wade and Austin Embody – the SPSL North co-Offensive Backs of the Year last season. Wade and Embody should find plenty of daylight running behind heralded Division I recruit Danny Shelton (6-foot-3, 297 pounds), the SPSL North 4A Offensive Lineman of the Year last season, and Nick Conlan (6-1, 240), an all-league first-team selection in ’09.

Cory English (6-4, 280) and Kaila Suka (5-10, 230) join senior Anthony Benavides to provide a mammoth foundation.

“Most of them are seniors, except for Cory English, so they’ve practiced together for four years,” Elliott added.

Fullbacks E.J. Strickland (5-10, 205) and Dylan Rutledge (5-10, 205) will add to an exceptional ground game.

“We’ve been successful at it, there is no reason to change it,” Elliott said. “You always have a few tweaks based on your personnel. We have a different quarterback (senior Max Pratt) and different fullbacks. We will adjust a little on how we do things, but it’s basically the same offense that we’ve been running for nine years.”

Defensively, the Trojans are just as fierce, returning seven starters from a unit that allowed just 14.6 points per game.

Behind Shelton and Conlan, Strickland and Andres Bradsher (6-3, 210) will lead the linebackers while Pratt (5-11, 200), Wade (5-11, 185) and Rutledge roam in the secondary.

Auburn gets its first challenge tonight.

“Kentridge should be a challenge. I expect them to be one of the top teams in the league this year,” Elliott said. “It’s good to be tested right away and see what it’s about.”

The Trojans will look to atone for last year’s disappointing finish.

“We were younger then and probably didn’t handle the adversity very well,” Elliott said. “And last year Skyview was a tough football team. We just didn’t get it done there.

“But our guys know what it takes to get it done at that level and be successful,” he said. “This senior group has been to the quarterfinals twice, so they know what it’s going to take to get past it. All the stars really need to align for you to get that far. Hopefully, this is our year to punch it through a little farther.”

Elliott again has high expectations for his team. It comes to be expected at Auburn, a program rich in winning tradition.

“We expect that we’re going to be competitive, but you’ve got to get better every week,” he said. “Everybody is going to be aiming for us, for sure, because we’ve had some success the last two years.

“We’re going to have to just play our game, work to get better and improve.”