Auburn Mountainview Lions At A Glance | Prep football

Usually the Lions come into the season with an offense-first mentality. This year's emphasis has shifted to the defensive side of the ball. With nine returners, led by an experienced core of linebackers in Watson, Sele and Corea, the undersized Lions will use speed in their 3-3 stack defensive to contain the high-flying spread offenses prevalent in the new SPSL 3A.

By Shawn Skager • September 3, 2014 7:53 pm
Auburn Mountainview's junior starting quarterback Gresch Jensen will look to lead the team's high-powered offense this season.
Auburn Mountainview's junior starting quarterback Gresch Jensen will look to lead the team's high-powered offense this season.

AUBURN MOUNTAINVIEW LIONS

Coach: Jared Gervais, fourth year

Last year: Fifth in the South Puget Sound League 3A with a 2-3 record, 3-7 overall with a loss in the district playoffs.

Type of offense: spread

Top returners: Gresch Jensen, junior, QB, 6-2/195; Ryan Lacey, junior, WR, 6-3, 170; Kaleb Bailey, senior, OL, 5-8/205; and Trevor Jensen, senior, OL, 6-3/225.

Type of defense: 3-3 stack.

Top returners: Aeron Watson, senior, MLB, 5-8/195; Jason Sele, senior, OLB, 6-2/215; Antonio Corea, junior, OLB, 5-9, 210; Caleb Arciaga, junior, DL, 5-11/260; Trevor Jensen, senior, DE, 6-3/225; Abenego Kondiano, senior, DB, 5-8/165; Nate Hardin, senior, DB, 5-7/175; Gresch Jensen, junior, DB, 6-2/195; and Vaughn Daggs, junior, DB, 5-9/160.

Impact newcomers: Gavin Robertson, junior, WR/FS, 6-3/185; Ki’Jan Weisinger, junior, WR, 5-10/170; and Bitner Wilson, sophomore, RB/LB, 5-8/215

Outlook: Usually the Lions come into the season with an offense-first mentality. This year’s emphasis has shifted to the defensive side of the ball. With nine returners, led by an experienced core of linebackers in Watson, Sele and Corea, the undersized Lions will use speed in their 3-3 stack defensive to contain the high-flying spread offenses prevalent in the new SPSL 3A. They’ll have their hands full with teams like Peninsula and Lakes.

Offensively, the team boasts an experienced signal caller in Gresch Jensen (24 passing TDs in 2013). Although he won’t many experienced targets, the cupboard is not bare with Lacey and newcomers Robertson and Wiesinger. Offensive lineman Bailey and Trevor Jensen will keep their quarterback safe and clear running lanes for the team’s one-two punch of Wilson and Harding.

Key game: The Lions play rival Enumclaw in the last game of the regular season on Oct. 31. Expect a bit of nastiness. These two teams don’t like each other much. The Lions play Auburn Riverside on Oct. 3 and Auburn on Oct. 24.