Whistles are blowing and pads are popping on football fields in north Big Horn County as the Lovell and Rocky Mountain high school football teams prepare for the 2008 season.


Both teams will take to the field for the first time this Saturday at 10 a.m. when they compete in a “jamboree” series of scrimmages in Thermopolis. Teams competing in the full-contact scrimmages will be Lovell, Rocky, Thermopolis and Riverside.


In Lovell, new head coach Ken Boatwright is hoping to build on last season’s 6-3 record with an entirely new coaching staff. The staff includes Boatwright serving as offensive coordinator, backfield coach (quarterbacks and running backs), defensive line coach and kicking coach; Doug Hazen as defensive coordinator, junior varsity and freshman coach, offensive line coach and defensive backfield coach; Chris Edwards as assistant JV and freshman coach, wide receiver coach and outside linebacker coach; and Craig Lundberg as tight end and inside linebacker coach.


There are 38 players out for the team, Boatwright said, including six seniors, 11 juniors, five sophomores and 16 freshmen. There are a few potential players who did not come out for the team, however.


“If we had everyone who could play, we would be a real force, but for whatever reason some kids chose not to play football,” he said. “It’s a nationwide problem. Kids are making choices to do something besides play football.”


The Bulldogs will be led by six seniors: Grant Geiser, Bo Grant, Bryce Dickerson, Steven Durtsche, Trevor Harrison and David Wagner. Boatwright said that, despite installing new offensive and defensive systems, the Bulldogs are learning fast.


“We had a scrimmage on Saturday, and we were able to exceed my expectations,” he said. “Offensively, we did some very good things both with the backfield and the line. Grant (Geiser) did an exceptional job with the zone read. He stepped up and played quarterback as well as we could expect him to play at this point.”


Boatwright also said Durtsche is a multi-talented player who can play many positions and who the team will want to get the ball to often. He said Shane Dickerson and Tyler Anderson make up a talented backfield. Kade Baxendale is looking strong at wide receiver, the coach said.


“We’ll make up for our lack of size with speed and heart,” Boatwright said. “Size alone does not make up for attitude, persistence and technique. We’re still mixing and matching, but I’m pretty pleased with our front. Obviously, there’s room for improvement, but they’re ahead of my expectations.”


Boatwright also said he is very pleased with his coaching staff.


“We are teaching the game of football very technically,” he said. “Chris, Craig and Doug are doing everything I could possibly want from a staff and even more. We’re stressing offense at this point, and then we’ll emphasize defense more and more.”


Boatwright said the Lovell spread offense will be designed to “get the ball in the hands of kids who can make big plays,” although he said his offensive concept has changed a little based on personnel.


“We’ll run the ball more than I planned because we have the personnel to do so,” he said. “We’ll learn a lot from the jamboree. We’ll see who can step up and do the job under game conditions.”


Boatwright said he and his staff have set high standards and the players have responded, working hard to get in condition and compete hard.


“We’re a work in progress,” he said. “It will take a little time. Our goal is to get better each week.”

The Rocky Mountain Grizzlies are looking to bounce back from a 0-8 campaign that saw them play well at times but struggle after quarterback Austin Leonhardt went down with a knee injury midway through the season.


Coach Pat Winland and his staff are working with 31 players: nine seniors, six juniors, 10 sophomores and six freshmen.


“Practice is going well,” he said. “We’ve had no injuries, and we’re progressively working our way into shape.”


Winland has been installing the offense and said the Black Hills State camp the team attended this summer has really helped the Grizz get ahead of the game offensively.


“It helped with knowing the plays, and we’re also working a lot on fundamentals,” he said.


The Grizz will run the same split back offense under Leonhardt and will again stress balance between the running and passing games.


“With Austin back, it gives us that dimension on the passing end,” Winland said. “He’s fully healed and is where he needs to be right now. There’s no swelling and he’s throwing the ball fairly well in practice.”


Also returning from knee and shoulder injuries is lineman Jeff Sanders, who is “back and looking good,” Winland said.


The Grizz are led by nine seniors: Korey Hocker, Luis Jurado, Alan Rivera, Carlos Hernandez, Adam Alvarado, Derek Dunlap, Sean Thompson, Lane Friedly and Randall Mann. Winland said that, while no single, vocal leader has emerged, the seniors are leading as a group.
“There’s really not one kid who sticks out. They’re all friends and all lead together as a group,” he said.


Winland said the Grizzlies will have a solid nucleus but are pretty young after the starting lineup. “Some sophomores are going to have to step up and help,” he said.


The Grizz will run a 5-3 defense, and new assistant coach Ryan Boettcher will be the defensive coordinator, Winland said. Returning to the coaching staff are Josh Collins and Rancy Grohman.


Winland will be the offensive coordinator and coach the offensive and defensive lines. Boettcher will be the defensive coordinator and coach quarterbacks, running backs, linebackers and cornerbacks. Collins will coach receivers and help Boettcher with the offensive backs. Grohman will assist Winland with the offensive and defensive lines.


The focus in camp so far has been on installing the offense and working on timing, Winland said.


“We’re picking up where we left off at camp,” he said. “We’re working on carrying out our fakes, and we’re preparing for Burlington (home opener on Sept. 5) and their defense. Next week we’ll concentrate on defense more and look at the Burlington offense.”