Football season starts Friday

Competition in the 2010 high school foootball season starts Friday, and the Wahkiakum Mules entertain the defending Washington Class 2B champions, the Adna Pirates.

Game time is 7 p.m.

The Mules will try to throw something new against the Pirates: Over the past year, Coach Eric Hansen has been working on changing the run-oriented Mule offense to a balanced attack with a strong passing game.

"I'd like to throw the ball 60, 70 percent of the time," Hansen said this week.

The project has led to some changes. Last year's quarterback, Brandon Fudge, a two-year starter, has moved to tight end, and Lars Blix, a sophomore, will take over the offense. Running the ball for the Mules will be Wyatt Paker, Cameron Elliott and Joe Nicolazzi. Wide receivers will be Zach Pierce and Ryan Helms.

The offensive line will be a challenge for the Mules; only two experienced players return. They are juniors Brett Chaputt, 190 lbs., and Tylor Russell, 250 lkbs. Joining them will be Eli McElroy, 175 lbs., Bubba Calvert, 165 lbs., Kohl Bergseng, 180 lbs., and Fudge, 185 lbs.

"They've been working hard to learn to pick up the blitz and work together," Hansen said.

The Central League will be very strong again this year, Hansen said. Besides Adna, Napavine has good skill position players; Mossyrock is big and balanced; Morton/White Pass is fielding a team with 40 players; and Toutle Lake and Pe Ell have some good, skilled players.

Vancouver Christian is a question mark for the season, Hansen said. The team has only 12 players at the start of the season. Vancouver Christian was unable to rent a field to host the Mules on October 29, so that game has been rescheduled to be played at Wahkiakum High School.

The Central and Pacific leagues have agreed to play crossover games at the end of the season to determine playoff spots, Hansen said.