Comets host Mules in KM football game

The local 2017 high school football season gets underway this Friday, 7 p.m., with the Wahkiakum Mules heading to Naselle to take on the Comets in the KM Trophy Game.

Knocked out of last year's Class 1B playoffs, the Comets hope to use their size and speed to make a run deeper into the playoffs.

The Mules are coming off of two seasons in which the majority of players were underclassmen. With good quality in skill positions, they hope to make their own run into the Class 2B playoffs.

It will be a different game for the Mules on Friday. Instead of an 11-man team, they'll join the hosts in a game with eight players on the field for each side.

"Eight man is different," Mule Coach Eric Hansen commented this week. "Speed kills. You don't want to lose outside contain on defense."

The Mules will have 28 players on the roster this season, up from 18 a year ago. The roster lists four seniors, eight juniors, four sophomores, and 13 freshmen.

They return quartrback Lucas Brown, running backs Zach Brown, James Anderson and Santos Wright, ends Evan Quigley and KC Berry, and linemen Tristan Collupy, Daniel Dennison, Victor Humer, and senior center Casey Wilson.

However, injuries have depleted the Mule line, Hansen said. "That will be a big adjustment for us."

The Comets list 27 players on their roster, many with plenty of experience off last year's playoff team.

The Comets should have size and speed on both sides of the ball. Returning are quarterback Cole Dorman, receiver Donny Edwards and running backs Eric Lund, Antonio Nolan and Oggie Lopez. Linemen Carson Bergeson, Vince Fauver and Zach Thorsen all check in over 200 lbs.

Overall, the Comet roster includes five seniors, eight juniors, six sophomores and eight freshmen.