Clover Park Football: Warriors Look to Offensive Line for Leadership

For the past four years, the Clover Park football team has not worried about the quarterback position. Tana Pritchard held down the QB spot, even leading the Warriors to their first playoff appearance since 2004 with a stunning overtime victory against Steilacoom in 2010, in which he racked up 359 total yards (203 passing, 156 rushing) and four TD's in the win.

But with the dual-threat Pritchard now playing at Washington State University, the Warriors will be relying on a different leader under center and a different offensive attack. 

Clover Park head coach Jon Randall has several players vying for the starting QB position and has not yet named a starter for the Warriors season opener against cross-town rival and 3A power Lakes on Friday at 7 pm at Lakes High School.

Whoever the starter ends up being, it seems a certainty that Clover Park will feature a much different offensive system than it did in 2010. Instead of a balanced attack led by Pritchard's versatility, the Warriors will look to move the ball on the ground more this year, Randall said.

"It's going to be a lot more run than pass," Randall said. "We're keeping it simple. We're just doing a few things (offensively), but we're going to try and do them well."

The South Puget Sound League 2A does not have a front-runner, Randall said. The final stretch of the season may determine who advances to the playoffs, similar to last year where three teams including the Warriors (5-5 overall, 5-2 league) shared part of the 2A league championship.

Clover Park lost in a playoff seeding game to Interlake of Bellevue, 54-35.

The Warriors return more than half of their starters on the team. Randall said they may have a better team this year collectively.

"I feel pretty good about this year," Randall said. "We are talented with our starters but our lack of depth bothers us."

Randall expected a bigger turnout during tryouts this summer. He said staying healthy throughout the season will play a big role in winning games.

Having a relatively thin team means his players will play both sides of the ball. The offensive line is the team's biggest strength, he said.

"How our offensive line plays is how we're going to go," he said.

Clover Park senior Dwayne Crawford—who will play a number of positions like running back, wide receiver, defensive end and even quarterback—believes the team will be successful this year.

"We're just ready," he said. "Just because we lose one player, everyone wrote us off. We're going to win another league championship."

With the loss of Pritchard, Crawford said the team has been forced to come together more. He said their conditioning has improved this year, too.

"I'm just looking to have fun and make something happen this year," Crawford said.

Clover Park senior Ezra Gweon, who plays left tackle and defensive end, said this year's O-line is much more aggressive.

"We don't have the receivers like last year so we're going to need to pound the running game," Gweon said.

Gweon said the line came up big this past year when Warriors advanced to the playoffs. He said they're used to the added pressure.

The team will face immediate pressure when they square off against Lakes, a highly talented football team filled with Division I caliber players. The Warriors' first league game will be on Sept. 16 on the road against Franklin Pierce.

Clover Park High School

2011

Varsity Football Schedule

Day

Date

Time

Home

Away

Site

Friday

9/2/11

7:00 PM

Lakes

Clover Park

Harry Lang Stadium

Friday

9/9/11

7:00 PM

Clover Park

Kick-Off the Year Night

Foster

Harry Lang Stadium

Friday

9/16/11

7:00 PM

Franklin Pierce

Clover Park

Franklin Pierce Stadium

Friday

9/23/11

7:00 PM

Clover Park

Ancient Warrior Night

Fife

Harry Lang Stadium

Friday

9/30/11

7:00 PM

Sumner

Clover Park

Sunset Chev Stadium

Friday

10/7/11

7:00 PM

Clover Park

Homecoming

Eatonville

Harry Lang Stadium

Friday

10/14/11

7:00 PM

Washington

Clover Park

Franklin Pierce Stadium

Friday

10/21/11

7:00 PM

Clover Park

Senior Night

White River

Harry Lang Stadium

Friday

10/28/11

7:00 PM

Steilacoom

Clover Park

Steilacoom High School

Friday

11/4/11

7:30 PM

TBD

TBD

TBD