SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The Evergreen football team took a few lumps last season under first-year coach Shaun Tarantola, but could very well be doing the lumping before this Seamount League season is over.

"We were 3-7 last year but we felt like there were good reasons for that," said Tarantola, who came from coaching at Liberty two seasons ago and now coaches and teaches at Evergreen.

The good reasons were?

"New coaching staff. To many coaches doing things got things confusing. We were a lot of times not on the same page."

The coaching staff includes Eddie Antuna, offensive line and linebackers coach, defensive coordinator Andy Arena and Lele Teo, conditioning and running backs coach..

"Andy is my defensive coordinator, he breaks down the film, helps me (Tarantola) come up with a game plan," Tarantola said. "The kids are confident of his coaching."

Antuna?

"He's with me from Liberty," said Tarantola.

Teo's done some selling of weight room work to these kids. And Tarantola stacks pride and accolades on Teo, not to mention, ownership, on him.

"He gets the job done," said Tarantola. "In the weight room, the kids have responded. We started a 70 workout club. Our goal was to have kids make it to 70 workouts from the time the weight room opened Jan. 1 to June 24. Eight out of 24 players and those eight have all shown improvement and it will show on the football field."

Teo opened that club up?

"Yes," said Tarantola. "I am his right hand man with that."

So, not just the players but the coaching staff should be improved?

"I feel like my three head coaches with me are all on the same page," said Tarantola. "It's a huge difference from having so many, too many coaches last season. We've gone from big to small and it should have a huge impact."

Not many, if any, skill position players graduated, so that's something good for the Wolverines.

The first impact player to mention is senior Tobias Togi, a 5-11, 225 fullback and defensive lineman.

"He's a load, runs hard and plays hard," said Tarantola.

What did he mention as a key strength this season if a dismal record season is to be turned around?

He mentioned coaching.

"Our coaches showed a lot of commitment to the system, getting our grades right, and helping us in school and the weight room," said Togi.

Vicente Cordoba, another core leadership component Tarantola pointed out, is fast with his frame.

"He's 6-3, 175 and did a 38-inch vertical jump at the U of W football camp we went to," said Tarantola. "He played tight end for us out of need last season.

Said Cordoba about what could make this season much better than the last one is, "We have been in the offense a year now."

Cordoba will likely be a wide receiver and safety.

Another key contributor will be Randal Henderson, a 5-9, 170 senior who should corral balls as a wide receiver, run as running back some, and defensively play cornerback trying to stop opposing teams' wide receivers.

"He's really stepped it up," said Tarantola.

Henderson spoke on if the 3-7 record was fair enough for a first-year coached team?

"Unacceptable," said Henderson.

Chiming in, "Extremely" was Togi on that 'record' subject.

"Very" was still another word added from a fourth main man, Corey Laufasa.

"He's going to be center and an inside linebacker for us, he's a good football player," said Tarantola.

Perhaps the team's best player, junior Luther Leonard, will be right where most teams want a best player -- quarterback.

"He's got a rifle for an arm," said Tarantola. "He's a great athlete. His strength is throwing the ball, but he has improved his speed, too. He can see defenses and get the ball in the right hands."

Leonard was not said to be the team's best player by Tarantola but ...

"He's a guy who will be recruited," said Tarantola.

Division 1 talent?

"Definitely."

So Tarantola and his coaching staff and the players are ready for a season very extremely more acceptable than the last one.

"It's been a fun group to work with," Tarantola said. "We have a great team chemistry. They have fun playing football together."