The Todd Beamer Titans' football team looks like it's going to have a good season. The best.

The best yet anyway of any of the Titans' seasons thus far in their five-years of playing football in the 4A ranks. Last year they were 5-5, their best season.

New coach Gem Abe sees this team as a good group that should be winners in life first and football second.

"We want the kids to have a great experience, where they are tight in football, getting them away from the mediocrity of things," said Abe.

The Titans appear ready to go farther than last season and look no further for comment on that than the five Abe sent over to do some talking to the press.

Experience is something that seniors Evan Cook, Cory Obungen, Christian Cooper, Andrew Lumasia and Larmardray Fuller all have in common.

"We were all here last year," said Obungen, a "scatty" back and a player that was second team all South Puget Sound League last year as a junior. He also made it as far as regionals in wrestling.

That, that is, being "all here" as Obungen put it, that makes a difference?

"We all were at Central Washington University in the spring for football camp," said Obungen.

"Twenty five of us," said Cooper, who Abe pointed out as a leader on the team this year who really worked hard in the off-season competing in 7-on-7 and all the other work when coaches weren't able to be around. That number, 25, is a good one because there are only about 48 players suited up and it's 11 on 11 for offense and defensive players. So pretty much the whole main core of players that played last year went to spring camp.

So how will experience help this team out is something to be reckoned with.

"It's the first time that we have seniors on both sides of the ball," said Obungen. "We can't use the excuse that we have less expierience on the field anymore."

Cooper is going to be the team's quarterback after he was a wide receiver last year. He's taking the place of four-year graduated starter at that spot, Cole Bixenman, who got a full-ride scholarship to Linfield to play football as well as academics for being a great student.

This team does have some greatness to figure out, scratch their heads over, like that quarterback spot that Cooper will fill. And, fortunately, Abe says that Cooper will be a good candidate to fill Bixenman's SPSL all-league shoes.

"He's been a very strong leader in the off-season now," said Abe. "He has a good arm that's decent, and he is mobile and has quick feet."

Cooper is ready for his assignment to move from receiver to qb.

"Oh yeah," said Cooper. "You better believe it."

So you believe in your ability?

"I believe in my team's ability," said Cooper (5-11, 175). "I'm looking to throw everybody the ball."

There is a lot of experience on the line, too, like where Evan Cook (6-4, 280) will play.

"He's one of the leaders," said Abe. "He's a three-year starter."

The Titans are a pretty much senior dominated line, with Andrew Lumasia, (6-0, 210) and Tim Choi (5-10, 260) leading the senior way.

The only down of this team is that the coach of last year left after coaching a year only. But in that time, he gave the kids their best record and a thinking that they can start off where he left.

"We really had a good communication with our coach," said Fuller. "And our new coach was his mentor and he also played under him in high school."

So this group of seniors is ready for the season, ready to go out there and improve on an average season that they just missed a game or two short of the playoffs.

In the losses, the seniors learned that leadership was not there.

"In the K-M game, we led at halftime and then in the second half things got bad and we had no one to turn to," said Cooper.

"I expect a lot from our team," said Lamasia. "We have matured."

Fuller added, 'It really is more of a seniority thing now. We have no one to fall back on but ourselves."

Fall back on yourselves if what? Make mistakes?

"Exactly," said Cooper.

There were a couple of bad luck falls, so to speak, that this team took that greatly hindered their chances of a much better season than the three win one they had the year before.

"We want to improve up on what we did last year," said Abe. "We want to compete for a playoff spot. We suffered a couple key injuries against K-M. And if we learn from that and if we learn to beat the Puyallups and G-Ks (Graham-Kapowsin and Puyallup both made the playoffs), then we will be in the hunt."

So here come the Titans, taking aim at a season better than last year, maybe a goal of making the playoffs.

And that is exactly what Cooper said would happen.

"We will make it to the playoffs," said Cooper.

The assistant varsity coaches will be Gary Jeffers as the offensive coordinator, John Hines and Ray Brassard as offensive line coaches, Nick Biklid too there. And Jerry Glasser is in charge of running backs and linebackers.

"We basically have to get these kids to believe they can play with those schools. Puyallup was a couple breaks and they scored later on in that game and G-K, we were in that game too. We are up and coming," said Abe.

Sounds like the Titans are going to hit the bullseye with their aim.