The Everett Seagulls football team has made two straight trips to the state playoffs, but many of the key players to both of those runs are now gone. Luke Frauenholtz, Lucas Sontra, Spencer McKinnon and Garrick Koehler have all graduated.
Seagulls head coach Will Soren isn’t losing any sleep,
however. “I’m not worried about our leadership. The leaders we have on this year’s team have stepped up and have taken over those roles.”
The biggest difference will be on the offense. Frauenholtz and Sontra played big roles as pass-catching tight ends and McKinnon was a three-year starter under center for the Seagulls.
“Our offense has changed,” Soren said. “We have a number of new sets and we won’t be featuring the tight end as much. We’ll be a little bit more spread out.”
Soren said he’s excited to see what seniors Blake Williams and Riley Ayers can do for his team. Williams will touch the ball a lot — both carrying the ball and catching it — as Everett’s main ballcarrier. Ayers takes over for McKinnon at quarterback and Soren said he’s been encouraged by the first-year QB’s leadership and acuity in the pocket.
Filling at least one of the large gaps left by Frauenholtz and Sontra is Lucas Henry, who will play more split end than tight end for Everett.
On the defensive side of the ball, Isaac Whaley should be a force inside. “He’s the guy who will hold everything together for us inside,” said Soren. “He’s not going to get pushed around.”
As for Sontra and McKinnon, Soren said both are pursuing playing football for Pacific Lutheran University this fall.
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