Lakewood Cougars
ARLINGTON — The Cougars main goal for its first season in the perennially tough Northwest Conference is to show they belong.
Making its debut in a league that seems to send at least one football team to the state tournament annually, the Cougars hope to make a strong first impression on powers like Lynden and Sedro-Woolley.
“We want to go up there and we want to earn respect,” said Lakewood coach Dan Teeter. “We want to go down there and show that we belong and do our best to make Lakewood proud and get better and better every year.”
Led by returning quarterback Austin Lane, now a junior, and with a brand new turf field being built behind them during practice, Lakewood is eager to take the field and prove itself to its new league mates.
“We just hope to make an impact,” Lane said. “We just want to show every other team who Lakewood is.”
While they will be in a new conference, some things don’t change for the Cougars: namely, their penchant for starting the year with a tough non-league schedule. On the docket this season is Kennedy Catholic, a perennial 3A power that has moved up to 4A, and South Delta BC, a Canadian team that was the provincial champions just two years ago.
“We figure, ‘You want to be the best you play the best,’” Teeter said. “It helps prepare you for the long run. We’re hoping that formula works out for us.
“This is what we live for. Football season is pretty short and we work all year for it. We’re excited.”
A tough start to the season doesn’t necessarily spell doom for Lakewood, which started last year 0-4 before a six-game winning streak earned the Cougars a district playoff berth.
“That showed the resilience and the heart that the team had,” Teeter said. “We had a sophomore quarterback last year that built a lot of confidence and did a good job. There’s a lot of guys (this year) that are going to get an opportunity to play on Friday nights that haven’t been there before, so we’re excited about that.”
And, according to Teeter, the new turf field should be ready by week one.
“It’s exciting to know we’ll have a brand new turf field, new school, new everything,” Lane said. “… We feel good. We’re kind of getting the rustiness out of everybody. We’re getting there.”
Head coach: Dan Teeter (11th season)
Key returners: Brock Schubert, Sr., TE/LB; Billy Main, Sr., T/DT; Austin Lane, Jr., QB/LB.
Coach’s quote: “I’m really pleased with where we are on day three. But at the same time, there are quite a few guys that are going to be varsity guys that have not been there before. But it’s exciting too because those kids are really excited to show what they can do.”
—David Krueger, Herald Writer
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