High expectations for veteran Warrior team

EDMONDS — Expectations are running high for the Edmonds-Woodway football team.

How high?

Given the success of the Warriors the past two years, it’s safe to say perhaps as high as they have ever been.

The Warriors are coming off back-to-back state playoff appearances and a pair of co-Western Conference South Division titles.

Edmonds-Woodway isn’t just aiming for a third straight state playoff berth, though. The Warriors want more and they are doing all they can to accomplish their goals.

“We need to come together and work harder than we’ve ever worked before,” said senior tight end/defensive lineman Casey Hamlett. “We all know where we want to go. We all want to go farther than we’ve gone the last two years. We want to keep going in the playoffs, get to state and get to the state finals. That’s where we want to end up at the end of the season.”

Edmonds-Woodway’s state playoff run was short-lived as the Warriors lost both of their first-round games. Those two losses are more than enough motivation for the returning players, said junior quarterback/defensive back Kyle McCartney.

“Everyone experienced that first-round knockout,” he said. “Some of the seniors have had it twice. They know that feeling in their gut. It’s not a good feeling. That should be enough to get the hard work done in practice to advance past that.”

Key seniors back include two of the most explosive offensive players in the league — running back Josh Heard and wide receiver Eric Greenwood — both of whom were first-team, all-league selections.

Heard amassed 1,743 yards on 207 carries and 22 touchdowns. Greenwood had 568 yards on 36 receptions with five touchdowns.

Other offensive standouts include Hamlett, a second-team, all-league tight end, and senior running backs Nick Fuga and Jordan Scott. Heard’s younger brother Tony, a sophomore running back, was called up as a freshman and made an immediate impact in the backfield. Newcomer Antoinne Wafer brings speed to the other wide receiver position.

Edmonds-Woodway head coach John Gradwohl is excited about the talent he has at the skill positions.

“I like my backfield,” Gradwohl said. “We’ve got a lot of skill position guys. There’s no doubt about it.”

The Edmonds-Woodway offense largely revolved around Josh Heard last season and he likely again will be called on to carry a good portion of the load.

The Warriors, however, are looking to pass the ball more.

“You can’t not give the ball to Josh,” McCartney said. “He’s such a difference-maker, but I think we’ll put the ball into Eric’s hands and Antoinne and Casey a little more than usual, more than the last couple of years.”

Hamlett noted that the advantage of having such a strong running game is that it opens up the passing attack. The opposition often puts eight or nine players in the box in order to stuff the run.

“What that enables us to do is air it out,” Hamlett said. “We’re confident in how the passing game is coming along. We always know the run is going to be there.”

McCartney is the newcomer in the backfield, taking over for second-team, all-league quarterback Randy Anderson. McCartney started in the secondary last year and played quarterback as a sophomore.

The junior standout knows that he is coming into what should be an extremely potent offense.

“I’m surrounded by great athletes and good players,” McCartney said. “Our whole team is good people and has good chemistry.”

McCartney already has made a strong impression on his teammates. He, Hamlett and Greenwood got together during the summer to work on their timing.

The junior quarterback was selected as a captain by the team.

“(That) says a lot about what his teammates think of him,” Gradwohl said.

McCartney nevertheless has not played quarterback in a varsity game. That lack of experience doesn’t concern Hamlett, who likes what he’s seen of McCartney, not only in terms of talent but also his demeanor.

“He’s a leader. He gets everyone’s attention,” Hamlett said. “Everyone falls in. He’s what you need in a quarterback. He’s got a good arm. He’s fast. He’s got the tools to do it. You never know until the first game, but I’m confident in Kyle. The rest of the team, I know, has confidence in Kyle.”

Greenwood admits he was a little surprised by how McCartney has taken charge.

“We all knew he was good, but we didn’t know he was this good,” Greenwood said. “He’s definitely a leader.”

Another area with several new faces is the offensive line. The lone returning starter is senior Dayne Richards. Five or six other players are currently rotating through.

The newcomers are playing well but still need to work on their continuity and becoming more familiar with one another.

“Two receivers working together is easy,” Gradwohl said. “Five linemen take a little bit more time.”

Josh Heard is confident the line will get the job done this season.

“We have a strong line,” he said. “They’re not the biggest guys … but they’re really smart. They’re quick.”

Edmonds-Woodway’s offense obviously attracts a lot of attention, but the Warrior defense is just as good if not better.

Senior Zach Houvener, a first-team, all-league defensive back, anchors an experienced secondary along with Greenwood and McCartney. Hamlett was a second-team, defensive lineman.

“A lot of the guys … are better defensive players,” Gradwohl said. “The defense is getting better daily.”

The Warriors know that talent won’t be enough to carry them to their goals.

The four days preceding Fridays are where games are won and lost.

“I think we have all the necessary tools to win the state championship,” Greenwood said. “Now the only thing we have to do is put those tools to work. That comes through practice. You aren’t going to get better on game days. You’re going to get better Monday through Thursday. You build a base during practice and you keep building and building and Friday you get to show off what you’ve done all week.”