The End Zone

Here’s a little glimpse at Skyline’s opponent this week, Lake Oswego (Ore.) Sean Meagher of OregonLive.com interviewed Lakers’ head coach Steve Coury in a season preview.

The coach talks about University of Oregon recruit Tyson Coleman — a 6-foot-2, 200 pound linebacker and running back — and how the Lakers plan to use a two-quarterback system this season.

Lake Oswego will arrive on the Plateau this Friday with a 2-0 record. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.

Sammamish native Tayler Malsam salvaged a 33rd-place finish in Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race in the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway after getting hit from behind twice on the track.

Malsam’s No. 10 Iron Horse Jeans Toyota spun out twice after contact from behind, but his first incident on lap 35 that caused the largest problem. The contact resulted in a blown right rear tire forcing the 21-year-old to pit road where a miscommunication with his crew resulted in returning to the track without getting serviced. After getting new tires, fuel and an chassis adjustment, Malsam was one lap down and in the rear of the field.

Kevin Harvick won the pole and led 170 of 250 laps en route to winning the Virginia College Savings 250. It was Harvick’s fifth career series win at Richmond, but to do it he had to hold off a late charge by point leader Brad Keselowski over the final 40 laps. Keselowski’s runner-up finish increased his championship lead to 373 points over Carl Edwards, who was 10th. Rookies Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were third and fourth, respectively, and Malsam’s Braun Racing teammate Reed Sorenson rounded out the top five.

Malsam’s next race in the No. 10 Iron Horse Jeans Toyota for Braun Racing is the Kansas Lottery 300 on Oct. 2 at Kansas Speedway. Braun has a prior driver commitment for the next Nationwide Series race, the Dover 200 on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

Eastridge Church in Issaquah will host Jammin’ Weekend, Sept. 18 and 19 at its location at 24505 SE Issaquah-Fall City Road.

The event will highlighted by the appearance of the Minnesotea Timberwolve’s Luke Ridnour and Milwaukee Bucks’ all-star Michael Redd. According to a release, the pair will bring along NBA friends — past and present.

A variety of events are planned for the weekend, including a 3-on-3 tournament, dunk exhibition, and BMX bike and skateboard demonstrations.

Additional information on the two-day event can be found on the Eastridge website.

Ouch! That was a tough first week in terms of picking games. I split right down the middle, going 7-7 — probably my worst performance since Bellevue Reporter sports editor Joel Willits and I started this endeavor last year. There were certainly some surprises. Those coupled with a lot of unknowns led to a pretty horrific week-one performance. Joel did slightly better at 9-5.

There are some tough picks again this week, but with a week under my belt, and seeing how certain things played out, I’d like to think this week will be a lot better.

Some of the more intriguing games this week include, Issaquah at Liberty, Bothell at Mount Si and Skyline vs. Bellevue and Seattle Memorial Stadium. I’ve followed Joel’s lead and added polls to each of the games. Give us your vote on who you think will win.

Here are our week-two picks.

FRIDAY
Franklin Quakers (0-1) at Ballard Beavers (1-0)
Kevin - With two struggling programs, this is a tough call. Franklin put up 21 in an overtime loss to Roosevelt last week. Ballard squeaked out 15 points in a narrow victory over Sammamish. Franklin showed it had big-play potential last week, and with that I think they’ll earn their first victory of the season. Pick: Franklin 28-14
Joel - Ballard QB Jesse Scott hooked up with Blake Sechler on two long touchdown passes in the Beavers win over Sammamish. Signs point to Ballard being 2-0 after week 1. Pick: Ballard 16-0

Eastlake Wolves (0-1) at Snohomish Panthers (0-1)
Kevin - Eastlake is still trying to find an offensive groove after scoring just 10 points in its home loss to Central Kitsap last week. But, Snohomish seems to be having some woes on the offensive side of the ball as well. The Panthers were shut out 48-0 by Inglemoor. Snohomish will be tougher at home, but I expect the KingCo team to reign once again. Pick: Eastlake 24-7
Joel - Eastlake really needs a win after a tough loss to Central Kitsap last week. Snohomish was roughed up by Inglemoor last week. Expect the Wolves to even their record. Pick: Eastlake 27-6

Issaquah Eagles (1-0) at Liberty Patriots (1-0)
Kevin - I watched Liberty defeat Skyline last week, and the Patriots certainly impressed on both sides of the ball. Defensively, they keyed in on receiver Kasen Williams, keeping his numbers to a minimum. Jordan Simone had four TDs and 207 yards in the first half, however, proving the Liberty secondary is vulnerable if a team has a second weapon. If the Patriots key on Issaquah star receiver Evan Peterson (and I expect nothing less), the Eagles will need a second threat to step up. This should be another great battle between Issaquah School District teams. I think the experience of Liberty quarterback Trey Wheeler and star running back Chandler Jenkins might be the difference in this one, however. Pick: Liberty 24-20
Joel - One of the most intriguing week two matchups. Issaquah showed once again it could just plug in a new quarterback and still have success, as QB Ethan Kalin hit Evan Peterson on two big touchdown passes. Running back Taylor Wyman scored three rushing touchdowns. On the other side, Liberty knocked off Class 4A No.1 Skyline 39-34 – despite losing Jake Bainton in the process. I’m sticking with the Patriots in this one. Pick: Liberty 35-33

Inglemoor Vikings (1-0) at Juanita Rebels (1-0)
Kevin - Both teams are coming off blowout wins where they put up more than 40 points. Will Juanita be able to slow the balanced Inglemoor pass and run attack? Can the Vikings stop the powerful run game of the Rebels? Home field advantage might be the difference in this neighborhood battle. Pick: Juanita 28-24
Joel - Both of these teams impressed in week one. But I expect Juanita’s toughness running the ball to prove the difference in this one, as the Rebels knock off a KingCo 4A team again this week. Pick: Juanita 21-15

Redmond Mustangs (0-1) at Lake Washington Kangaroos (1-0)
Kevin - Steve Supple is off to a great start as the new Lake Washington football coach, coming off a surprising 34-2 blowout victory over Garfield. The Kangs get another struggling opponent at home this week in Redmond. I expect a much closer battle between the Lake Washington School District foes, but the same result. Pick: Lake Washington 20-14
Joel - Five different Kangs scored touchdowns last week in their 34-2 romp over Garfield. Redmond struggled against Juanita. LW goes 2-0. Pick: Lake Washington 14-7

Newport Knights (1-0) at Mercer Island Islanders (1-0)
Kevin - Newport is a team on the rise. With weapons like quarterback Isaac Dotson and running back James Dupar, the Knights put up 70 points in their win over Interlake last week. Mercer Island, which came from behind to beat Seattle Prep in week one, presents a huge weapon in quarterback Jeff Lindquist. The junior is responsible for all three Islander TDs last week. On paper this looks to be a great game between two teams on the upswing. Pick: Newport 35-28
Joel - No one expected Newport to drop 70 points on Interlake last week. Some have said Interlake played JV players late and the score was deceiving. This week we’ll see. Newport should edge an improved Mercer Island, as their depth and returning talent gives them the edge over the Islanders. Pick: Newport 35-21

Bothell Cougars (0-1) at Mount Si Wildcats (1-0)
Kevin - This is an interesting matchup. You have a Bothell team that just suffered a tough loss to out-of-state Mission Veijo. The Cougars have to hit the road and go to Snoqualmie after suffering some bumps and bruises last week. Mount Si, on the other hand, is coming off a convincing road win over Woodinville. Can the Wildcats and quarterback Ian Ilgenfritz keep their momentum alive? This might be closer than some might think. Pick: Bothell 35-21
Joel - Bothell is reeling after suffering some big injuries against Mission Viejo in week one. Mount Si made me look foolish by whipping up on Woodinville in their season opener. Wildcats take advantage of a hurting Bothell, sending the Cougars to 0-2. Pick: Mount Si 30-20

Garfield Bulldogs (0-1) at Sammamish Totems (0-1)
Kevin - I’m still a believer that Sammamish is an improved team — even after its 15-7 loss to Ballard last week. I believe the Totems will right their ship against a Garfield squad that tallied just two points in a loss to Lake Washington last week. Pick: Sammamish 14-7
Joel - Garfield could only manage two points last week against Lake Washington, with those points coming on a blocked punt. Pick: Sammamish 20-12

Roosevelt Roughriders (1-0) at Interlake Saints (0-1)
Kevin - This is a tough pick. There’s no doubt, Interlake has a lot to prove after losing 70-14 last week. Roosevelt is traditionally a team that struggles, but they had a solid showing with a week-one win over Franklin. Pick: Interlake 24-21
Joel - Hard to judge Interlake after their defense gives up 70 points in week one. Roosevelt snuck past Franklin last week. I expect the Saints to show real improvement in this game, but just can’t edge a team two classifications above them. Pick: Roosevelt 21-20

Monroe Bearcats (0-1) at Woodinville Falcons (0-1)
Kevin - Woodinville struggled in its home-opener against Mount Si, scoring just six points. Fortunately for the Falcons, they should get a chance to tune things up this week when Monroe comes to town. The Bearcats have a history of tough times on the gridiron, and it looks like those struggles could continue in 2010 after a 49-0 loss to Edmonds-Woodway last week. Pick: Woodinville 35-6
Joel - I was surprised Woodinville was roughed up by Mount Si. Monroe will be just the cure for that. Pick: Woodinville 41-10

Eastside Catholic Crusaders (1-0) at Sultan Turks (0-1)
Kevin - Eastside Catholic looked sharp in its week-one victory over Cleveland. Sophomore quarterback Trey Reynolds tossed the ball around with confidence, while running back Chevy Walker scored two rushing TDs and a third on a kickoff return. Sultan struggled in its opener, losing to 1A Cascade of Leavanworth. I expect the hot start to continue for the Crusaders. Pick: Eastside Catholic 35-7
Joel - Crusaders exploded for 51 points against Cleveland. They’ll keep it going against Sultan. Pick: Eastside Catholic 45-12

SATURDAY
Skyline Spartans (0-1) at Bellevue Wolverines (1-0)
Kevin - Last but not least, here’s a matchup fans have been asking for the last two seasons. While both rosters are completely different from the last time the programs met in 2007 (a 6-0 Skyline win), don’t expect a lack of intensity. Both teams want this. Skyline hopes to recover from a tough road loss to Liberty, while Bellevue looks to keep rolling off its win over Union. Can the Spartans stop the run-heavy Wing-T? They allowed Liberty’s Chandler Jenkins to go for 127 yards on 27 carries last week — not a reflection of the stellar defense the Spartans have displayed in their three straight state championships. At the same time, Bellevue will have to prove it can stop the passing game. And sophomore Max Browne showed last week he is ready for the big time (28-for-40, 411 yards, 5TDs, 1INT). There’s little doubt this will be a shootout. But, I’m basing my pick on one small fact — Skyline hasn’t lost back-to-back games since its 2-7 season in 1998. Pick: Skyline 35-32
Joel - This one’s been three years in the making. Bellevue’s been thinking about this game all summer, with their alumni swinging back by to pump up the Wolverines. The last time these teams met was in 2007, when Skyline beat Bellevue 6-0 in Jake Heaps’ first high school start. Skyline is coming off a loss to Liberty. Bellevue struggled early against Union but did enough to get the win. If the Wolverines can control the clock like they did in the second half against the Titans, they’ll win this one. Pick Bellevue 17-14

Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images North America

Sammamish native Tayler Malsam will make his 11th career start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series starting Friday at the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 in Richmond, Va.

Malsam, 21, will drive the No. 10 Iron Horse Jeans Toyota in his debut at Richmond — a mostly flat 3/4-mile oval track.
This is his third race using the new Nationwide Series Car of Tomorrow (CoT). The design is longer and higher than normal cars, designed to be safer and easier for NASCAR to inspect.

“I like these new cars a lot,” Malsam said. “They drive more like the trucks than the old Nationwide car by punching a big hole in the air.”

Local fans can watch Malsam race at 4:30 p.m., Friday on ESPN2, beginning with NASCAR Countdown at 4 p.m.

Malsam most recently finished 23rd at the Ciruit Gilles Villeneuve road course in Montreal on Aug. 29. Prior to that he recorded back-to-back top-15 finishes in his debut at Watkins Glen on Aug. 7 and driving the CoT at Michigan. He was 18th in the CoT’s debut at Daytona and is also slated to drive the new car at Charlotte.

Here’s the second Reporter Newspaper football poll of the season, voted on by a pool of sports writers around region.

Class 4A
1. Auburn (1-0)
2. Skyline (0-1)
3. Curtis (1-0)
4. Bothell (0-1)
5. Gonzaga Prep (1-0)
6. Issaquah (1-0)
7. Ferris (1-0)
8. Skyview (0-1)
9. Richland (1-0)
10. Gig Harbor (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Union (0-1), Kentwood (1-0), Olympia (1-0), Marysville-Pilchuck (1-0), Graham Kapowsin (1-0)

Class 3A
1. Bellevue (1-0)
2. Liberty (1-0)
3. Lakes (1-0)
4. Capital (1-0)
5. Juanita (1-0)
6. Camas (1-0)
7. Ferndale (1-0)
8. Meadowdale (1-0)
9. Timberline (0-1)
10. Kamiakin (1-0)
Others receiving votes: O’Dea (0-1), Enumclaw (1-0), Mount Si (1-0), Mount Spokane (1-0)

Class 2A
1. Archbishop Murphy (1-0)
2. Lynden (1-0)
3. Lindbergh (1-0)
4. Burlington-Edison (1-0)
5. Prosser (0-1)
6. Clarkston (0-1)
7. West Valley (Spokane) (0-1)
8. Othello (0-1)
9. Ellensburg (0-1)
10. Tumwater (0-1)
Others receiving votes: W.F. West (1-0), Cedarcrest (1-0), Mark Morris (0-1), Lakewood (1-0)

Here’s the first Reporter Newspaper football poll of the season, voted on by a pool of sports writers around region.

Class 4A
1. Skyline
2. Auburn
3. Bothell
4. Curtis
5. Gonzaga Prep
6. Union
7. Skyview
8. Issaquah
9. Richland
10. Central Valley
Others receiving votes: Marysville-Pilchuck, Ferris, Jackson, Olympia, Rogers

Class 3A
1. Bellevue
2. Liberty
3. Camas
4. Capital
5. Lakes
6. Juanita
7. O’Dea
8. Mount Spokane
9. Glacier Peak
10. Timberline
Others receiving votes: Timberline, Kamiakin, Meadowdale, Seattle Prep

Class 2A
1. Archbishop Murphy
2. Lynden
3. Clarkston
4. Prosser
5. West Valley (Spokane)
6. Lindbergh
7. Mark Morris
8. Othello
9. Burlington-Edison
10. Ellensburg
Others receiving votes: Tumwater, Interlake

It’s that time of year again. Bellevue Reporter sports editor Joel Willits and myself are participating in a friendly “pick em’” competition where we’ll give our best insight into all KingCo (and Eastside Catholic) football games, before picking winners.

Joel got lucky and edged me by just a couple of games last year. Not this year my friend.

Without further ado, here’s a look at this week’s matchups. There are some big ones on the list, including Skyline vs. Liberty, Bellevue vs. Union and Bothell vs. Mission Veijo (Calif.).

THURSDAY
Lake Washington Kangaroos (0-0) at Garfield Bulldogs (0-0)
Kevin - On the bright side, one of these programs will get off to a much more promising start than they did last year. Lake Washington (1-8) and Garfield (3-6) struggled in 2009. New Kangs head coach Steve Supple is a former defensive coordinator at Interlake, Redmond and most recently Eastlake. He will have to prepare his team to stop a tough back in third-year Bulldog starter, Valentino Coleman. Pick: Garfield 20-14
Joel - Both of these teams are young and the Bulldogs have a three-year starter at running back with Valentino Coleman. However, I think the Kangs surprise with first-year coach Steve Supple at the helm. Pick: Lake Washington 21-14

Mount Si Wildcats (0-0) at Woodinville Falcons (0-0)
Kevin - Woodinville junior quarterback Brett Arrivey showed a ton of promise during his sophomore season. With the returning backfield of Alec Schwend and Dan Clark, the Falcons should pack a punch on offense. Mount Si is a team that has consistently made the playoffs, and returns a ton of starters on both sides of the ball. This could be a shootout. I’ll give the nod to the home team. Pick: Woodinville 24-20
Joel - A nice opening-day matchup between KingCo 3A/2A dark horse Mount Si and a young, but experienced Woodinville squad. Quarterback Brett Arrivey and running back Alec Schwend showed great promise last season. I expect that to carry over to this season, helping the Falcons pick up a win in the opener. Pick: Woodinville 35-14

Sammamish Totems (0-0) at Ballard Beavers (0-0) (Seattle Memorial Stadium)
Kevin - Second-year Sammamish head coach Brian Tucci seems to have his Totems headed in the right direction. Ballard, on the other hand, is only returning two starters from a team that finished 1-8 last season. There are a lot more unanswered questions for the Beavers. Pick: Sammamish 24-7
Joel - Hard to believe it’s been six years since Ballard played for the Class 4A state championship. It’s been hard times since for both of these squads. Sammamish looks to be on the upswing and have a little momentum after winning their final two games last season. The Beavers have won just two games the last two seasons. Pick: Sammamish 17-6

FRIDAY
Skyline Spartans (0-0) at Liberty (0-0)
Kevin - Skyline certainly has a few unanswered questions, starting with sophomore quarterback Max Browne. But, the Spartans have been here before. In 2007, a new sophomore quarterback by the name of Jake Heaps, took over and led Skyline to a 6-0 road victory over Bellevue. If the youngster can get time in the pocket he has plenty of explosive targets, led by University of Washington-bound Kasen Williams. Liberty is loaded, returning three key components from its state runner-up finish in 2009, including senior quarterback Trey Wheeler, senior running back Chandler Jenkins and senior wide receiver Jake Bainton. Expect a shootout. Pick: Skyline 28-27
Joel - Can’t really ask for a better week 1 matchup than last year’s Class 4A champion and last year’s Class 3A runner-up. Both teams lost talent – especially Skyline, with quarterback Jake Heaps off to BYU – but I have to go with the three-time defending champions for this one. Pick: Skyline 21-20

Interlake Saints (0-0) at Newport (0-0)
Kevin - Both Newport and Interlake are running new offenses this season. The experience factor tends to lean toward Newport, however. The Knights return athletic players to the field, and it suits their triple option well. Interlake returns senior quarterback Matt Malos, but his adjustment to the pro-style offense is a little more of a challenge. The learning curve could take a while, especially with a new surrounding cast. Pick: Newport 28-14
Joel - This game should be a great sneak preview for the upcoming season as both teams debut new offenses. I like what Interlake coach Jason Rimkus is doing, but Newport brings back a ton of experience in the backfield and on the line. I think the Knights take this one in a close one. Pick: Newport 20-17

Snohomish Panthers (0-0) at Inglemoor Vikings (0-0)
Kevin - Snohomish finished 3-7 in a weak WesCo last season. Honestly, I’m not aware of what kind of talent the Panthers return in 2010. It appears they lost a lot of seniors, however. Inglemoor returns a deep core of players, particularly in the backfield. I’ll give the nod to the KingCo school in this one. Pick: Inglemoor 35-14
Joel - I must admit, I don’t know much about Snohomish. But what I do know is that they play in Wesco, which usually doesn’t fare well against KingCo competition. Pick: Inglemoor 10-7

Issaquah Eagles (0-0) at Heritage Timberwolves (0-0)
Kevin - This is a long road trip for Issaquah, but I fully expect the Eagles to be prepared. Vancouver-based Heritage finished 4-6 last season, and lost their leading passer (2,720 yards) and rusher (958 yards) in quarterback Garrett Grayson. Issaquah will also be sporting a new quarterback in junior Ethan Kalin, but he has performed well in summer camps. If Issaquah can handle a five-hour bus ride, the Eagles should roll. Pick: Issaquah 32-20
Joel - Eagles are a team I like to pick up steam this season and return to the playoffs. Heritage went just 4-6 last year. Issaquah shows again the strength of the KingCo 4A Conference and put a hurting on Timberwolves. Pick: Issaquah 42-7

Central Kitsap Cougars (0-0) at Eastlake Wolves (0-0)
Kevin - Eastlake has all the components to be successful again, starting with an experienced offensive line and a hard-nosed backfield (Sam Gilliss and Kyle Lappano). Junior quarterback Keegan Kemp also brings mobility and an accurate arm to the field. Central Kitsap presents a shotgun spread offense behind second-year starting quarterback Brett McDonald (10 TDs, 10 INTs). Playing in KingCo, Eastlake is well aware of how to slow the pass. Pick: Eastlake 32-14
Joel - Another interesting early season matchup. Eastlake lost their dynamic quarterback Kelby McCorkle as well as running back Cameron Hunt and are a pretty young team. I think they’ll hit their stride later in the season. Pick: Central Kitsap 23-17

Juanita Rebels (0-0) at Redmond Mustangs (0-0)
Kevin - Juanita mixes a large group of returners with some key transfers to present one of the more potent offenses in the KingCo 3A/2A. Senior running back Jerimiah Laufasa is the centerpiece to the offensive scheme. Redmond is coming off a difficult season, but the Mustangs do return an important element in starting quarterback Michael Conforto. The Rebels just have too many weapons, however. Pick: Juanita 35-7
Joel - Juanita brought a host of talented transfers in this season, including UW-commit Jarret Finau. Redmond is still a team finding its identity, while Shaun Tarantola’s Rebels are a team that is poised to make a run at the KingCo 3A heavyweights this season. Pick: Juanita 28-6

Mercer Island Islanders (0-0) at Seattle Prep Panthers (0-0)
Kevin - Junior quarterback Jeff Lindquist continues to wow the KingCo 2A/3A with his arm. Seattle Prep, led by defensive standout Nick Holt, is coming off a state playoff season. The Panthers return a ton of depth and are poised for a return to the playoffs. They’ll come out fired up at home. Pick: Seattle Prep 24-21
Joel - The Islanders look promising with talented junior quarterback Jeff Lindquist, but Seattle Prep has punishing linebacker/quarter Nick Holt, one of the Metro League’s best players. Mercer Island looks like it might need one more year to take the big leap. Pick: Seattle Prep 21-14

SATURDAY
Bellevue Wolverines (0-0) at Union Titans (0-0) at Qwest Field
Kevin - They’re in different classifications now, but that doesn’t mean that 4A Union won’t have revenge on its mind when it meets 3A Bellevue on Saturday in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic. The Wolverines knocked off the Titans 19-13 during the 3A state semifinals last season. There are a lot of new faces on both rosters, but Bellevue does return key components to its Wing-T offense in quarterback Kendrick Van Ackeren and running back Joey Mangialardi. Expect another hard-fought battle. Pick: Bellevue 21-17
Joel - One of the biggest games of the year on the biggest stage in the opening week. Could you ask for more? Union’s defense showed in last year’s semifinals that their coach’s have figured out a way to slow Bellevue’s Wing-T attack, holding the Wolverines without an offensive touchdown. Bellevue relied on their defense and the leg of Race Sciabica to beat Union then. Now, they’ll have to overcome their youth to go 1-0. My thought? I’ve yet to see an in-state team beat Bellevue since O’Dea in 2007, so I have no reason to doubt them now. Pick: Bellevue 30-27

Bothell Cougars (0-0) vs. Mission Viejo (Calif.)
Kevin - Bothell continues to be one of the top program’s in Washington, but the Cougars will have to fill in some key positions in 2010, including quarterback. One of the best running backs in the league, Luke Proulx, will help ease some of that pressure. Mission Viejo is one of the powerhouses of California. And word is, they don’t travel unless they’re loaded. The Diablos outscored opponents 563-137 last season, en route to a second place finish in California’s Section 3 classification. Pick: Mission Viejo 28-20
Joel - After losing to Skyline in the state semifinals, the Blue Train looks reloaded. But losing the talent they did on the line, including tight ends Michael Hartvigson and Evan Hudson and tackle Colin Porter (all three to UW), has to take a toll on a team. Mission Viejo is a traditional California power, a team that went 12-1 last season and scored 40 or more points 10 times. The Diablos even won one game 70-7. While I think the Cougars drop this one, they’ll rebound in plenty of time to contend for another KingCo 4A championship. Pick: Mission Viejo 35-14

Franklin Quakers (0-0) at Roosevelt Roughriders (0-0)
Kevin - Roosevelt had a rough ride last season, going 2-7. They return their quarterback, Peter Ianelli, and third-year starting tackle, Brian Hutchison. Franklin also had a tough season, finishing at 3-6. The Quakers have a lot more to build off, however, returning seven starters on offense and six on defense. The nod goes to the more experienced team. Pick: Franklin 24-17
Joel - Another game between two teams that look to be on the way up after a tough few years. Franklin looks to be the more improved squad, this time, however. Pick: Franklin 21-12

Cleveland Eagles (0-0) at Eastside Catholic Crusaders (0-0)
Kevin - Cleveland went winless in 2009, finishing at 0-8. Eastside Catholic was a few bad quarters away from making the playoffs. The Crusaders have suffered some early-season injuries, including the loss of transfer quarterback Bradley Wheeler, but they should still be able to use Saturday’s home opener as a nice warmup for the 2010 season. Pick: Eastside Catholic 28-7
Joel - Cleveland couldn’t find success last season, and though they’ll be improved, so should be Jason Gesser’s Crusaders. Although Eastside Catholic has been hit with some untimely injuries, this should be a good game for them to figure things out. Pick: Eastside Catholic 30-13

Luke Nelson, a 2009 graduate of Eastside Catholic High School, has earned a walk-on spot on the BYU football roster as a wide receiver.

Nelson, who transferred to EC from Shorewood High School after his junior year, stands at 6-foot-1, 193 pounds. He had 52 receptions for 715 yards and 14 TDS in his senior season. Nelson was one of 15 players to earn a walk-on spot at BYU. Approximately 75 players tried out on Monday for walk-on positions.

Here’s a photo slideshow from Skyline senior wide receiver Kasen Williams’ signing ceremony, Aug. 27, at Spartan Stadium. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver opted to stay close to home and play for the University of Washington — the same place his dad Aaron played from 1979-1982.