Gene Dales knows there was no reason for his Eastlake football team to get down on itself.

Finishing third in the KingCo Crest, a division that sent its No. 1 and No. 2 teams to the 4A state championship last season, isn’t shabby.

He is also aware, however, that it will take getting past one of those top teams for the Wolves to have their shot at state supremacy in 2009.

“We’ve got our eyes set on trying to perform a little bit better than the teams that knocked us off last year,” Dales said.

Eastlake, which finished with a 6-4 record after losing to Olympia in the preliminary round of the state playoffs, returns solid depth — particularly on defense.

“I think our front seven on defense will be very physical and very athletic,” Dales said. “I’m not too worried about our team speed, I feel very good about that.”

The linebacker core of junior Matt Uhlar (6-3, 200) and Michael Maguire (6-4, 220) will anchor the defense, along with the secondary of Kelby McCorkle, Kyle Lappano and a transfer from Mount Si, Rob Sharps. Trent Butler transfered in from Colorado and is expected to play a significant role at safety.

Eastlake also returns key players to skill positions, starting with McCorkle at quarterback. As a junior, he started the final two games of 2008, and saw scattered minutes throughout the season. He completed 53 of 83 (63 percent) of his passes for just under 700 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for more than 200 yards and two TDs.

“We’re real anxious to watch him go, and we’re going to have a lot of confidence in him as our players are,” said Dales, noting that he might also be the fastest player on the team. “When he takes the ball and he takes off running it’s like having a halfback they have to account for out there on defense.”

The Wolves will also have a unique situation on offense with their three big tight ends. Austin Reifeis, a 6-foot-3, 230-pounder, has drawn several Division I looks, including an offer from Hawaii. Uhlar and Maguire will also provide large targets for McCorkle.

“We’re going to look at some three-tight end sets,” Dales said.

Cameron Hunt, who suffered injuries last season, will return to the backfield as the starting running back.

“We feel like he is going to have a breakout year this year,” Dales said. “He’s worked very hard. He’s a big sturdy 205 pound-halfback, that’s a bruiser as well as having great speed in the open field.”

According to Dales, the largest question mark around this year’s team will come on the offensive line where there are five players getting their first varsity time.

Eastlake begins its season at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4 at home against non-league Mount Si. The Wolves have three straight home games to open the season, and play five of their eight regular-season contests at EHS, including an Oct. 9 battle against Plateau rival Skyline.

2009 schedule

Sept. 4 vs. Mount Si, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 vs. Lake Washington, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 vs. Woodinville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Redmond, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Issaquah, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 vs. Skyline, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Newport, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 vs. Garfield, 7 p.m.