The press box at Skyline High School’s home field is a shrine to the football program.

While walking toward the stadium it is impossible to miss the Spartans sign labeled “State Champions Football” on the backside of the press box facing the parking lot. The Spartans football program, which won state titles in 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, is known for its prolific squads.

The 2014 team wasn’t up to par for the Spartans. Skyline finished with an overall record of 6-4 and were eliminated in a winner-to-state, loser-out playoff game courtesy of a 34-31 loss to the Skyview Storm on Nov. 7. The premature end to last season is something no player on the Spartans current roster has forgotten.

Skyline starting quarterback Blake Gregory wouldn’t let his teammates forget it even if they had an inkling to do so.

“Throughout the entire off-season it has been in the back of our minds,” Gregory said. “Guys have been reminding each other about what happened. That keeps us motivated and is definitely driving us a lot.”

Skyline head coach Mat Taylor said Gregory will be much more comfortable in his role as starting signal caller this fall. In 2014, it was his first season as the starting quarterback.

“Blake is starting to be more vocal. I think as a junior you don’t always know where your role is as the starting quarterback. He has started to see that it’s his team,” Taylor said. “He is a tremendous young man he is going to be even better than he was last year.”

Taylor pointed out that Gregory, who wears No. 4 like his idol Max Browne (USC quarterback), is totally committed to the football program.

“Blake is a kid that had older brothers who were part of the football program. He had an older brother who played on a state championship team. He wants to do that for himself and for the Skyline community,” Taylor said.

Gregory said he’s enjoyed shouldering the leadership role during the spring practice sessions.

“I just like getting everyone involved. We want to have great team spirit. That is a huge key. The spring practices have been definitely a little bit more intense than in past years. The guys have came out ready to play and compete. That’s great for our team,” Gregory said.

Taylor said his team will take the positives and negatives from last season and move forward with aspirations of a phenomenal 19th football season at Skyline High School.

“Last year we had a tremendous amount of adversity that we haven’t had in probably in five years combined. This is a new year. I think right now these kids are starting to identify what team 19 is going to look like. It will continue to evolve from today all the way to Sept. 5 when we play Issaquah in our season opener,” he said. “It’s not about Issaquah or Eastlake or whoever we are playing. It’s about us getting better.”

The Spartans offense will be led by Gregory and stalwart starting running back Rashaad Boddie. Taylor said the dynamic duo will make things tough on opposing team’s defenses this fall.

“The nice advantage we have with Rashaad at running back and Blake at quarterback is that teams are going to have to decide what they’re going to do,” Taylor said. “Are they going to load up in the box or are they going to make us run the ball and keep everything in front of them? It is a good problem to have.”

Gregory simply doesn’t make mistakes with the ball in his hands.

“His turnover last year was unbelievable,” Taylor said. “He only threw two interceptions and we only had five turnovers in 10 games with him at starting quarterback.”

Gregory said being the signal caller in Taylor’s quarterback friendly offense is a blessing.

“Coach Taylor does everything he can to put you in the right position,” Gregory said. “He is very trusting and wants you to do what you’re supposed to do which is not try to do too much and not trying to do too little. I think that played a big role in what happened with my season last year.”

The quarterback can’t wait for the 2015 season opener against Issaquah on Sept. 5 in Sammamish.

“I’m pumped,” he said. “It is definitely going to be a good one. We got them here finally at our house. I’m hoping the place will be packed.”

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@issaquahreporter.com