The majority of individuals associated with football understand that contests are won and lost in the trenches of the offensive and defensive lines.
The Skyline Spartans, who graduated quarterback Blake Gregory, running back Rashaad Boddie and wide receiver/defensive back Danny Sinatro this past June, will return three of its five offensive lineman this fall on a squad that registered a 12-2 overall record in 2015. The Spartans lost to Gonzaga Prep 34-16 in the Class 4A state championship game at the Tacoma Dome.
Skyline head coach Mat Taylor is confident in his team’s abilities despite losing three of their best skill players from a year ago.
“I think our biggest comfort level right now is we are returning three of our five offensive lineman up front. Two of them have Division-1 offers. Matt Cindric just got his first one from Washington State last week and Henry (Bainivalu) has obviously drawn attention nationally,” Taylor said of his top two lineman. “That is the biggest thing is we feel like we should be able to run the football, which gives us a luxury of breaking in a new quarterback.”
Gregory was entrenched as the Spartans starter during his junior year in 2014 and senior year in 2015. Taylor said three signal callers are battling for the Spartans’ starting quarterback position this fall. The contenders for the top spot include senior Drew Kistner, sophomore Joe Greene and sophomore Eddie Rosemont.
“We’ll have a new quarterback this year,” Taylor said. “Drew Kistner is returning from last year, Joe Greene is a rising sophomore and Eddie Rosemont is another rising sophomore. We could have a sophomore or we could have a senior. The bottom line is none of those guys have started before.”
Bainivalu, who said he was undecided as of press time on where he will play collegiate football in the fall of 2017, likes what he has seen from the entire team throughout the first three weeks of spring practice sessions.
“There is a lot of experience and the guys are picking up the offense and defense quick,” Bainivalu said. “I’m really happy with how everybody is doing. I feel like the younger guys and the guys in my grade (seniors) are stepping up. We’re going to have a great season.”
