The Marysville-Pilchuck sophomore football team is an unusual program.
Since most other Wesco North programs have just freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams, the sophomores dont yet have their game schedule and wont play their first game until Sept. 10. One of the teams primary functions is helping players bridge the gap between freshman and varsity football, said assistant head coach Brian McCutcheon.
I hope that by the end of the season, theyve gotten the xs and os so that theyre ready to move on to junior varsity or varsity, McCutcheon said.
Kids could get the bump up to JV or varsity before the first game or at any point in the season, and its the coaches goal to get them ready to step up between now and the seasons end. But even if a majority of the 38 guys on the sophomore team are varsity ready before seasons end, its also about helping them see plenty of time on the field.
We dont want to move somebody up just to sit on the bench, McCutcheon said. If we move somebody up, we want to make sure he can contribute.
He added that sophomore year is a point in most players careers when they join to the play the sport rather than join to hang out with their friends. Because the players are starting to make that decision, its a time when coaches and players get serious about the athletes role in future seasons at M-P.
Several players McCutcheon said he expects to stand out early on the sophomore squad played well in the Red and White game Aug. 25.
Chris Larson and Mark Pangilinan, both of whom played running back in the scrimmage, each ran for at least one touchdown. McCutcheon added that quarterback Zach Hansen has shown promise as well. All three double as defensive backs for the team.