Eyeing the horizon

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, June 4, 2009 | midnight

The Boulder City High football team struggled for parts of last fall learning first-year coach Alex Kazel's spread offense.

The struggles, however, ended at the perfect time.

It all clicked for the Eagles in their 3A Southern League first round playoff game against Mesquite's Virgin Valley High as they jumped out to 20-14 lead at halftime.

While Boulder City eventually lost by 19 points, it gained a new-found confidence.

Kazel's offense, if executed like the Eagles did in the first half, would be tough to stop. Virgin Valley is a perennial power and Boulder City could have very easily won the game.

"(Virgin Valley) didn't know what to do or how to stop us in the first half," Boulder City senior-to-be quarterback Ryan Washburn said. "I could see (the offense) coming together."

Some six months later, the Eagles are back on the field. They are going through spring practices in preparation for the fall season that is 13 weeks away.

Kazel, like a mad scientist experimenting in the lab, has added a few wrinkles to the offense. Boulder City will operate out of the no-huddle to prevent the opposition from making defensive substitutions. They spent several hours during spring practice, where players wear cleats but no pads, running play after play with different players rotating at the skilled positions.

Washburn is the only returning quarterback who received time under center last fall, but Preston Swasey has impressed with his arm strength and Ross LaMarca has proven he is capable, too.

"We are going to have two legitimate back-ups," Kazel said. "They will all three be on the field. It's going to be fun to figure out exactly who will be where."

Seniors-to-be Devin Combs and Steve Kaposta will share carries at running back and all five projected starters on the offensive line started at least one game last year.

"We look solid this year," said Kaposta, who rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries last year. "Our new offense finally came together. That should carryover to next season."

The Eagles will be in St. George, Utah, from June 8 to 12 at the Dixie State College camp and start involuntary weight training June 15. Two-a-day practices, which are mandatory, begin Aug. 13.

"The second year is your biggest growing year," Kazel said. "It's like going from being a freshman to a sophomore. You have to build on that first year."

While most players haven't directly been involved in football activities since November, Kazel said it has been a great offseason. Most football players where involved in others sports, with the basketball team winning the state title and the track team capturing the 3A Southern League title before losing at state by a half of a point.

"I'm very happy with where we are at," Kazel said. "In football, you get better from December to August. Our guys competed for state championship-caliber teams. You can't replace the competition with those kids involved."

Now the Eagles want another championship — on the gridiron.

"The goal is the same it was last year and the same it will be forever," Kazel said. "We want to win the last game of the season."

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.