AUBURN MOUNTAINVIEW LIONS

Coach: Jared Gervais, third year

Last year: Third in the South Puget Sound League 3A with a 2-3 record, 3-7 overall with a loss in the district playoffs.

Type of offense: spread

Top returners: Ray Hardaway, senior, RB, 5-11/195; Joey Cassano, senior, WR, 5-9/180; Dakota Weir, senior, OG, 6-2/260; and Ryan Pitt, junior, C, 5-11/190.

Type of defense: 3-3 stack.

Top returners: Hardaway, senior, FS, 5-11/195; Brandon Mozzone, senior, CB, 6-1/185; and Jason Sele, junior, OLB, 6-1/205.

Impact newcomers: Malachi Fowler, senior, DE, 6-0/180; Daylen Keene, junior, RB/OLB, 5-11/175; Aeron Watson, junior, MLB, 5-8/180; Trevor Jensen, junior, OT/DE, 6-3/195; Gresch Jensen, sophomore, QB, 6-2/180; and Caleb Arciaga, sophomore, NT, 5-11/235.

Outlook: For the first time in three years, the Lions come into the season without quarterback Domenic Rockey, who is now at Washington State University. Sophomore Gresch Jensen looks to become the centerpiece of Auburn Mountainview’s high-powered spread offense. Jensen has seniors Hardaway and Cassano at running back and receiver, respectively, to share his load.

“The guys have had three years of running this offense and defense, and their knowledge is allowing them to play faster and execute better than we have in the past,” Gervais said. “We have experience in the offense and defense, but we don’t have a lot of varsity experience. We will have to grow up quickly and get used to playing at the speed of varsity games.”

Key game: The Lions open against Sumner at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at Auburn Memorial Stadium. Sumner won a 2A state playoff game last year before falling to eventual champion Lynden in the second round. This will be a good early test for Auburn Mountainview.