Fife Trojans: 2019 Washington high school 2A football preview

Here's an inside look at the 2A Fife Trojans. Links: Fife team page | 2019 schedule | Roster 2018 IN REVIEW 11-2 in 2A SPSL Mountain (first place); lost to

Here's an inside look at the 2A Fife Trojans.

Links: Fife team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

11-2 in 2A SPSL Mountain (first place); lost to Lynden in 2A semifinals.

COACHING RESUME

Kent Nevin, 17th season

97-70 record

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 4. Defense - 5.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

QB Gabriel Duenas, 5-11, 180, sr.

RB Junior Faualo, 6-0, 215, sr.

RB Dominik Hernandez, 5-6, 165, sr.

OL Jonah McGary, 6-6, 275, jr.

RB Malakai Samuelu, 6-1, 225, jr.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DB Elias Faitala, 5-11, 170, sr.

DB Dominik Hernandez, 5-6, 165, sr.

DB Kacey Koehn, 6-0, 200, sr.

LB Malakai Samuelu, 6-1, 225, jr.

DL Aaron Smith, 6-1, 215, sr.

THREE TO SEE

Elias Faitala, defensive back

If the Trojans want to shadow elite receivers, he usually gets the call

Junior Faualo, running back

When Fife wants to really go to power running game, he's the guy

Malakai Samuelu, running back

Team's best all-around player has highlight 'Beast Mode' runs in him

OUTLOOK

All Fife did was go about its business last season -- and that meant stunning Steilacoom to win the 2A SPSL title and advancing to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

But with quarterback and two-way standout Gannon Ginnis graduated the Trojans will return to their roots a bit in 2019 by going back to an old-school, run-it-right-at-you wing-T rushing attack.

And Nevin will run two bruisers in Samuelu and Faualo, then change it up with Hernandez, a big-play scatback who will also play quarterback in certain packages.

The offensive line only has one returner (Ryan Marino), and the defense is short on speed. But it might not matter if Fife is able to keep its run-first agenda to control games.

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept 6: Foster, 7 p.m.

Sept 13: at Black Hills, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20: Franklin Pierce, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27: Steilacoom, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: at Washington, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11: River Ridge, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18: White River 7 p.m.

Oct. 25: at Eatonville, 7 p.m.