After a strong start to the 2011 football season, winning two of three games, the Spartan varsity squad ended last fall inauspiciously with five of the last six games lost. The clincher was a 30-7 loss to the co-league champion White River Hornets.

Not surprisingly, Head Coach Keith Ross—a 17-year coaching veteran and 13-year Spartan coach—aims to turn things around in 2012.

“(My expectations are to) compete for a league title and return to play-offs,” Ross said.

The Spartans last earned a league title and playoff spot in 2010. Its last earned league title before that was in 1994;  its last postseason run before 2010 was 2006.

The team making its run for the prize includes a roster of returning varsity players.

Marc Cisineros, the 6’1″ 240-pound senior, will return as an offensive and defensive lineman.

Lokahi Kamau returns as running back and defensive back. The spry senior made waves with his speed on the field last season, and he  scored the morale boosting third-quarter touchdown in the team’s final game last season.

Austin Striplin returns as an offensive lineman and linebacker.

Jeremy Jackson returns as a running back and defensive back.

Chase Torgison returns as as the prodigal underclassman quarterback. As a freshman last season, he passed for 370 yards and accomplished six touchdowns in a single game that saw the Spartans beat Washington High 47-46.

Bryson Tuilaepa, coming in at an intimidating 6’2″ and 315 pounds, returns on the offensive and defensive lines.

Connor Mott returns as defensive end.

Promising varsity newcomers are Brandon Tuilapa on running back/defensive back, Gage Whitehead as wide receiver and defensive back, Nick Farman on the offensive line and DeJon Lynch as running back.

The team’s coaching staff is joined by Josh Woodard, a former wide receiver on Central Washingon University’s 1995 National Championship team. Woodard will assist in coordinating the running backs and defensive backs.