Replacing one player of the year can be tough, but how about two? That’s the challenge for Lindbergh and coach Pat O’Grady this season.
Seamount offensive back of the year Bakari Davis and defensive back of the year Diondre Toms both graduated. With them, about 30 touchdowns plus priceless experience and athleticism. Both are playing for New Mexico Highlanders University this year. But all is not lost for the Eagles.
“It’s going to be tough losing those two guys,” O’Grady said. “But we’ve got some young skill guys who are stepping up. We may not replace them with one guy, it may be two or three guys who get that job done.”
Lindbergh has an edge in getting those skill players the ball with junior quarterback Matt Stuart. Stuart enters his third year as the starter and he made the second team all-league offense last year.
“It’s time for him to start stepping up and progressing toward being a good college-level quarterback,” O’Grady said. “He’s got the fundamentals down, now we’re trying to do some extra things.”
Stuart threw for 1,435 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
Junior Cam Callen is the team’s leading returning receiver. Callen will play all over on offense. He can line up in the backfield, at receiver and will even play quarterback in Lindbergh’s Wildcat formation.
“He’s very similar to both Bakari and Diondre,” O’Grady said of Callen. “He’s very versatile and can do a lot of things. He’s a game-breaker. He’s got speed enough to run by you, he’s got shakes enough to make you miss and he’s strong enough to run through you.”
Callen can throw well and O’Grady said he might be the second-best kicker in the league behind Lindbergh junior Derrick Holt.
Holt led the Seamount in yards per punt and total points last year. He also made the first team all-league offense. Holt is a standout on defense and offense as well, where he plays the Eagles’ equivalent of a tight end.
“He’s good at those inside possession routes where we need a guy who can make the catch when he knows a hit is coming,” O’Grady said.
Calebse Cange will be the team’s speed threat. He flashed some of his playmaking ability with two interceptions returned for touchdowns last year. David Wells, Craig Yamaguchi and Joe Simpson will all get time at receiver.
On defense Callen takes Toms’ spot at safety. Callen finished third in the league in tackles for loss (11) and fourth in sacks last year (four). The Eagles also have junior defensive end Mitchell Kapesi back. Kapesi made the first team all-league defense and finished second in tackles for loss (11.5), and third in sacks (4.5).
Those two should be able to make up for losing Davis and Toms, plus defensive standouts Isiah Corwin and Chris Derouin to graduation.
“What we do scheme-wise is pretty dynamic and it’s just kind of plug and play,” O’Grady said. “We like to plug your tendencies and we are very aggressive.”
O’Grady said much of the defensive success comes from coordinator Matt Leamer.
“He’s ultra prepared and it shows week to week,” O’Grady said.
Lindbergh led the league in rushing yards allowed per game, yards per carry, rushing touchdowns allowed and passing touchdowns allowed last season.
The Eagles finished 6-2 overall, 5-1 in Seamount play last year and advanced to state for the third straight year. The kicked the season off Thursday night against Marysville-Getchell. Lindbergh starts league play Sept. 16 against Renton.
