SILVERDALE BAPTIST ACADEMY SEAHAWKS
Head coach: Mike Connor (first season here; 2-1 overall)
Returning starters: 5 offensive; 9 defensive
Key players: RB Connor Delashmitt (6-1, 190); TE Colton Rice (6-5, 225); OL Dawson Riggins (5-11, 230); WR Cam Mullins (6-3, 175); RB/S Evan Padgett (6-0, 175); DL Ben Bambrey (6-1, 225); DL Dixon Riggins (5-11, 255); LB Brian Hartert (5-9, 180); DB Blake Brothers (5-11, 145); LB Sebastian Hanks (6-1, 190).
Team strengths: Silverdale has started a lot of young players the past two seasons, and especially on defense, where nearly all of last season's starters return. That unit will try to set a tone the rest of the team must try to match.
Team concerns: Coach Connor believes it is imperative for the Seahawks to think positively and not have a misplaced identity: "If we are not rooted in the truth of who we are, we are likely not to be consistent in our performance. The work done on our behalf in Christ will allow us to cut loose and play with reckless abandonment."
Breakout candidate: Delashmitt turned heads as a sophomore and will work to build off that momentum. Returning faster and stronger than last season, the versatile weapon is ready to expand on his numbers from last year, when he rushed for 782 yards and had 416 receiving yards in just nine games.
Season outlook: Success on offense must start up front for the Seahawks.
"If the offensive line does not make plays, no one else will," Connor said. "Dawson brings a lot of experience to our front and will be a guy we expect to lead and win battles at the line of scrimmage. His experience will be invaluable to a couple of guys getting their first time starting."
Dixon Riggins is the anchor of the defensive line, while Padgett is a playmaker at safety who will also be a critical weapon running and receiving for an offense that is excited about the future of sophomore dual-threat quarterback Turner Junkins.
"Our seniors are hungry and preparing to create different outcomes this season," Connor said. "They have put in the work this offseason and have been intentional in everything they do."
File photo by Cade Deakin / Silverdale Baptist Academy's Connor Delashmitt showed his potential as a sophomore last season, but he'll need help from the Seahawks' offensive line to make big plays happen this year.