Return to North Star League improves Clark Fork's playoff chances

Wampus Cats loaded at the skill positions

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

CLARK FORK — It was music to longtime Clark Fork football coach Brian Arthun’s ears when he heard this summer that the North Star League was breaking its ties with the White Pine League, meaning the Wampus Cats won’t have to beat regional 8-man powerhouses Kendrick or Deary anymore to make the playoffs.

The North Star League is back to four football teams — Clark Fork, Lakeside, Mullan and Kootenai — each vying for one berth to the playoffs, berths that were essentially out of reach for the four teams in the past few seasons.

Arthun’s biggest challenge this season will be replacing Wade Stevens, a four year starter at quarterback and safety and a huge piece of everything the Wampus Cats did last season during a 4-5 campaign.

“Big shoes to fill with Wade graduating,” conceded Arthun, who will change offensive philosophies. “This year we’ll be more ground oriented. Our strength is running back and receiver. We’ll do some trapping and cross blocking, use our quickness up front.”

Pulling the trigger under center to start the season will be senior Toben Pincher, who has never played the position before. Last year he showed a nose for the football on defense, blocking two punts in one game and picking off two passes in another, but this year he’s entrusted with running the offense.

Luckily the Cats are loaded at the skill positions, which can make a new quarterback’s job all the easier. Arthun likes what he’s seen so far from his new signal caller, both on and off the field.

“I like Toben’s leadership. He’s grown a lot as a player and taken the young guys under his wing,” claimed Arthun. “Learning the quarterback position is one of the toughest on the field.”

The Wampus Cats are so loaded at running back that they’re moving junior Josh Constantin, who rushed for 11 scores last season, to guard to make room for senior Dakota West, who missed last season with injury.

Along with fullback Theo Icardo, who rushed for eight scores last year, the Cats plan to ride the legs of their running backs to make things easier for Pincher. Even Constantin will still get some touches, getting to run through holes instead of creating them.

“Our running backs are going to be really tough this year. They all bring different things to the table,” predicted Arthun. “Dakota has good vision and breaks a lot of tackles. Theo is real physical, a good blocker and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Josh has good speed and is tough.”

Receiver is also a position of strength, with a couple of speedy game-breakers out wide in sophomore Cameron Garcia, who played some at quarterback last season and accounted for five touchdowns, and junior Nate Hernandez.

Speed is a weapon on any football field, but especially in the wide open eight-man brand, and Garcia and Hernandez are burners.

“Speed is our No. 1 thing, it will make it or break it for us. Our backfield is really strong. Theo has super strength and Josh is tough in the open field,” described Pincher. “I think we’ll catch people off guard this year. It’s time to step it up.”

Arthun plans to employ some Wildcat packages, essentially a direct snap to a running back to gain an extra blocker at the point of attack, and also some option, which you don’t see often in eight man football. It’s a way to get the ball into Garcia, Hernandez and senior receiver Chase Sutton’s hands, guys Arthun calls playmakers.

“Cameron, Nate and Chase all have good quickness in and out of breaks, and all catch the ball really well,” said Arthun. “We’ll develop a passing game throughout the season. We have great team speed with Cameron and Nate.”

Anchoring the lines will be junior center Charlie Abbott, who at 6-0, 230 pounds can open holes on offense and plug gaps on defense. He’ll be flanked by Constantin and sophomore Chris Wade, as the three will start in the trenches on both sides of the football.

Abbott is entering his third year as a starter, and will make all of the line calls.

“He’s really good at the point of attack at nose guard,” claimed Arthun. “Having big Charlie in there to clog up the middle helps our defense.”

Most starters play both ways in eight man football, so remaining healthy is always a challenge. Luckily Arthun has 23 players out this season, one of the highest numbers in years, with rare depth that helps in practice.

Setting the tone on defense will be Icardo and West at linebacker, both players who don’t mind arriving at the ball with bad intentions. Constantin had two games with three sacks last year, and will be looking to pressure the quarterback from the edge.

“Both Theo and Dakota are physical and like to hit, which you like to see at the linebacker spot,” said Arthun, who also likes his edge players. “Nate and Cameron will be asked to cover and also set the edge. They’re both athletic and physical enough to do both. Josh and Chris, I like their length, and contain is important in eight man.”

Last year the Cats lost to Lakeside and beat Kootenai and Mullan. Mullan joined with St. Regis of Montana for a co-op team, and will be much improved.

Eight man football is famous for the unknown, as teams rise and fall quickly based on numbers and athletes. The Cats get both Mullan and Lakeside, which figure to be the two toughest league tests, at home this year.

“We should be in the mix if we take care of business in the league games,” predicted Arthun. “Lakeside is a dark horse, you don’t know if some of those athletes that play basketball will come out.”

The Cats will still face White Pine League powers Kendrick and Deary, but they will be nonleague games and provide a good state-caliber look if nothing else.

With just four mostly equal teams fighting for one spot, a long-awaited return to the 1A Division II playoffs is well within reach.

“We have a good chance this year,” said Icardo. “Our line’s got to do their job. We’ve got a great chance of making it to the playoffs.”