GENESEE - Having made the state playoffs three straight years, the Genesee Bulldogs hope to carry that momentum into this year.

But to capitalize on that, the Palouse school must first overcome a lack of experience.

Genesee lists just two seniors "so it'll be good for us to get those younger kids in a successful outing," Bulldog coach Jason Hanson said, noting that "a lot of the kids this year were able to play a large chunk of (last year's first-round playoff) game, so it's definitely going to be a fun season building off of that."

Genesee made it to the second round of last year's playoffs, where it fell to Raft River 56-6, but "having made the playoffs three years in a row," Hanson added, "it's a pretty awesome stat and something the kids should be proud of."

"That's as good a string as we've had."

Something else the Bulldogs can take pride in: winning a baseball state title last spring.

"Super proud of the kids - not just this season but seasons past," Hanson said. "To be on that run of playoff appearances, we play up a division, so to be a lower team playing up, that's a heck of an accomplishment for us."

The Bulldogs will kick off their season at 7 tonight at the Kibbie Dome against Kendrick, then open league play Sept. 4 against last year's state champion, Prairie, that game in Cottonwood.

"All the townspeople from both towns know each other real well," Hanson said of the Kendrick-Genesee rivalry, which was moved indoors because of all the smoke blanketing the region.

Quarterback Beau Tilleman graduated last year, so the Bulldogs will start a new man under center, Kyle Moser, who "kind of snuck in some experience last year."

While the Kendrick game represents his first start at signal-caller, "everybody has to have a zero in that column in some time of their life," Hanson said of starts, "so it'll definitely be fun to watch him develop."

A momentum-swinging player, running back Carson Parkins scored the team's longest play from scrimmage last season, a 99-yard reception. And Garrett Borth, another running back, provides a calming influence in the huddle, "filling that role of one of the big brothers on the team."

A plug and play type player, Hayden Woods, a sophomore, "may play every position before the season's over," Hanson said. And in the trenches, Eddie Becker - a tapeworm in the film room - will ply his trade at tight end while Cole Allen, a fellow sophomore, will pave the way for Borth and Parkins on the offensive line.

"We looked at what (Washington State) coach Mike Leach does, he spreads the ball around, and it's important for multiple people to get multiple touches," said Hanson, who noted how many great athletes his program has.

"So we just need to use our athleticism to our advantage.

"We're not necessarily going to air it out, but I like how Leach gets multiple people the ball in ways they can make an impact."