MOSCOW - During his first year as the Moscow High coach in 2012, Bears football coach Phil Helbling delivered his team to the postseason, breaking a 15-year drought.
And while the Bears missed out on the playoffs the past two seasons, Helbling feels like his charges now possess something they lacked over that stretch: a smashmouth mentality.
And they also have another ace up their sleeves: experience.
"We've got a lot of guys coming back," Helbling said excitedly while noting the "key returners across the board."
Among those catalysts coming back is senior quarterback Devin Carscallen, who returns under center boasting an IQ to match his throwing acumen.
"He just brings a good demeanor to the position, gets kids lined up in the right spots," said Helbling, who feels that Carscallen is "someone who can lead the show."
"That's what we like out of that QB spot. ... We always talk about, 'You're the CEO, you're the guy when you're out there.' ... And I really like his arm and what he can do. ... He can throw - no doubt about it."
Last season, the Bears threw plenty, running a no-huddle offense. It often failed to put up big numbers but presented the Bears their only offensive succor for a lugubrious rushing attack.
But this season, capitalizing on their newfound smashmouth identity, the Bears plan to re-establish a more traditional offense - like the one Helbling installed when he first took over the reins of the Palouse program.
"We're going to run it at you," said junior offensive lineman Wyatt Youngblood, who's been on the varsity since his freshman year. "Last year, we passed the ball a lot because we couldn't run it. But definitely having a team that can run against another team, that definitely shows aggression."
Agreed senior wideout Collin Niehenke: "The coaching staff brought in a whole new mentality, and it's changed the whole environment of the program."
The Bears will open their slate on Friday at 8 p.m. against Grangeville at the Kibbie Dome, then face Washington state playoff participant Clarkston on Sept. 4, beginning a nonconference gantlet that includes more contests against Great Northern League teams (four) than any other conference, including Moscow's own (the 4A Inland Empire League lists just three teams).
"It's a tough schedule, no doubt about it," said Helbling, who doesn't think there's a game on the schedule his team can "chalk up to W."
"But there's nothing wrong with having to line up every single week and play good football."
The Bears graduated star wideout Jack Akey last season, but return plenty of depth at running back where Chad Robertson and Bryson Bennett form a one-two punch, complemented by bruising upperclassman Eric Redinger.
"I just like his ability to run downhill," Helbling said of Robertson, a senior who used to play wideout. That gives the Bears an option to move him around, putting him into a slot receiver position as well.
"We're not going to be very deep, but across the board," Helbling said, "we've got a bunch of guys who've played varsity football."
As for how his team has fared so far during fall camp, Helbling emphasized his team's mental toughness.
"This group brings a real solid demeanor and presence and we're ready to build off of what we've done in the past and just talking about winning, expecting to win, being respected by your opponent and just trying to play a more physical brand of football.
"You're going to see a different football team, a team that prides itself on being passionate, who plays the game the right way, lines up and smacks guys in the mouth. We haven't done that in the past. ... But we want to create turnovers defensively and just play football the way it's supposed to be played."
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