Wildcats Experienced at QB, Offensive Line, on Defense ELLENSBURG - Central Washington University's inaugural football campaign at the NCAA Division II level resulted in its first losing season in two decades. But, head coach John Zamberlin, who led the Wildcats to a Columbia Football Association title two years ago, is confident his team can bounce back this fall from a 4-5 1999 campaign, their first sub .500 season since 1980. Though the Wildcats embark on an ambitious 10-game schedule which takes them into all four time zones, only one of the games (Sept. 23 at Saint Mary's, Calif.) is against a NCAA Division I-AA team. A year ago, the Wildcats played three Division 1 schools. And also unlike a year ago, Zamberlin is starting the season with experienced, though still young , players at quarterback and on the offensive line. CWU also returns five all-stars from the Columbia Football Association's No. 2 ranked defense, but will have to replace most of the key skilled-position players on the offensive side of the football. Zak Hill (6-0, 183, So., Battle Ground - Prairie), who twice passed for more than 300 yards, returns at quarterback. In his freshman season, Hill completed 87 of 146 passes for 1,017 yards after taking over the starting duties midway through the season. Backing up Hill, whose father Butch played football and baseball for CWU and is a member of the school's Hall-of-Fame, will be redshirt freshman Troy Thomas (6-3, 163) from Prosser. "We're a little more settled at the quarterback position that we were a year ago," Zamberlin said. "Zak made some good progress and competed well in spring ball . He is a very intelligent player and comes from a good football background." Hill, the first CWU freshman to start a game at quarterback since Jon Kitna in 1992, could be pushed by Thomas, who has good size and is very mobile. "Troy is a good athlete and can make plays on his feet," Zamberlin, who has a 16-12 career mark in three previous seasons, said . Also battling for the back~p role will be letterman Nathan Graham (6-0, 175, Reardan) and redshirt freshman Dale Chase (6-4, 198, Fr., Olympia - River Ridge). Hill will need to reply on a virtually brand-new support cast. Running back Dan Murphy, who led the team in rushing (700 yards) and scoring (60 points), completed his career as the all-time leader (3,628 yards and 312 points) in both categories. Top receivers Ty Nunez (53 catches for 585 yards) and Ryan Seal (40-419) also graduated and Mark Leazer (20-223) elected not to return . Still, Zamberlin ranks the running back and receiving corps as possible team strengths. The favorite to replace Murphy in the starting lineup is Nat Conley (6-0, 195, Jr., Pasco), who was productive in a backup role, netting 338 yards and scoring four touchdowns on 80 carries. Also returning are Shawn Brathwaite (5-8, 190, So., Graham - Bethel) and Donovan Dashiell (5-9, 189, Jr., Port Orchard - South Kitsap), who added 96 and 89 yards, respectively. Dashiell also averaged 24.3 yards on seven kickoff returns. "Nat is the most experienced running back," Zamberlin said . "He has good acceleration, good vision and is an explosive runner. "Shawn was one of our top running backs at the end of the 1999 season and has made outstanding progress. He has good vision and quickness and all he needs is more playing time. "Donovan showed some good things last season. He has exceptional balance. It just seems like he has been snake-bitten with injuries," Zamberlin said. Two University of Washington transfers - Ty Fotheringill (5-10, 185, Sr., Kelso) and Justin Johnson (5-9, 200, So., Bellevue) - and redshirt Emilio Iniguez (5-7, 166, Fr. , Spanaway - Bethel) will provide the Wildcats with remarkable depth at the running back position. Iniguez, whose brother Rico was CWU's 1997 MVP, is a tough , hard-nosed runner. Fotheringill is a slashing type of runner and is capable of making big plays. Johnson is a fullback and could be used in a two-back set. "He has good power and quickness and will be a welcome addition," Zamberlin said. Richard Penton (5-8, 185, So., Tacoma - Curtis) is the top returning receiver and he caught only two passes a year ago. Still Zamberlin and quarterback coach Beau Baldwin are happy with the group of receivers. Penton had a team-best four receptions for 64 yards in the spring game. A former running back, he has the ability to add yards after making the catch. Also returning from last year's receiving corps are lettermen Clint Lecount (6-0, 195, Sr., Vancouver - Evergreen) and Mark Acker (6-2, 200, Jr., Olympia - North Thurston) and redshirts Jake Roberts (6-3, 177, Fr., Spokane - University), Moses Lewis (6-2 , 175, Fr. , Yakima - Davis) and Josh Lopez (6-0, 175, Fr., Wapato). Tony Butorac (6-2, 185, Fr., Elma), a standout CWU track athlete who redshirted in 1998, is also back after skipping the 1999 season. Lecount and Acker each made one catch last season. "Clint is a smart player and he understands our offense. Mark has good speed, but hasn't had a lot of experience," Zamberlin said. Roberts, who caught three passes for 127 yards in the spring game, has good size and hands and is a tough kid , according to Zamberlin. Lewis has improved his pass receiving skills and has game-breaking ability. Lopez has improved his conditioning and runs good routes. Butorac can use his track skills (he is an outstanding long and high jumper) to go up for the ball. Squad member Brooks Denny (5-9, 170, So ., Brush Prairie) and redshirt freshman Scott Alexander (5-8, 170, Quincy) will play the H-back position, while lettermen Jason Webster (6-0, 230, So., Kent - Kent­ Meridian) and Pete Kalasountas (6-3, 209, Sr., Hazen) are penciled in at tight end. Denny showed great improvement this spring, while Alexander, a 15-footer pole vaulter for CWU's track team, is a former high school running back who has good quickness and can add yards after the catch . Webster, who saw limited duty last season, is a good run-blocker and catches the ball well in traffic. Kalasountas started last season at quarterback, but was switched to tight end in the spring. "He is just learning the position, but he is a good athlete, has good hands and knowledge of the offense," Zamberlin said. Guard Josh Johnston (5-11 , 260, Sr. , Richland) is the lone returning all-star on offense and will anchor the line, which returns virtually intact from last year. Also returning are guard Ryan Stengle (6-3, 250, So., Spokane - East Valley), tackles Connor Craig (6-2, 245, So., Port Orchard - South Kitsap) and Ethan McDonald (6-4, 260, Sr., Auburn) and center Chris Scheer (6-1, 260, Sr., Tacoma - Wilson). Even though everyone is back, CWU offensive coordinator John Picha has lots of options due to an outstanding group of 1999 redshirts and will reshuffle the lineup. Johnston, who earned second team Columbia Football Association honors last sea_son and is a four-year starter, will move from the weak guard to strong guard position. "He is an excellent run blocker and leads by example," Picha, who also coaches the offensive line, said. Craig will move from tackle to take over at the other guard position. "Connor has improved his size and strength and he has good speed and great tenacity," Picha said. At tackle, there will be two new starters with Craig moving inside and McDonald being switched to defense. Stengle will move from guard and will battle redshirt Rhett Carpenter (6-3, 255, Fr. , Kelso) for the start on the strong side. "Rhett has added weight and is very strong and aggressive and has the ability to be a standout player," Picha said. Redshirt Jonathan Lindsey (6-3, 240, Fr., Puyallup - Rogers) may get the nod on the week side. "He has good feet and is an excellent pass blocker. He also has added some weight and strength," Picha said. Backing up Lindsey will probably be redshirt Matt Green (6-4, 232, Fr., Spokane - Lewis & Clark), who has good feet and has added weight. "Matt is very intelligent and is going to be a player, " Picha said. Scheer, at center, is the only returning starter on the line likely to remain in the same position. "Chris is a veteran and he is smart," Picha said. "He also has the ability to play all the line positions." Rob Williams (6-3, 272, So ., Tacoma - Clover Park), the only true freshman to see playing time on the line last fall, will also contribute at center. "Rob has good size and strength and he had a good spring," Picha said . Also contributing on the line this fall wiil be letterman Aaron Crockett (6-3, 320, So., Tacoma - Bellarmine) and redshirt Zach Fife (6-3, 280, Fr., Yakima - West Valley). Crockett, at 320, is CWU's only 300-pounder on offense. Fife also has great size and plays with good tenacity, Picha said. On paper, CWU should have one of the top defensives nationally among NCAA Division II schools. Six starters return off a unit that ranked 1?' h nationally in both total defense (272.3) and rushing defense ( 106.1) and 27'h in passing efficiency. Five of the six incumbents were all-stars, including linebackers Jed Sluyter (6-0, 225, Sr., Renton - Hazen) and Brandon Christensen (5-10, 200, Sr., Mukilteo - Kamiak) and defensive back Jason Patterson (5-11 , 175, Jr., Enumclaw).