Experience will Aid Larks

Several Sublette Larks have will start in a game for the fourth or third consecutive season in Sublette. The Larks return eight starters on both sides of the ball after last year’s 5-5 season. Sixth year head coach Steve Simpson, who has guided the Larks to the playoffs each year, says experience simplifies things. “We haven’t had to have too many scripts at practice,” Simpson said. “We’ve got some groups of kids out their who can run a lot of our plays without looking on paper. We can get in and out of our defenses and different coverages just like we did last year already so it’s been nice.”

The Larks won the 2A state track title last spring. Senior rb/db Mason Hibbard was one of the work horses on that team. He says there’s a correlation with track and football success in Sublette. “A bunch of those track runner are football players. We kind of work toward football and have the same coach for football and track. He does it to keep us ready for football. It’s a fun time. He says it will condition us for football the next year and it always does.”

Senior lineman Chris Villanueva says these guys love football. “We love football, I’m not going to lie,” Villanueva said. “Even in the offseason and in other sports we’re working towards football. It’s our last year. We’re going to go out and do all we can.”

Other key Larks include: senior te/lb Hayes Kelman, senior lineman Nathan Birney, junior rb/db Royce Williams, and senior rb/lb Danny Gonzalez. Senior qb/db Brandon Stokes was the team’s leading receiver last year. He moves to quarterback which he says is a difficult transition. “It’s a little difficult,” Stokes said. “I didn’t play that much quarterback because Brett (Holloway) was pretty good. We didn’t have many wide receivers (last year) so it’s been pretty hard.”

Sublette opens at Southwestern Heights Friday night on 102.7, The Legend. Sublette will be featured during the Sportsguys Monday morning on Talkradio 1270 and kscb.net.

2009 Schedule

Sep. 4 @ Southwestern Heights (102.7)

Sep. 11 vs Holcomb

Sep. 18 @ Cimarron

Sep. 25 vs Lakin

Oct. 2 vs Syracuse

Oct. 9 @ Leoti

Oct. 16 vs Elkhart (102.7)

Oct. 23 at Stanton County

Oct. 29 vs Satanta