SK cupboard won't be bare in '08

When the season ends, the temptation always is to look ahead to the future.

South Kitsap quarterback Chad Tester won’t be a part of it as he graduates in the spring, but he likes the offensive talent the team returns.

“There’s a lot of growth and definitely a lot of talent with Sean Allison, Ryan Williams and some other guys like (offensive lineman) Brian Kuznek that are really talented and will help contribute next year,” Tester said.

With star running back Stephen Tucker injured, the Wolves got an early preview of next season with Allison taking most of the carries and rushing for 70 yards on 13 carries in the season-ending 41-20 loss Friday against Graham-Kapowsin in the state playoffs.

That doesn’t mean he’s passed Williams on the depth chart, though. South coach D.J. Sigurdson said Allison received more carries because the Wolves needed Williams in the secondary and the team passed the ball more when he was at running back. Williams, who might be the best athlete on the team, carried twice for two yards.

The 5-foot-11 1/2, 202-pound Williams has seen extensive action at running back a few times this season. He rushed for 115 yards on nine carries in a 32-7 win Sept. 21 at Lincoln. He also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season.

Both running backs also received a lot of playing time when Tucker was injured during the first half of the 28-20 win Nov. 3 against Kamiak. Williams had 64 rushing yards in that game, while Allison finished with 132.

The players prepared for the role when Tucker didn’t practice the entire week leading up to the game because of the injury.

“We tried in pre-game and he took a couple of bumps,” Sigurdson said. “I felt bad for him. I know he didn’t want him to end it that way.”

Despite the finish, Tester hopes the team will continue to build off of the Wolves’ first state-playoff appearance in five years next season.

“I really hope that out of all this, we just kind of set the tone for them,” he said. “We worked hard and I just hope the work ethic stays for a long time.”

Sigurdson along with former coach Ed Fisher helped guide South to a 23 consecutive state appearances from 1980 to 2002. That mark is a state record and likely won’t be challenged soon as the closest competitor, Kennedy, didn’t qualify for state after 15 straight appearances.

While no one might match that record, Sigurdson wants to see the Wolves establish some momentum again.

“They’ve got to keep building on what these guys established,” he said. “It’s been a process and we took it another step. Next year we’ve just got to keep going.”

Despite the loss, Tester said there’s no question this season has been successful.

“Definitely,” he said. “This is what we’ve wanted to do since we’ve been here. We hit and work hard and that’s how I want to be remembered.”

FAMILIAR FACE

Former University of Washington quarterback Johnny DuRocher was in attendance to support his former coach, Eric Kurle. DuRocher graduated in 2003 from Bethel before Kurle left to coach Graham-Kapowsin.

DuRocher just completed his first season in the Seattle Mariners’ organization where he compiled a 3-3 record with a 6.20 ERA with the team’s rookie-league team in Arizona and the Class Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

OLD FRIEND

Bothell coach Tom Bainter was in attendance to tape the game, but also wanted to see Sigurdson. The two attended Evergreen High School together in the White Center neighborhood of Seattle.

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