Mount Si Wildcats head coach football coach Charlie Kinnune was in constant motion on the first day of football practice on Aug. 15 in Snoqualmie.
Kinnune, who has coached the Wildcats football program since 1992, couldn’t wait for the season to officially kick off.
“I love practice,” Kinnune said with a smile while meandering across the artificial turf.
The Wildcats football program is looking to build on respectable 2017 season that saw them attain an overall record of 7-3. The Wildcats lost 44-40 to Monroe in the first round of the playoffs.
“We’re typically a pretty optimistic and hopeful group around here. When you have a couple of the best players in your league (4A KingCo) and in your state on your team, it certainly gives you a little more hope than normal. We’re excited about that,” Kinnune said.
Wildcats’ senior quarterback Cale Millen, who has already committed to the University of Oregon collegiate football team, will lead the team as the signal caller. Mount Si senior wide receiver Jonny Barrett is one of the most explosive receivers in the KingCo Division. The biggest question mark for the Wildcats will be in the trenches of the offensive and defensive lines. Kinnune said the majority of the starters on the line graduated this past June.
“We’re cautiously optimistic because we have to bring a long some young linemen. We’ve had some thinning of our line through attrition and graduation. We’re going to need some guys to grow up quick and be ready to play on Friday nights,” Kinnune explained.
The Wildcats return starting defensive lineman Slater Macko and RJ Bell to the defensive frontline. Bell, who was a starter on defense last season, is slated to start on the offensive line this fall as well.
“Gale Kamp has had a great offseason and he is going to be a two-year starter at left tackle. He is strong and very athlete. Wee just have to stay healthy. We feel good about it,” Kinnune said of the offensive and defensive lines.
Kinnune is optimistic his squad will be in contention for the 4A KingCo league crown toward the end of the regular season.
“I think we are ready to take that next step. We would love for a situation where we are playing for a crown at the end of the season in week nine (4A KingCo title game). I think these kids feel like they’ve put in the work for it. Now we just need to stay healthy and execute. We play against the best coaches and the best talent in the state. It is a battle every week,” Kinnune said.
MOUNT SI
Schedule
Aug. 31 WENATCHEE, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7 at Kentwood (French Field, Kent), 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Skyview, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 WOODINVILLE, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 EASTLAKE, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Issaquah, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 at Skyline, 7 p.m.
Mount Si running back Paine Smith, right, hauls in a swing pass from Cale Millen before preparing to make a move past a defender at an afternoon practice session on Aug. 15 in Snoqualmie. Shaun Scott/staff photo
