POWERS — For an eight-man football team like Powers, losing four all-conference starters to graduation is a huge deal.

“There are some big gaps to fill,” said Powers coach Nick Gonzales, shortly after working out his squad. “A lot of guys are going to have to step up.”

Certainly the loss of the likes of quarterback Jake Stevens, Mason Lieuallen, Thomas Wagner and Winston Krauss will be felt. But the team does have five starters returning, including senior center/linebacker Kiefer Allen, an all-conference selection last year. Also coming back are speedy senior quarterback Kyle Blanton and junior running back Joe Dunn, who double as defensive back and defensive end, respectively.

Sophomores and returning starters Levi Bennett and George Lewis will shore things up, as will senior and first-year player Cody Bennett. Beyond that, the Cruisers will look to the team’s seven freshmen to fill the gaps.

“We’re going to be young,” said Blanton of the team. “We’ve got quite a few quick kids, though. We’ve got some speed. And our line can push people around. That’s a good thing.”

The seven freshmen is undoubtedly a good turnout at Powers, as is the hoped-for 15 players that will form the team once everyone shows up.

“Fifteen players may not sound like much,” said Gonzales. “But I think we only have 19 boys in our whole school. We’re only missing four or five. That’s not bad.”

Allen and Bennett will be the core of the line, and with that protection the Powers club hopes to utilize its speed.

Gonzales said the Cruisers will run a balanced offense this year, mixing passing and running and using plenty of misdirection to make up for lack of size in the young squad. By the numbers, at least two freshmen will have to step up to start and see significant playing time.

Early on, Gonzales was impressed with youngsters Newton Allred and Cameron Perrault. But the real treat has been first-year player and freshman workhorse Austin Morgan.

“He’s worked the hardest of anyone in practice,” said Gonzales. “He’s really stepped up and learned a lot, and his work ethic is amazing.”

It’s not just the freshmen who have brought a blue-collar attitude to the football field, though. Small programs like Powers either get by on their grit or they get pummeled.

“As a team, we’ve just got a lot of guts, and everyone has a great work ethic,” said Allen. “Actually, it’s a lot better than last year. Guys are really showing up.”

Dunn agreed.

“We’re on task a lot more this year,” he said, adding he thought the team was “about an 8” out of 10.

Many of the players who’ll take the field for the team’s season opener against Days Creek — the very same team that denied the Cruisers a spot in the playoffs last year during a 6-3 season — will be beginning their seventh year playing together, starting in grade and middle school.

Blanton and Allen, for example, have been playing football together since the fifth grade. Dunn said he’d been taking the field with most of the guys on the team since the eighth grade.

Gonzales has been coaching them for a while, too.

“I know the guys and they know me. That’ll help,” said Gonzales. “And I have a quarterback who knows the system.”

Gonzales hoped to add to the team unity with a 52-hour camp and other team-building efforts.

And there’s one thing that really brings the team together: A desire to avenge the Cruisers’ loss to Days Creek in the final game of the regular season last year.

Though the Cruisers finished third in the standings, the league got just two playoff berths last season. Three teams will advance to the Class 1Aplayoffs this year.

The Cruisers get their chance to get revenge on Days Creek in this year’s season opener Friday.

“We have something to prove,” said Gonzales.

“They’re going to underestimate us,” added Blanton. “I think we should be able to get some revenge. We’ll surprise them.”