The Sunset Conference expanded again this year, with newcomer Rogue River joining the league and adding a new element to the chase for the playoffs.

The Chieftains are excited about their new surroundings, while Cascade Christian has reloaded for what should be another successful season and Glide is building for the future.

Rogue River

New Rogue River coach Marvin Grover is excited about how his players have responded to his system and the switch to the Class 3A Sunset Conference after being beaten for years by much larger schools in the Class 4A Skyline League.

“Practice is going really good,” Grover said. “I’ve been thoroughly impressed with how well the guys have been picking up on everything and how well we’ve been executing.

“They want to win. It’s something that hasn’t happened at Rogue River in a long time. They’ve committed themselves to doing what’s necessary to put themselves in position to win.”

The Chieftains held weight training and conditioning sessions five days a week during the summer and also participated, with some success, in seven-on-seven leagues with larger schools from Medford and Ashland in the Rogue Valley.

“I  think them recognizing how good we can be, and competing against those schools, definitely helps,” Grover said.

Rogue River hopes to run a balanced offensive attack, led by several underclassmen.

Junior quarterback John Humphreys has a strong arm and good football intelligence, Grover said.

Meanwhile, sophomore running back Rogue Burman, a returning starter, is a speedster with durability.

“He’s a super fast kid,” Grover said. “He’s very shifty. He’s the type of back, that change-of-pace back that you need, and he also can carry the ball 20 times a game.”

The Chieftains also have good size in tight end/linebacker Christian Johnson, a junior who stands 6-3 and weighs 205 pounds and leads the defense. The two offensive tackles and defensive ends — junior Ty Darr (6-5, 235 pounds) and senior Jacob Thompson (6-2, 260 pounds) also are team leaders, Grover said.

The Chieftains have a renewed attitude this fall.

“They’re excited to go down a level (to Class 3A), but they’re also excited for the new change that’s happened (with the coaching staff),” Grover said. “I think the combination of those things has created a buzz.”

Cascade Christian

The Challengers went from winning the Class 2A state title in 2006 to being one of the top Class 3A teams last fall, though they fell short of state champion Gold Beach in the Sunset Conference.

Several players are gone from that team, as is assistant coach Brandon Boice, a defensive mastermind who had too many duties in his day job with the Oregon State Police to help the team this fall. But head coach Andy Maurer is optimistic Cascade Christian will have another big year.

“We’re excited,” he said. “We’re doing really good. One thing about winning year after year, the enthusiasm is not so hard to get up. You don’t have to create it.”

The team has its largest turnout — 52 players — even though 15 graduated or transferred last year.

The Challengers will continue to use the double-wing offense, which can cause fits for opponents.

“It’s efficient,” Maurer said. “Good players make it more efficient.”

While the team’s strength last year was in the line, this year it’s at the skill positions. Backs Josh Kirkland, Connor Kirkpatrick and Tyler Stickler should shine in the offense.

“We picked up more speed with those three guys than we’ve had in a long time,” Maurer said. “You can’t coach speed. We’ve never been this fast.”

Colton Cochran returns at quarterback and could be a star.

“He’s 6-3 and runs like the wind and wants to do some things,” Maurer said. “We have added the short passing game (for him).”

Maurer described the team as being in a cycle alternating between strong lines and strong skill positions.

“We’re in the transition where we have an experienced backfield and rookies on the line,” he said. “We’re working on the line and as the line improves, those things will progress. You’re not going to think we’re any tinier.”

Maurer also is confident about the defense.

“I’m excited,” he said. “The kids are fun.”

Glide

The Wildcats should show improvement this year after winning just a single league game in 2007, and are stocking up for a strong future, coach Jeff Freeman said.

“I’m excited about the amount of young kids we have out this year,” he said. “Our freshman-sophomore turnout has been great.”

Glide finished last season with 25 players in the program, but has 22 this year in just the younger two classes.

“We’re a little bit lighter on the junior/senior side, but we have some fairly talented young kids,” he said.

The offense has strength up front with returning linemen Josh Huskey and Mike Hayter, as well as receivers Brandon Belloir and Ryan Dickenson. Transfer Will Hissong and sophomore Landon Weimer have been battling for the quarterback job and both have shown promise, Freeman said.

The defense could be a strength.

“We have fairly decent size on the front line,” Freeman said. “Linebacker and defensive back wise we’re not real big, but we’re athletic.”

The leaders on the defense are Huskey at nose guard and Belloir at cornerback.

Freeman can sense a positive change in the program.

“The whole atmosphere is different,” he said. “The kids are excited about football.

“They come, they work hard, they don’t complain about what they have to do.”