Last year the Bothell High School football team had nothing short of a magical season. The team ran the table, finishing undefeated and winning the school’s first state title. The players even traveled to Florida to play in a nationally televised game when the season was over.

However, with that accomplishment comes a lot of pressure for this year’s team.

“I keep telling them we are not the state champs, that was last year’s team. But we will have that target on our back,” said Bothell High School football head coach Tom Bainter. “We have a group of kids who have been in their shadow and it is their time now but we are back at the bottom and we have to work our way back up.”

The Cougars only have three returning starters but many of the kids received significant playing time last season.

Two key players who will return for their senior year are running backs Caleb Meyer and Damani St. John-Watkins. The now seniors were thrust into the bright lights of Pop Keeney and beyond when starting 4A All-KingCo running back Sam McPherson tore his ACL towards the end of the season.

“It really gave me confidence for this season,” Meyer said. “The entire experience was humbling and you really have to work to win state.”

Bainter is hoping that the experience and leadership that his running backs bring to the field can give his sophomore starting quarterback, Jacob Sirmon, a chance to get comfortable.

“We have some big shoes to fill but I am confident with my guys,” said Sirmon, taking over for Ross Bowers, who is now playing for the University of California.

Sirmon was able to get some valuable playing time last year when some of the games were all but over: “I learned a lot from Ross and it is always nice to get Friday night reps.”

Bainter has confidence in his 6-foot-3 sophomore.

“I am looking for him to play within the realm of our offense and then his natural ability will take over,” Bainter said.

Another player that Bainter is looking to for leadership on and off the field is junior lineman Jesse Sims. The Cougars lost a lot of experience to graduation last season and Sims is the only returning starter.

Bainter said that his offensive and defensive lines have been “doing a good job but are young.”

“Athletically we are fine. We have a good mix of strength and speed. But we are inexperienced,” Bainter continued. “This wasn’t the hardest working off season we have had and we had the game in Florida, which made it a little bit short. But that is how we get there, just work hard every day in practice.”

The Cougars will open the season tonight against Eastlake, a team they also defeated in the playoffs last season, 45-14.

“They are a great team and well coached,” Bainter said. “That game will be a great barometer for us. But by week three we will know what we have here.”

Bothell will only have three games away from Pop Keeney this season, playing at Issaquah on Sept. 11, at Mount Si on Sept. 25 and at Redmond on Oct. 9. The Cougars will play rival Inglemoor in the Spaghetti Bowl to finish the regular season on Oct. 30.