The beginning of a sports season is an exciting time. Everyone is a contender, and anything can happen.

For me, things start to feel a little bit different when football season is looming.

I’m not sure if it’s because I have two grade-school boys who play youth football and we start practice in mid-August, or because I can look out my front window in the afternoon and see the Bullpups practicing crossbuck across the street, but there is a definitive change in the feeling in the air.

It’s a good feeling. For East County’s high school football fans, this is the best time of year.

It’s tough to know exactly what to except from Elma or Montesano this fall, but the two teams are definitely on the opposite end of the expectation spectrum.

The Bulldogs are coming off a successful campaign and are returning some key pieces, while the Eagles are looking to improve on a tough 2016 season under second-year head coach Ron Clark.

Montesano

The Bulldogs rolled through what many considered to be a weak regular season schedule undefeated in 2016 and cruised to a 48-10 victory in their post-season opener against White Salmon. Montesano made the long trip to Connell and ended its season with its only loss, a 48-28 defeat in a fog-shrouded stadium at Connell High School.

Montesano, which finished the season with a 10-1 record, dispatched its first 10 opponents by an average score of 50-12 before dropping its last decision to the third-ranked Connell Eagles. The Eagles made it all the way to the state championship game before losing to Royal, 25-10, for a second-place finish.

Bulldogs running back Carson Klinger had an incredibly productive 2016 campaign as a junior and is the clear favorite to win the Evergreen 1A League Most Valuable Player award. Klinger, who was named the league’s offensive MVP last season, looked fast and explosive while scoring three touchdowns – two on the ground and one through the air – at the Grays Harbor Football Jamboree at Rottle Field last weekend and will be the centerpiece of a run-first Montesano offense this season.

A couple of other key seniors will help fill out the Bulldogs’ offensive backfield. Second-year starting quarterback Trevor Ridgway will be under center and Dakoyta Reninger, a first-team all-league selection at running back last season, will accompany Klinger as a primary ball-carrier and pass-catcher.

Both Ridgway and Reninger played a large role in Montesano’s success last season.

With quite a bit of experience returning at the skill positions, my biggest question for the Bulldogs this season is in the trenches.

How will Montesano replace the dominant play of 2016’s defensive league MVP Taylor Rupe, who earned all-league honors on offense as well? How will the Bulldogs fill an offensive line that included four seniors – Rupe, Ben Lopez, Cole Bradbury and Hayden Klinger?

Jared Wallace, who emerged as a solid contributor in 2016 and earned all-league honors on both sides of the ball, will likely have to step up and be the anchor of the offensive line this season.

Elma

Last season, Elma struggled to keep its opponents out of the end zone and finished with a 2-7 mark.

Despite the low win total, the Eagles showed the ability to put points on the scoreboard. In its wins, Elma scored 50 points on Rochester and 26 points on Tenino. They also tallied 49 points in a week-2 loss to White Salmon and 38 points in a week-8 overtime defeat against Forks.

For me, this year’s Eagles squad provides a plethora of questions.

Honestly, there are a lot of names on the roster that I do not recognize.

Last year’s starting quarterback (Avery Brown), work-horse running back (Ira Hartford) and most explosive receiver (Brandon Butcher) all are gone.

Hartford was Elma’s lone first-team all-league selection last season.

Sophomore Cody Vollen started under center for Elma and seemed comfortable at the jamboree, even completing a 19-yard pass to senior Tanner Krippelcz against Aberdeen which set up a 1-yard scoring run by junior running back Taitum Brumfield.

Brumfield is a player I am familiar with. As a junior in 2016, he saw some carries and showed promise as a runner. I expect him to be a big part of the Eagles offense this season.

I also recall seeing some plays made by Krippelcz and junior Niall Baxter, who is listed as a running back and linebacker.

Brumfield received an all-league honorable mention on both offense and defense last year and Baxter was named an honorable mention as a linebacker.

I should avoid making predictions, but I won’t.

I believe that Montesano is still the class of the league and will win the Evergreen 1A title this season. I also predict that Carson Klinger will win the league MVP award. I think the Bulldogs’ offense will prove to be consistent and explosive, powering them to a deep postseason run.

None of those predictions are particularly bold.

I think the Eagles are still in rebuilding mode. Clark will make some progress this season, but ultimately Elma will struggle to win and will end up no better than middle of the pack in the league standings.

I hope the Eagles prove me wrong.

So, here we go.

This weekend footballs will be snapped, pads will be popped and touchdowns will be scored.

Here’s to a fun, safe and entertaining 2017 prep football season.

Justin Damasiewicz is a former Vidette reporter. Extra Point is a weekly column following East County football.