Area teams in 5A Southern Conference hoping for better results

The 5A Southern Conference has three Colorado Springs teams in it, and for Rampart, Palmer and Doherty, the only place to go in 2009 is up.

The teams had a combined 6-24 record in 2008 and failed to make the 32-team state playoffs.

The new season brings hope and a new start for one program.

Rampart has a new coach, Paul Passno, who hopes to turn the negatives of the past few years into a positive again.

“We have a great staff and a young, but talented team here,” said Passno, the former coach at 2A Colorado Springs Christian School. “We are going to have to coach them well and let winning take care of itself.”

If they are to return to winning form this fall, it’s going to have to be with seniors such as quarterback David Melander and wide receiver Zach Looney helping an inexperienced team.

Palmer is a wild card, as the Terrors have an inexperienced, but potentially explosive spread offense.

“These sophomore and junior classes are as talented as we’ve had in a long time,” coach Rod Baker said.

Senior quarterback Andre Brown, a three-year starter, is a dual threat for the Terrors.

Doherty will return many players at skill positions, and coach Matt Wibbels will look to team leaders Jaden Terry and Matt Oesterle to anchor the offense and defense for the Spartans.

Doherty will need to develop depth as its younger players fill roles.

Doherty
Coach: Matt Wibbels, seventh year
2008 record: 3-7
Key losses: None listed
Key returners: LB/FB Jaden Terry, Sr. (four-year starter); OL/DL Matt Oesterle, Sr. (three-year starter, all-conference OL in 2008); DB/WR Mark Jones, Sr.; LB/DB L.J. Vargas, Sr.; QB Zach Donohoe, Sr.; WR/DB Layton Flynn, Sr.
Key newcomers: DL Uriah Pesse, Sr. (Missouri transfer)

Palmer
Coach: Rod Baker, 17th year
2008 record: 1-9
Key losses: None listed
Key returners: QB Andre Brown, Sr. (2,105 yards passing, 785 yards rushing and 28 total TDs in 2008); Safety Chris Urbaniak, Jr. (leading tackler); RB Robert McDougal, Sr. (575 yards rushing and six TDs); RB/WR Dominic Rufran, Jr.; OL Larry Bautista, Sr.; WR Ronnie Buggs, Sr.
Key newcomers: None listed

Rampart
Coach: Paul Passno, first year
2008 record: 2-8
Key losses: None listed
Key returners: WR/DB Zach Looney, Sr.; QB/DB David Melander, Sr.; TE/LB Andre Nichols, Sr.; RB/LB Zack Vanwagenen, Sr.; OL/DL Chris Smith, Sr.; WR/DB David Hinsle, Sr.
Key newcomers: WR/DB Marshall Zimmerman, Sr.; LB/FB Cameron Brown, Jr.; RB/LB Nick Noble, Jr.; TE/DB Dylan Russell, Jr.