Cardinals' course correction continues

MEDICAL LAKE — The job Nick Puzycki accepted as head football coach in 2022 might be like playing Capt. Ed Smith, who tried to steer the Titanic away from its icy clash with disaster and history?

Over the past five seasons victories have been few and far between for the program. They're 3-36 since 2018 and 13-89 in the last decade. The Cardinals' last victory was over Priest River, Sept. 3, 2021 and winning season (6-3) came under Wes Hobbs in 2012.

But as the 2022 season closed, there appeared to be slight course corrections.

Puzycki was hired on the merits of his time at Sunnyside, Wash., when as the Grizzlies O-line coach, he was part architect of revised success under John Lobbestael after some down years in the Yakima Valley.

Following an 0-6 start where losses were one-sided and offense spotty at best, Medical Lake began to find the end zone. The best illustrations of that were a 43-30 loss to Quincy in a non-league game, Oct. 21 and then in a rematch with the Jackrabbits for a crossover game when the Cardinals fell 16-12 on Nov. 4.

"That started our transformation of what we're going to run and what we're going to do," Puzycki said. "We expanded on that this offseason to best fit our kids."

Turnout is at 42, "A good number," Puzycki said, adding "But due to natural disasters (the Gray Fire), we're losing some for our first game (Saturday at Rogers)."

"Those guys are hungry and ready to go when their numbers are called in week-two," Puzycki said.

The Cardinals feature a small but dedicated senior class.

"Our junior classes is a large group and they're all ready to play football," Puzycki said.

Puzycki explained that "It took a little bit of work to find everyone's strengths and what they’re good at and we're building everything around that."

Josh Henry is one of those seniors on which Puzycki will rely — naturally on both sides of the ball — at wide receiver and in the defensive backfield.

"We've got a quarterback battle going on right now between Taylor Oliver (6-1, 210-pound senior) and Aidan Suddeth (6-3, 165 junior)," Puzycki said.

Two-way play is a fact of life at Medical Lake where Andrew Roberts (5-10, 195, senior), Cylas Puzycki (5-9, 160, junior) and Ty Moore (5-10, 210, senior) are expected to play significant roles.

In advancing that hoped-for turnaround, the Cards coach is promising some new wrinkles for 2023.

"You're gonna’ see some things you probably haven't seen in Medical Lake football for a long time," Puzycki said.

At the same time, Puzycki was choosing not to reveal just what that might be.

"I think I gotta' keep that one (secret)" Puzycki said. "Most of the teams up in this area don't know."

For those paying attention last season to those late season games, Puzycki suggested there might have been a hint.

Following the season opener Saturday at 1:30 at Harmon Field on the Rogers campus in Spokane, the Cardinals remain on the road for a game Sept. 8 at Priest River before opening at home Sept. 15 vs. Newport at 6 p.m. — one of just three home games at Holliday Field.