The Juanita High School football team enjoyed its best season in a decade last year under first year head coach Shaun Tarantola. The team’s 6-4 record brought the program to respectability but in 3A KingCo six wins doesn’t earn a team a playoff game.

“We feel really good about this team,” said Tarantola. “Our only concern is our depth over the course of the season.”

Powerhouse Bellevue Wolverines and Liberty Patriots could be the only teams between Juanita and a post season berth.

“With teams like Bellevue we know that we have to play our best and make no mistakes,” said Tarantola. “You have to get prepared early and that process is long.”

The Rebels will get a little longer than most to prepare for the Wolverines as they travel to Bellevue on Oct. 16. The team’s game against Liberty will be on Oct. 2 in Renton.

One of the biggest reasons for the Rebel’s success last season was running back Jeremiah Laufasa, who finished the 2008 season with 950 yards, third in KingCo as just a sophomore.

“The off season is really important,” said Laufasa, who is just one of five returning offensive starters. “You’re only as good as you prepare.”

The coaching staff and players were excited at the dedication they saw out of the entire team during the off season. But Laufasa’s potential is off the charts.

“He really works hard,” said Tarantola, about his starting running back. “He is getting us excited cause he is seeing the running lanes better. We expect big things from him.”

Last year the team was led by a senior quarterback. This year the Rebels will rely on junior Derek Kaufman and senior Kris Otterholt in that order.

“Kris is one of our top receivers and such a weapon,” said Tarantola. “Both guys don’t make too many mistakes.”

The luxury of having a wide receiver who can pass the ball could mean some exciting plays for Rebel fans.

“There will definitely be some surprises this year,” said Tarantola.

One of the only big questions to answer for the Rebels is how the offensive line will come together with just one returning starter.

“We have a very young but very talented group,” said Tarantola. “But it will depend on how fast they pick up on the speed of varsity football.”

The only returning starter is Sam Shirley. The majority of the other players on the offensive line will be converts from other positions.

Junior Cody Treddenbarger will play center after being named to the first team all KingCo at defensive tackle and senior Stefan Khien will play on the offensive line after being a second team linebacker last season among others.

Tarantola said that most of his skill position players are returning starters, a luxury not many teams have. Two of those players on defense that the coach expects big things from is senior defensive back Cole Graves and senior safety Alex Minerich. The defense will have a lot of experience with nine returning starters.

The first game of the season may tell the coaches if they will see improvement. The Rebels will travel to Inglemoor Friday. The Rams beat Juanita last year 24-14 thanks to three Rebel turnovers.

“We have to pick up the intensity and limit our mistakes,” said Tarantola.