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Lonny Radford and David May thought everything would be different by the time they became seniors on the Steamboat Springs High School football team.

Instead, each time they huddle on the practice field, it feels very familiar -- a lot like it did when they were sophomores on the junior varsity team.

May's the quarterback and Radford is the fast one. The faces under the helmets are familiar, and it is their team.

The only difference is, as seniors, they aren't allowed to hit the underclassmen as hard as they got hit two years ago. Lack of depth and numbers have forced younger players to move up to practice with Steamboat's varsity team.

Last year, a large number of sophomores saw playing time, which translates into valuable varsity experience. But continued lower numbers mean, once again, that the Sailors will have to avoid injuries this season to be successful, particularly on offense.

What the Sailors lack in quantity of players, they make up for in quality, coach Mark Drake said.

Drake is entering his 30th year as the head of Steamboat's football program and said that through the years, star athletes help teams do well, but team unity makes seasons memorable.

Radford said the 2003 Steamboat football team will be fast.

"Team chemistry is a huge part of a high school team," Radford said. "You can have a bunch of average guys and win."

That doesn't mean, however, that the Sailors view themselves as average.

They don't have tremendous size this season. May, the starting quarterback, is listed at 6-foot-1, 188 pounds, and he is the third largest player on the team. Many players on this year's varsity squad have experience but lack experience in game situations, particularly against Western Slope opponents such as Rifle, Palisade and Moffat County.

Drake said all three league foes will be improved, and he expects Palisade, with nearly every player back from last year's playoff team, to be the early favorite to win the league title in 2003.

The offensive line is a focus for Drake this season. He said line coach Bob Harris was working to put together a group of young men willing to listen, work hard and improve.

"Coach Harris does a good job with that every year," Drake said.

The change in personnel has prompted Drake to change the offense. He hopes to take advantage of the team speed at receiver and in the backfield. The playbook hasn't necessarily thickened, but it has been altered after he added a jet series package in the offseason.

Two-a-days are for conditioning in most sports, and football is no exception. The daily practices are essential in learning the system and any changes made to it. Drake instructs the players never to lose sight of what August practices mean in late September or October.

"That's what we are constantly talking about every day," Drake said. "That they come out on the field looking to improve in one aspect of their game no matter how little it is. We always stay focused on the moment, so you don't just go through the motions and fall behind. No one really enjoys two-a-days. They are demanding and tiring, but you have to put in the time necessary."

If anything, the four hours a day the Steamboat football players spend together during the preseason help to establish a team identity of sorts, and it gives the seniors a chance to assume the leadership roles.

"Last year it wasn't like it was our team," May said. "I think everybody is starting to get excited."

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208

or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com