Sehome High School coach Kevin Johnson has a problem that many football coaches around Whatcom County wouldn’t mind having — the Mariners have several good, young offensive and defensive linemen and not enough spots to put them at.

Sehome should consider themselves lucky. Skill players look to be in abundance around the Northwest Conference this season, while the big guys on the lines are at a premium. Don’t get me wrong, Sehome doesn’t have any real giants out there, but they have a lot of experienced players to choose from. At practice on Thursday, Aug. 21, roughly half the team seemed to be linemen or tight ends.

“It’s fair to say that’s a strength for us,” Johnson said. “I think we’ve got seven offensive and defensive linemen back who have started at least two varsity games and we have two of those who are three year starters.”

Below you’ll find a picture of the Sehome linemen taken at practice today by Bellingham Herald photographer Danny Galowski. He’s also posted several other photos from practice to an online gallery on the Herald’s home page.

The Mariners also have some talent at the skill positions. Sehome will be looking for big things from running back Justin Santos, who will be running behind that experienced offensive line, and receiver Cory Boyd.

The quarterback position is an open competition, with four players competing for the spot. Johnson said there’s a chance Sehome could use a rotation system to take advantage of each of the QBs’ different strengths. Of course, it was only the second day of practice and it’s far too early to tell.

I’m planning to get out to Squalicum on Friday and then hit Mount Baker on Monday night. I also have the Lynden Rodeo on Friday night, so if I don’t have time to blog about the Storm after practice, I’ll get something up on Monday.

If anyone has any questions for the coaches of the teams I haven’t made it out to yet, let me know and I’ll see if I can get them answered – within reason of course.

JOE SUNNEN