Still, with 12 experienced seniors on the team, Wyatt likes the Mariners' chances to make some noise in the conference after going 3-5 overall last year.

"It's looking good for us. This is one of the nicest starts to the season we've had in years and the kids are excited for it. This is the first year we've had a complete team of Pop Warner kids and that's a big time bonus. They all know football," said Wyatt.

They're all a little bit tougher, too, after making it through "Mariner Week," the grueling annual pre-season conditioning marathon formerly known as "Hell Week."

"Mariner Week was hard, especially for the first two days. They stepped it up a little bit this year. There was more physical conditioning and lots of running. We had a few guys puke," said senior Cole Jacobsen, who is competing with Cody Shealy and Peter Hendrickson for the starting quarterback job.

Emphasizing calisthenics and core muscle conditioning, the Homer coaching staff subjected the kids to almost endless push-ups, sit-ups and mile runs. About 40 players participated in Mariner Week this year, including a couple of new transfer students from Wasilla and Palmer.

The team capped the week off July 31 by spending the day picking up trash throughout town and returning to the school for a celebratory barbecue with family and friends.

Although no decisions have yet been made on who will start where, coaches will be breaking the team down into units -- offensive line, linebackers, receivers, etc. -- for individual work in preparation for Nikiski, said Wyatt.

"We're looking for well-rounded athletes this year and who has the athleticism to play certain positions. I don't think we'll have to wait long to find out what these kids are going to able to do," said Wyatt.

On offense, the Ms are likely to use as many as three different quarterbacks, said Wyatt, to give their opponents different looks and use the talents of Jacobsen, Hendrickson and Shealy.

The defense, meanwhile, will operate out of a base 4-4 alignment -- with four defensive backs and four linebackers -- and will switch to a 3-4, depending on the game situation, to use the speed of their linebacking corps.

Overall, the keys to success for the Mariners this year will be maximizing the leadership skills of their core of senior players and playing with the same pride and intensity they played with last year, said Wyatt.

"We've all grown up together," said Jacobsen. "We've been through a lot together and are really more of a family than a team. When you're out on that field, you know these guys are going to be there for you and they're not going to give up."

Wyatt said this year's group of players is among the most focused and committed he has ever seen.

"They have some serious pride and heart. They may be small in stature but they're dedicated to what they want to do," he said.

The Homer Mariner varsity football team opens its 2009 season against the Nikiski Bulldogs Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Mariner Field.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaron.selbig.@homernews.com.