2016 Faith Lutheran Football Capsule
FAITH LUTHERAN
League: Class 4A Northwest
Head coach: Vernon Fox, fourth season (28-8)
2015 record: 9-2 (7-0 Division I-A Sunset League, first)
Returning lettermen: 16
Returning starters: Seven offense, seven defense
Base offensive set: Spread
Base defensive set: 4-3
Top offensive players: QB/RB Christian Marshall (Sr.); WR Elijah Kothe (Jr.); OL Cameron Meredith (Sr.); OL Jaylen Flowers (Sr.); OL Jacob Searles (Sr.)
Top defensive players: CB Keegan Touchstone (So.); SS Taimani McKenzie (So.); LB Clay Shipley (Jr.)
Key losses: DL Christian Khoury; QB Brendan Joyce
Outlook: The Crusaders move up to Class 4A after winning the past three Division I-A (now Class 3A) Sunset League crowns.
Marshall gives the team a strong playmaker to build around. He was a second-team all-state pick at running back last season after leading the Crusaders in rushing (1,255 yards, 22 TDs) and receiving yards (27 catches, 471 yards, 3 TDs).
But with Joyce having graduated, Faith Lutheran may have to turn to Marshall at quarterback.
Whoever plays quarterback will have a strong go-to receiver in Kothe, who grabbed 37 passes for 451 yard and five TDs as a sophomore.
The defense lost several key players, including second-team all-state pick Khoury, who had 59 tackles and 7½ sacks.
Touchstone and McKenzie played key roles in the secondary as freshmen as each had four interceptions. They will need to become go-to guys on defense this season.
