The Coupeville High School football schedule will have a different look this fall — along with an increased degree of difficulty.
Coupeville’s Olympic League 1A division and the Nisqually League decided to combine into one conference for football only this season.
Each league has only four teams that play football, so by linking together into one eight-team group, the conferences eliminate some scheduling headaches.
No longer will a team have to play each conference school twice in a season or schedule six non-league games.
In the past, the teams in the two leagues often met in non-conference and crossover games to fill out their schedules. Since the Olympic and Nisqually leagues are the only 1A conferences in District 3, they were also paired up in the early rounds of the playoffs.
This led to some awkward scheduling, including teams playing the same school on back-to-back weeks (last regular season crossover game, first playoff game) the past two years.
Joining forces eliminates the scheduling problems, but it will ratchet up the competitive level for Coupeville, coming off a one-win season.
The Nisqually League includes Cascade Christian, Bellevue Christian, Charles Wright Academy and Vashon Island.
Cascade Christian is a 1A powerhouse, winners of the past eight Nisqually League titles. Since 2002, the Cougars won two state titles (2010, 2014), finished second in the state three times and third four times.
Vashon Island returns all-state running back Bryce Hoisington, who set a state single-game record of 573 rushing yards and nine touchdowns against Coupeville in a non-league game last year.
Coupeville, under new coach Jon Atkins, opens at home with South Whidbey at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3.
Others sports
The other Coupeville fall teams begin turnouts Monday in hopes of improving on last season’s performances.
Leading the way is the tennis squad which is out to defend its Olympic League title after going 4-0 in conference and 5-3 overall last fall.
The Wolves were second in soccer (4-2, 6-7-3) and advanced to the playoffs in 2015.
Coupeville placed third in the Olympic League in volleyball (3-3, 5-10) a year ago before dropping a playoff match.
