Maybe it's a California/nice weather thing, but this is the first I ever recall the high school football season starting AFTER college football and the NFL. Week 0 games (countdown: 29 days) begin Sept. 5; the NFL kicks off the previous day, with Washington facing the New York Giants, and college football starts even a week before that, with a couple of games on Thursday, Aug. 28 — that's three weeks from today.

But we've got a ways to wait for the prep games. To keep your football appetite whetted, here's the next installment of team previews.

WASCO TIGERS

Coach: Russ Prado (second season)

2007 record: 5-6 (2-3 SSL, 2-3 home)
Average points: 21.9
Average points allowed: 32.2
Average rush yards: 230.6
Average rush yards allowed: 319.7
Average pass yards: 92.1
Average pass yards allowed: 112.6
Best win: Wasco 42, Arvin 34
Worst loss: Dos Palos 41, Wasco 7

Key players: Justin Richardson, sr, OL/DL; Johnathan Wemberly, sr, RB/DB; Frankie Hinojosa, sr, QB; Chad Whitaker, sr, OL/DL; Nick Sanchez, jr, OL/DL

Key losses: D’abrae Dugan, RB; Ricky Rodriguez, RB; Ben Fulwyler, WR; Ross Wymer, QB; Keith Fenderson, LB; Edgar Rodriguez, DB

Offense: The first think you’ll notice when you look at Wasco’s offense is that the lineman don’t look like lineman. Prado said his o-line is anchored by a big center, but that guards weigh about 155 and tackles about 170. That’s going to hurt you bigtime in most offenses, so the Tigers use a double wing scheme that’s based on speed and angles. And don’t roll your eyes. Wasco racked up more than 3,500 yards of offense last year, including 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing from Dugan. Who fills his big shoes this time around? My money is on Wemberly or Hinojosa.

Defense: This is where Wasco is counting on improvement. As you can see, the Tigers gave up some 430 yards a game last year, a number that has to come down if they have a chance in the loaded SSL. And so, as Prado puts it, “we made a bunch of changes.” Gone is Wasco’s 4-3 scheme from a year ago; in its place is a 30 stack (3-5-3) defense that allows Wasco’s linebacking corps — one position where it has some depth — to flourish in whatever role is needed from game to game. There’s also a new defensive coaching staff in town. Of course, the downside here is that with just three down linemen, it could be hard to penetrate against a smashmouth attack, like Tehachapi’s or Taft’s.

Outlook: There’s no doubt an enthusiastic Prado is doing everything he can to continue the improvement that saw Wasco go from 3-7 in 2006 to 5-6 in Prado’s first year — and going from winless to 2-3 in league play. Toying with the defense is a great step. Of course, there’s also the matter of replacing some offensive talent, and things can’t regress on that side of the ball. Either way,the SSL is just as good, if not better, this year than it was last, and a late-season road trip to Taft, Arvin and Tehachapi is ominous. The Tigers will be hard-pressed to to improve on their .500 regular season, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they rise up and give us an upset or two, especially at home (look out, Bakersfield Christian).

Quotable: "We did a bunch of things this summer (passing league, big-man camp), ... and the first string looked really good. But we don't have too much depth. Staying healthy is a key component for us this year."
— Wasco coach Russ Prado

Schedule: Sept. 5 BYE
Sept. 12 at McFarland
Sept. 19 Porterville
Sept. 26 Lindsay
Oct. 3 at Corcoran
Oct. 10 Fresno-McLane
Oct. 17 Bakersfield Christian
Oct. 24 at Taft
Oct. 31 at Arvin
Nov. 7 at Tehachapi
Nov. 14 Shafter

Prediction: 5-5, 1-4 SSL

HS FOOTBALL PREVIEW INDEX

July 29: Lighthouse Christian, Immanuel Christian, Maricopa
July 30: Boron, Burroughs
July 31: Desert, Rosamond
Aug. 1: Frazier Mountain, Kern Valley

Aug. 2: Mojave, McFarland

Aug. 3: César Chávez

Aug. 4: Delano

Aug. 5: New schools: Independence, Mira Monte, RFK

Aug. 6: Shafter

TOMORROW: A 2006 champ looking to return to form — Arvin