2006 Season: 5-4

Head Coach: Chad Zeien

Head Coaching Experience: 5th year at W-P (28-14, four playoff appearances); 13th overall (60-56, five playoff appearances).

Basic Offensive Set: Double-Wing

Basic Defensive Set: 4-4

Returning Players: Kane Dietzel, sr. (OL/DL); Spencer Dietzel, sr. (OL); Brandon Kubik, sr. (LB); Josh Blakely, sr. (OL); Jacob Burleson, sr. (OL); Josh Campbell, sr. (OL); Devin Grezeszak, sr. (OL/LB); Dustin Laming, sr. (OL/DL); Aaron Clare, sr. (OL/LB); Hugh Jenkins, sr. (FB/LB); Greg Smith, sr. (FB/LB); Mark Jakubik, sr. (QB/DL); Austin Swanson, jr. (QB,DB); Billy Raushi, jr. (WR/DB).

Outlook: Whittemore-Prescott's run of eight straight playoff appearances ended last season, but the Cardinals took it down to the wire before falling by six points to playoff-bound Tawas in the season finale. W-P improved dramatically after a disastrous start that featured a season-ending injury to quarterback Austin Swanson and ended with another injury in the second half of the Tawas game to speedy receiver / running back Billy Raushi.

The Cards return 14 players from 2006, including eight offensive linemen that W-P coach Chad Zeien will be counting on to give Swanson and Raushi, as well as returning fullback Hugh Jenkins, room to operate.

“We didn't have any amazing (offensive) stats last year,” Zeien says. “(This year) we should have depth and experience on the line. (We need to) develop experience at the skill positions.”

Raushi and Swanson will give the Cards and athletic defensive backfield. Jenkins, Brandon Kubik, Aaron Clare and Greg Smith all return at linebacker to provide depth there.

W-P will once again play an independent schedule, but for the first time in five seasons won't have to fill the schedule out with an out-of-state or even out-of-the-country team.

“Because we're an independent,” Zeien says, “our goal is to make the playoffs.”

Getting the six wins necessary for the playoff will take some doing. The Cards will renew their rivalry with Hale, which they haven't played in football since 1995, as well as taking on Montrose (W-P's 1998 state finals opponent) and defending state champion New Lothrop.