Meadowdale Football Turns The Corner -- Chiefs Pursuing Rare Opportunity To Go To Playoffs

Tim Lesewski knows the difference.

Lesewski, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior at Meadowdale High School was the starting quarterback on a winless team two seasons ago. He led a team last year that improved by two games, finishing 2-7.

So the left-handed passer can appreciate Meadowdale's current position: 3-1 in league and 4-2-1 overall with two Western Conference AA football games remaining.

``Ahh,'' Lesewski said, his eyes rolling back in enjoyment. ``There's nothing like winning.''

Meadowdale hasn't been to the playoffs since 1979, when the school was Class AAA. In fact, the Chiefs had enjoyed only two winning seasons in the past 10 years.

``We went through a time sort of like Lynnwood did,'' said Meadowdale Coach Gary Minugh. ``Lynnwood went through a time when it just didn't have very many skill people. I remember one year when they had a guard at running back and a guard playing quarterback.

``Now they've come back and Meadowdale has come back. They've gotten more skill people and so have we.''

Lynnwood, a preseason favorite to win the league title, stands atop the WesCo AA with a 4-0 conference record, 6-1 overall. Meadowdale, however, is a surprise, tied for second with Monroe at 3-1. The Chiefs will try to break the tie when they face Monroe Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium.

``We've played them the last couple of times in a mud bowl,'' Lesewski said. ``It's different playing them up there. It'll be nice to play them at our place.''

Minugh called it ``probably the most important game Meadowdale has played in a lot of years. If we win it, we're in the playoffs.''

Meadowdale has lost only to Lake Stevens in league. A win over the Bearcats would give the Chiefs a tie-breaking edge over Edmonds-Woodway, which plays Lynnwood Friday, and Monroe. Edmonds-Woodway and Monroe are the only teams remaining to challenge Meadowdale for a playoff berth.

The WesCo's top two finishers advance to the state playoffs.

The Chiefs end the regular season with league-leader Lynnwood.

Lesewski said having a big stake in the outcome of the league season has meant a difference in the team's attitude.

``The attitude has been real good and so has the work ethic,'' said Lesewski, a senior. ``We're doing a lot of work and we're really enjoying the whole situation. It's nice to have a reason to play hard this late in the season.''

Minugh agreed. When a team loses week after week, he said, the roster starts shrinking.

``When you're losing, you see kids getting injured that would never get hurt if you're winning,'' he explained. ``It's like a free ticket out of there.

``Winning is like a magic salve. You rub it on and suddenly everyone feels great.''

Minugh said victories generate chemistry.

``You can tell a group of kids the same thing for two years,'' he said. ``If you're winning, they'll believe every word you say. But if you're losing, they'll start looking around and wondering where this guy is coming from.''

The Chiefs have some new blood on the coaching staff, and Minugh credits that with a large portion of the team's improvement.

One of the most significant additions has been defensive backfield coach Mike Ware, who started at defensive back on Princeton's Ivy League championship team last year.

Last year, the Chiefs intercepted opposing quarterbacks eight times. This year, the team matched that number in its first three games.

``Mike has done a great job improving our defensive backs' technique,'' Minugh said. ``He's a very knowledgeable coach and he'd be equally at home on a college coaching staff. He's been a great addition.''

Minugh said the play of his defensive backfield will be key against Monroe, a team that likes to spread the field with as many as five and six receivers, relying on quarterback Nate LaCoss' ability to find open men.

``If we can pick off a pass and score with it, that will be a big key for us,'' Minugh said.

``Any coach will tell you that the best pass defense is a good pass rush. Edmonds-Woodway had some success against Monroe by getting to the quarterback with their big tackles. We're going to need to do the same thing.''

Lesewski said the lessons he learned as an underclassman have served him well this season. Now, he said, he has history on which to rely for a big game.

``I haven't been surprised by anything I've seen this year - I've seen it all before: the close plays, the defenses, the wins and the losses,'' he said. ``I can honestly say that I haven't seen anything that has surprised me.

``The defenses really don't change that much from year to year. After a while, you get to know who you can throw well against.''

He said he has played well against Monroe in the past, averaging more than 180 passing yards in two games.

Another improvement has been added depth at the skill positions surrounding Lesewski.

Two years ago, the Chiefs entered the season with only one quality running back, Andy Webster, who was injured during pregame warm-ups for the opening game. Last year, the team found a couple capable runners.

This year, Minugh said, the team has five quality running backs, led by fullback Matt Steen and running back Greg Short, plus a strong batch of receivers.

That added speed has been a major improvement.

``What speed gives you is the ability to score from anyplace on the field,'' Minugh said. ``It's tough for any team, even the pros, to take the ball and march down the field getting four yards at a time.

``When you can score quickly, it is demoralizing to a team.''

What's more, Meadowdale is dominated by underclassmen.

``Last week, we started just two seniors on defense,'' Minugh said. ``We have some good seniors, but we have a lot of very talented juniors and sophomores.''

That means, he said, Meadowdale has turned a corner, and it intends to stay on its new track.

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Meadowdale's;

ups and downs;

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-- Meadowdale High's football team, with a 3-1 WesCo record and 4-2-1 season mark, is in position to capture its first state playoff berth in 11 years. A look at the school's record since 1979:;

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Year League Year Class;

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1989 1-6 2-7 AA;

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1988 0-7 0-9 AA;

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1987 1-6 1-6 AA;

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1986 4-5 4-5 AA;

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1985 4-5 4-5 AA;

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1984 6-2 6-3 AA;

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1983 1-3 1-7 AA;

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1982 2-5 4-5 AAA;

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1981 4-3 6-3 AAA;

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1980 1-5 4-5 AAA;

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1979 5-1 8-3 # AAA;

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# Includes one victory and one loss in Class AAA state playoffs.;