Wait Finally Over For Kentridge Football Tandem -- Senior Qb, Receiver Eager To Improve Chargers' Fortunes

KENT - They've talked and dreamed about it since seventh grade: their senior season of football. One filled with promise and potential.

One that seemingly is taking forever to get here.

The wait is almost over - turnouts for fall sports at high schools throughout the state begin Monday. But even tomorrow wouldn't be soon enough for Kentridge teammates Andy Linscott and Scott Fenton, expected to be one of the top quarterback-receiver tandems in the South Puget Sound League this season.

"I'm getting impatient," Linscott said yesterday. "I can't wait to get the pads on and throw the ball live. I can't wait until the jamboree, going against another color jersey, another team."

Fenton's patience is wearing thin, too.

"I'm getting more and more anxious to get out there with everybody," he said. "I've been waiting too long to be out there. It feels like this next week is going to go so slow."

Football success has been slow in coming for this year's Kentridge seniors. As ninth graders at Meeker Junior High, Linscott and Fenton watched the Chargers capture the South Puget Sound League North Division championship and reach the state playoffs for the first time since 1981, when they made it to the Kingbowl.

Both became defensive starters as sophomores, when Kentridge finished a middle-of-the-pack 3-3 in the SPSL.

They had high hopes last season, when Linscott took over at quarterback and Fenton became his primary target. But with five sophomores in the lineup, and just four seniors, the Chargers experienced growing pains early. After a 0-4 start (0-2 in division play), Kentridge made a playoff charge with three straight victories. Losses to Auburn and Kentwood left nothing to look forward to - except next season.

And here it is. Coaches around the league said Kentridge would be a team to be reckoned with in 1996. Linscott and Fenton have known it for years.

"Most of us have been playing together since seventh grade," said Fenton (6 feet 3, 185 pounds). "When I looked around the field (at the end of last season) and saw 17 of 22 guys who were going to be back, I knew we were going to be really good. . . . Everybody has worked real hard in the offseason. We all want to do well. We have a lot of expectations, but I think we'll be able to do it."

Linscott (6-0, 170) agrees.

"I've never been on a team with so much talent around me," he said. "Everyone knows we have a lot of potential. We can go as far as we want to go."

While Decatur boasts the most highly touted lineman in the state in senior Victor Rogers (6-7, 309), Kentridge features two quality guys up front in Matt Griffith (6-7, 287) and James Eastman (6-7, 282) and has another pair of big hitters in defensive end Nate Mallory (6-3, 235) and linebacker Chris Jackson (6-3, 257). Imani Dupree adds experience in the defensive backfield as a three-year starter.

Linscott and Fenton have spent many summer hours working out. When they're not in the weight room, they get together to practice pass routes or play racquetball at a local health club. They are starters on Kentridge's summer-league basketball team. Fenton, in fact, prefers basketball. Football is Linscott's first love.

On the football field, they clearly are in tune with each another. More than half of Linscott's 105 completions last season went to Fenton, who had 54 catches (second in the SPSL) for 687 yards (both school records) and five touchdowns. Linscott also set school records for completions (in 213 attempts), passing yardage (1,478) and touchdowns (15).

"We're always in synch," Fenton said. "We always know what the other is going to do. We totally trust each other."

Linscott agrees.

"I know I can go to him (Fenton) anytime I need to," he said. "It's kind of nice, when I drop back, I know he can grab anything I throw, high or low."

Back in seventh grade, both were quarterbacks. Linscott won the starting spot.

"He beat me out at safety, too," Fenton said. "I got tired of sitting on the bench, so I changed positions. It's worked out for the better."

Especially for Kentridge.