Episcopal coach Mark Gowin is hoping to add a banner to the ex-factory gymnasium on Episcopal’s campus. But that’s to be expected – he’s hired to go about doing that. The new development this year is that the rest of the IAC is seeming to start to take notice, too.

“I think Episcopal I’m always scared of,” head coach of defending IAC champions, Landon’s Rob Bordley said, in response to a question of who he would pick as the favorites in the IAC this season. “Their quarterback is back. Episcopal scores points. They run that no huddle wide-open offense.”

When told of Bordley’s comments, Gowin understandably downplayed them.

“That’s a great compliment, and we appreciate Rob’s saying that,” Gowin said.

“They’re the frontrunners and the team to beat, but we look forward to the season and giving them a run.”

Not unexpectedly, Gowin himself is feeling pretty hopeful about the prospects of bringing home some hardware this year in particular.

“I think our expectations are pretty high,” Gowin said. “We feel like we have a good returning nucleus, some good young players, and we’re really looking forward to the year.”

With five returning starters on both sides of the ball, Episcopal figures to have just enough experience to mature into an IAC contender, especially knowing that Landon is replacing their entire starting offensive line.

“I think our quickness (is our biggest strength),” Gowin said. “We’ve got some size, but I think we have some pretty decent quickness. Those two things are a very good combination to have, usually, from my experience. So I’m hoping they pan out.”

It also helps that they have Hunter DeButts for his senior season – and it sounds like Bordley has frequent nightmares about him.

“They have this kid Hunter DeButts, he can beat a team all by himself,” Bordley said. “And that’s as a quarterback or a receiver. He’s a kid who can catch a three-yard pass, beat six kids and run 95 yards. He can do that on punts, he can do that on kickoffs, he can do that as a receiver and he can do that as a quarterback.”

Bordley probably won’t have as much time to prepare for the Maroon as he would like, as their game is the fourth game on Episcopal’s slate (Oct. 9), in a matchup that will help determine who is the team to beat in the IAC this season.

Players to Watch:

Hunter DeButts (QB, WR, CB): a returning honorary mention all-met quarterback makes this list by default, but when they are a devastating open field runner and a four year starter…well, that’s just rare. DeButts is looking to have a huge season on the football and lacrosse fields, with a little intermission in between to play on the hardwood.

“He’s played receiver and defensive back up until this point, and he played some quarterback last year,” Gowin said. “He’ll probably be our quarterback next year, but I’m not sure of that yet. Just a terrific athlete. He’s been all conference each of the last two years.”

For as good as he is at football, he’s going to be having his college tuition paid for by his exploits in lacrosse: he’s currently considering Princeton and Brown for lacrosse.

Will Stokes (C, LB): Stokes will be starting at the center position for the third consecutive year, and he will also be playing linebacker and defensive end for the Maroon, depending on which one seems like a greater need.

Mike Jones (DL, OL): Jones will be another senior starter along the line, helping to move the line of scrimmage to make some breathing room for DeButts.

“He really came on for us last year as part of a good group and we want him to have a good year for us this year.” Gowin said.

2009 Episcopal Football Schedule
9/18: @ Flint Hill, 3:45
9/26: Fork Union, 1:00
10/3: Collegiate, 1:00
10/09: @ Landon, 4:15
10/17: @ St. Albans, 2:00
10/24: St. Christopher's, 3:00
10/31: @ St. Stephen's/St. Agnes
11/06: Bullis, 2:30
11/14: Woodberry Forest, 2:00