Five Things to Know About South Lakes HS Football This Season

South Lakes opens its 2013 football season at home against Westfield on Friday (game time 7:30 p.m.) Here are five things to know to follow the Seahawks:

1. Coach coming into his own? This is coach Marvin Wooten's third season. The team has shown improvement since he took over in 2011. After a one-win season in '11, the Seahawks were 3-7 in 2012 - and were involved in several close games.

2. Offensive power graduated - Rashaan Jones and Zac Parker, the Seahawks' most potent offensive duo last year, have graduated. Who can take their place? Wooten has his eye on seniors wide receivers Khayri Denny and Akram Gibreel.

"The kind of talent and ability that Zac Parker had, that is going to be hard to replace," said Wooten. "We don't have one guy with that kind of capability. But we have several who can step up. Khayri is going to be one of the best in the conference. He was hurt last year, but he has had a tremendous offseason."

3. The team has a sophomore quarterback - Matt Ravenstahl , 5-foot-10, 185 lbs., will lead the Seahawks' offense. Wooten says Ravenstahl did well on the freshman team last year. He is also training senior Mohommad Basheer at the position.

Other players to watch - seniors Alex Woodward (middle LB), Ethan Clark (defensive lineman), Mark Harrison (offensive lineman).

4. The schedule, as always, has some tough games - The Seahawks open against Westfield, (12-1 in 2012 and currently ranked No. 14 in the Washington Post's poll. They will play No. 3 Stone Bridge on Oct. 25 and crosstown rival Herndon on Sept. 20.

"Two years ago, we didn't belong on the same field as Westfield," said Wooten. "Last year, it was 23-13 in the third quarter. There is definitely a belief we belong.  We're a better team than we were last year. I think eventually we are going to beat them."

5. The turf field as intangible - South Lakes' stadium got a makeover in the offseason with sparkling synthetic turf. The team was cleared to practice on it late last week and Wooten hopes the consistency in field conditions will aid the team.

"It's a big psychological boost to the program," he said.

Seahawks Schedule 2013

9.06      Westfield
9.12      @ Washington-Lee
9.20      Herndon
9.27      McLean
10.04    @ Madison
10.11    @ Jefferson
10.18    Langley
10.25    @ Stone Bridge
11.01    @ Marshall
11.08    Fairfax

All game times 7:30 p.m.