Postcard from camp: Snohomish football

In a season of flux it’s nice to head out to Snohomish football practice.

For the past 18 years Panthers head coach Mark Perry has been running the show and there’s been little change. During Wednesday’s practice — the first practice of the fall — Perry proudly pointed out a majority of his assistant coaches who were not only back for another season but were Snohomish alum and either played for him or longtime Snohomish coach Dick Armstrong.

“This is my 29th year coaching football here at Snohomish so it’s kind of a cool deal,” Perry said between coaching drills at Wednesday’s practice. “Between my 18 years as head coach and the 32 by Dick (Armstrong) that’s 50 years with just two guys at the helm of one program. That doesn’t happen very often.”

Vote here for who you think will win the Wesco North 4A this year

One thing that is different is who Snohomish will be facing this season. The Panthers won’t play rival Stanwood and their game against longtime rival Marysville Pilchuck is a nonleague affair (both schools moved down to 3A). Instead Snohomish gets Wesco newcomer Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor and Redmond, who they haven’t played since the 1998 playoffs.

“It’s a completely different scene getting ready,” Perry said. “It means more research and film time for (the coaches) and it’s a big unknown. I have no idea what they have right now versus a two-year cycle when you can be ‘Hey do they still have that big receiver’ and stuff like that.”

One new opponent is a special one: Glacier Peak. Five years ago the new school split the Snohomish School District in half and took many good football players with it. The Grizzlies went on to instant success while Snohomish has been inconsistent since. In Week 2 the two schools will finally face off for the first time.

Not surprisingly GP’s head coach, Rory Rosenbach, is also a Snohomish alum and Dick Armstrong disciple.

Then again who isn’t in Snohomish?

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