The emphasis has shifted back to basics and team-bonding as the Mercer Island football team began spring practices and prepared to lay the foundation for its 2015 campaign.

Where depth was a strong suit this time last year for a team returning 16 of its 22 starters, now a bevy of new faces are set to take to the gridiron for the Islanders this fall, both on the field and on the sidelines.

“We have some really good frontline guys who have some varsity experience, but in high school you have ebb and flow,” said head coach Brett Ogata. “We’ve [lost] guys who graduated and we got to have some of those juniors and sophomores and to-be seniors who haven’t played much to step up. I think we do have guys who are ready to do that, but this is what spring ball is for.”

Gone is two-year starting quarterback and 2014 KingCo Offensive Player of the Year Alfonso Gonzalez, as well as all-league WR/DB Jack Counihan and first-team linebacker David Emanuels.

Senior Anthony Scalzo will vie for the starting job under center, after seeing spot duty at quarterback last season. Ogata says it will be a three-man race, with Scalzo getting competition from junior Blake Swanson and sophomore Nikhil Nayar.

The Islanders will look to its six varsity captains for leadership, with seniors Joe Williams, Jonny Osman, Jackson Caputo and Eric Kim named captains, as well as juniors Andy Bliss and Jordano Mark. Though Ogata said he expects the entire class of seniors to establish culture and identity if the Islanders are to find success in 2015.

“Our goal every year now, the attitude is that we expect to be a playoff team,” he said. “We’re working hard for that. The boys are doing a great job right now of trying to fulfill that goal.”

The Mercer Island coach will take over offensive coordinator duties and serve as quarterbacks coach, after previous coordinator Shane Keck took the head coaching position at Cascade High School last February. The changeover doesn’t end there, as the Islanders will also see coaching changes at the cornerback, wide receiver, offensive line and linebacker positions.

Ogata said with new blood on his coaching staff, he is looking forward to changing a few things up on the field, though nothing too drastic.

“Whenever you change an offensive coordinator, things are going to change a little bit,” he said. “We’re going to be doing what we’ve been doing, though with a few changes. Defensively, we kept the same defensive coordinator, so that’s going to be the same. We have new assistants that work under him, but they’ve all been here before.

“It’s exciting. I’m really excited about the new coaches and what they have to bring and what we’re doing with this program right now. I’m pretty fired up about this next season.”

Last season: Mercer Island finished fourth in the 2014 3A/2A KingCo standings, with a 3-3 league record and 5-5 overall.

All-KingCo losses: First team offense – Alfonso Gonzalez, QB (KingCo Offensive Player of the Year); Jack Counihan, WR; Second team offense – Jack Flint, OL; First team defense – Kiernan Coles, LB; Jack Counihan, DB; David Emanuels, LB; George Pallis, DB; Second team defense – Preston Melick, DL;  Honorable mention – Trevor Himstead, LB; Calvin Lee, LB.

All-KingCo returners: Second team offense – Eric Kim, WR; Andy Bliss, OL; Honorable mention – Griffin Kane, WR; Jonny Osman, LB.