As a junior, Tanner Sloan was the best quarterback not named Rypien in the Greater Spokane League. Even on one good leg, lineman Scott Peck was, like Sloan, a first-team All-GSL football selection.

They are just two of the reasons Central Valley coach Rick Giampietri - entering his 46th year as a coach, 33 at CV, where teams have 11 playoff appearances, including the state title in 1997 - can envision a rebound from last year's uncharacteristic 3-7 season and loss to rival University.

"We played a lot of sophomores last year," Giampietri said. "We had a good Border League camp, our offensive line has improved a ton and those juniors are playing well right now."

The Bears find out how big an improvement when they host Coeur d'Alene Sept. 4 and visit Lake City the following Friday, teams that outscored them 107-35 to begin the season a year ago.

"Last year, we were probably hoping to survive," Giampietri said of those games. "Their eyes were kind of wide open, instead of being focused on what was going on."

The team regrouped enough to come within seconds of reaching the postseason playoffs. With a year's learning experience under their belts and solid summer camp to buoy them, the Bears are optimistic. Six offensive and five defensive starters return. They have the league's best kicker, Ryan (it's all in the family) Rehkow, brother of University of Idaho (and former CV) placekicker, Austin Rehkow. 

But they also know, last year's GSL teams were young in general, so it's a matter of which of them improves the most.

Having experience at quarterback and massive linemen isn't a bad way to start.

Sloan, a full-time starter after seeing spot duty the year before, threw for 1,924 yards and 15 touchdowns. But he also ran for his life at times and finished with negative rushing yards. He has a good mentor and genetics. His dad, Rick, himself a CV graduate, quarterbacked in college.

"He's really a smart kid and just makes good heady decisions," said Giampietri of his field general. "I don't think he's close (to full development). He's faster than last year and maybe our O-line is good enough that he won't have to scramble as much."

That's where Peck and his mates come in. Peck stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 292 pounds. Major colleges are interested. 

"He passes the eye test," Giampietri said.

Although he made first team in the GSL, he wasn't at full strength. A leg injury thought to be a stress fracture turned out to be a broken ankle that necessitated surgery and obviously limited his play.

"He was operated on in December and should have a great year," Giampietri said.

Fellow linemen Bodey Hawks at 285 pounds, Brandon Driscoll and junior Ryan Terriff are all seasoned, as is linebacker Adam Alvarez. 

Wide receiver Rhett Foley, linebacker Travis Hawkins, 6-foot-3, 309-pound defensive lineman Jordan Talafili, defensive back Christian Williams and defensive end Terrell Harrison all got their feet wet as sophomore starters.

Foley, Talafili, Hawkins and Williams were honorable mention all-league.

"Hopefully they play like seniors," Giampietri said. "Tanner has a year under his belt. He had a good summer throwing and leading the team. Peck is healthy and been pretty much ready to go. The secondary's got to get experience, (but) defensively we could be really solid, too. They played really well in the Border League camp. Based on that, we've improved a ton."

And the best part, Giampietri said, is that this year the players believe they can beat teams, not just line up and hope they survive.