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Crowston takes the helm at Phoenix By KEVIN GOFF PHOENIX � It will be an out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new season for the Phoenix Pirates. Gone after nine seasons at the helm for the Pirates is Joe Hagler, who resigned after compiling a 32-49 record and a 2-7, seventh-place 2000 campaign. Enter new coach Gordie Crowston and a staff packed with gridiron knowledge. Crowston and his assistant coaching ensemble will scrap the Spin-T offense, a longtime staple in the Pirates program, and install a more balanced attack with a lot of I-set and pro-set formations. "Just having a new system is a nice change," says Crowston of his players� reaction to their new coach. "So far there�s been a lot of enthusiasm. "We have a great coaching staff, and I think that will be our strength all year." Crowston, who will serve as vice principal at Phoenix, brought along fellow 2000 North Medford coach Dave Jacobs to head up the defensive side of the ball. "I�m just going to hand the defense over to him and let him run with it," says Crowston. Jacobs was a longtime assistant at Crater before coaching three years at Klamath Union, where he led the Pelicans to the Class 4A quarterfinals in 1989. Jacobs moved on to Walla Walla (Wash.) High, where he was assistant head coach for two years. He then was an assistant coach at Walla Walla Community College before returning to Central Point. Jacobs served as the defensive line coach for the state runner-up Black Tornado last season and is expected to help turn around a Phoenix defense that came up on the wrong end of a 2-7 campaign a year ago. Crowston is also no stranger to heading up a team. He was the head coach for the North Medford girls� basketball team for five seasons before racking up a 41-12-1 record over six years with North�s JV football squad. More than 50 players showed up for the first week of practice, but the number has been whittled down to 48 since. "It�s about what we expected," says Crowston. "We were originally hoping for a bigger number of kids, but we�ll do the best that we can." The cupboard that Crowston inherits isn�t exactly overflowing with experienced players, but it also isn�t bare. Returning to shore up a veteran offensive line are seniors Greg Brown, Brian Murphy and all-Skyline Conference honorable mention guard Nick Acord. "The guys up front have been doing a great job," says Crowston. "They are doing a great job of leading by example." Behind the line will be standout tailback Eric Kessler and the two-headed quarterback system of Ross Ellis and Floron McGee. "Right now the two (Ellis and McGee) are battling it out," says Crowston. "I�d like to start off with a two-quarterback system." Also looking to make a dent on the offensive side are tight ends Brady Rhodes and Trace Barrett, fullbacks Zach Miller and Jimi Lockhed and wide receiver Martin Gonzalez. On the defensive side, Jacobs installs a 5-2 formation with plenty of talent to hold down the fort. Brown, a first-team, all-Skyline nose guard, heads up a defense that also returns Murphy at a defensive end and Kessler, a second-team all-league linebacker and honorable-mention punter. Barrett, a junior defensive end, along with Lockhed and Miller at linebacker and Gonzalez at a defensive back to make up the strength of the defense. "Our strength is our balance," says Crowston. "We�re pretty strong on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. "The kids have been working really hard so far and have responded to what we are trying to teach them." Conference play for Phoenix begins Sept. 21 with a game at Hidden Valley. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.