BAINBRIDGE – The Bainbridge High School varsity football team will take the field for the first time this year, at home, to face off against the North Kitsap Vikings at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1.

The team will undoubtedly be looking to put the past behind them Friday when they step onto the turf.

The Spartans finished their last season, their first under the guidance of new Head Coach Jeff Rouser, with a disappointing 1-11 overall record.

In their final outing of the year — an unexpected, conciliatory, postseason appearance — the Spartans were defeated 43-14 by Roosevelt High on Nov. 4 in Seattle.

Sad as the season record was for the team and Rouser, the team was not unrecognized around the league. Several BHS players were appointed to All-Metro Team rosters last year.

Senior running backs Eric Jung, Ethan Peloquin, and junior punter Nathan Eaton were all named among the Second Team Offensive list. Senior inside linebacker Sam Roth, junior outside linebacker Kyle Bierly and junior corner back Christian Nonga Kingombe were among the Second Team Defensive selections.

Rouser, who replaced longtime island football figure and former Spartan Head Coach Andy Grimm, had spent the past decade moving up the ranks in regional football, serving as the catalyst for the youth program in Kingston and also spending the past four years as the defensive coordinator of the school’s football program.

Rouser lettered in three seasons of Division I college football at the Air Force Academy, where he played as a linebacker.