It was quite a debut for Lindbergh’s Pat O’Grady. In his first season as head coach of the Eagles, he took the team to its first league title in 27 years and deep into the 3A state playoffs. The challenge now in his second season is building on that success.

“We walk a thin line,” O’Grady said. “The kids who were here last year know the kind of work we put in to get where we finished the season. But this group here hasn’t done anything yet. We’re going to have to match that effort and then some because we finished two games short of where we were hoping to.”

Lindbergh went 10-2 and won the Seamount title. The Eagles’ season ended in the state quarterfinals in triple overtime against Liberty.

Matt Stuart, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, returns at quarterback. He started every game but one last season. And now with a full offseason as the starter, O’Grady said he’s taken big strides.

“He is light years ahead of where he was,” O’Grady said. “He’s much better at reading defenses, moving defenders with his eyes and delivering good balls.”

Stuart and the Eagles should benefit from a more sure quarterback situation this season. Last year senior Derek Herley, a converted wide receiver, started the first game behind center. After that, Stuart moved into the starting role while Herley moved back to receiver. (He also came out as the quarterback in Lindbergh’s Wild Cat package).

Stuart has plenty of playmakers at his disposal, with seniors Bakari Davis at running back and Diondre Toms at wide receiver. O’Grady said they should step up and provide production Lindbergh lost with the graduation of Frank Cange.

“Any time you lose an athlete like that, that’s huge,” he said of Cange. “But that just means we’re going to get an opportunity to feature some guys that we didn’t get to feature last year. Bakardi and Diondre, those guys lost touches to Frank for obvious reasons. This time around it’s their turn.”

Toms said he’s been working even harder this offseason to fill in.

“I’m stepping into big shoes for Frank,” Toms said. “So I’ve got to work hard, get faster and get better.”

Davis will work as the main running back for the Eagles’ spread offense, which gives him a unique challenge. He runs out of the shotgun formation most often and doesn’t have a fullback to block for him.

“You always have to look for the cutback,” Davis said. “Because you don’t have a lead blocker. It’s different, but a fun challenge.”

Players like Isiah Corwin, Calebse Cange, Cameron Callen and Derrick Holt should also get more shots to impress this season.

The Eagles do have to replace four starters on the offensive line, though the learning curve for a spread offense is different than a traditional offense.

“It’s a little easier to break in linemen,” O’Grady said. “We try to zone scheme everything so it’s a matter of position, a matter of footwork. It doesn’t come down to sheer size or strength.”

On defense the Eagles will remain aggressive in order to take advantage of their strengths: speed and agility.

“That is our nature,” O’Grady said. “We’re speed athletes and we’re space players. We try to use our speed to force you to make mistakes.”

The Eagles looked impressive in a season-opening 46-0 win against Rainier Beach Sept. 3.