CULVER Preseason expectations are constantly high for the Culver High football program. This year, those expectations may have reached a new level.

With the loss of just four players to graduation, and the majority of last season’s starters returning on both offense and defense, the Bulldogs are looking to make a lot of noise not just in the Columbia Basin Conference, but during the Class 2A state playoffs as well.

The biggest change for the Bulldogs comes on the sidelines. Ed Legace is leading a three-man co-coaching staff that includes Mike Funderburg, Culver’s superintendent of schools, and Terry McWilliams, a past assistant coach.

Legace is the head coach ”in title only,” he notes. He says the three coaches are sharing responsibilities this season until a permanent replacement for Curt Shelley is found.

”Things are going very well, a lot better than expected when you bring in new coaches,” said Legace, Culver’s defensive coordinator.

Funderburg is the offensive coordinator, and Williams is coaching linemen and special teams.

”The starting 11 on both sides of the ball look pretty good,” added Legace. ”The key is staying injury free; everything else is in place.”

The early bright spot for the Bulldogs has been the senior leadership displayed by linebackers Jeff Cloud and Dustin Herman. When no coach was available earlier this summer, the duo organized workouts with teammates.

Cloud and Herman are more than leaders they’re talented football players, too. Legace says they could start for any Class 4A team in the state and calls both potential Division I college prospects.

Defensively, Culver’s strength lies with its linebacking corps. Cloud (6 feet 1, 205 pounds) and Herman (6-1, 215) are both all-CBC defenders. Cloud also was an all-state selection last year. Junior Anthony Alley and senior Mark Coy also will be big factors at the position, and Coy will see some time in the secondary.

Up front, senior Mike Hale brings quickness to one defensive end spot. Jason Pollock (6-1, 220) gets the nod at the other defensive end. Senior Ross McWilliams (6-0, 210) and junior Zach Henson (6-2, 250) are the tackles.

”The system is designed for the kids and to fit the kids, not to have the kids fit the system,” said Legace. ”Our front eight can really get to the ball, and our secondary looks good.”

The Bulldogs return a wealth of experience on offense, where the loss of all-league receiver John Macy to graduation is the only setback of note.

Jared Adams returns for his senior year at quarterback, coming off a season in which he threw 16 touchdown passes and earned first-team all-CBC honors. Adams is backed up by sophomore Justice Sheets.

The rest of the backfield is anchored by junior fullback Nick Hagman (6-2, 220), another all-leaguer, and tailback Coy (5-9, 175).

Alley, an all-conference running back last year, has moved to tight end. He is joined there by junior Robby Mason. Senior Adam Ricketts will see time at tight end and wide receiver. Senior Brennan Whitaker and junior Chris Dix, both returnees, are among the other receivers.

Legace believes the line is the heart of the Culver offense. Cloud is the center, Herman and Williams are at guards, and Pollock and Henson play tackle positions. The coach calls Williams ”a devastating blocker who creates big holes.”

”The strength of our offense is the line, but it’s only one deep and they have to go both ways,” said Legace. ”If one goes down, we go down in ability. The backups are freshmen, sophomores and first-year players.

”We don’t have a lot of team speed, but we can pound the football at people,” he added. ”I think we can do both (run and pass), but I think our strength will be running the football.”

After taking runner-up honors in the CBC and advancing to the state quarterfinals last season, the Bulldogs are hoping for bigger things this fall.

”These kids last year lost in the quarterfinals, and they think they should have gone a little farther,” said Legace. ”The kids talk about that, and that motivates them.

”Their goal is to win a CBC championship and go from there. The expectation is to win the CBC championship. They want to go back to the state playoffs. The pressure is on us as coaches, not the kids. Barring injury, we can get there.”

Legace said the CBC appears to be loaded with quality teams.

”You always look at yourself as wanting to be the team to beat wanting to be the top dog,” said Legace. ”But in our league, Heppner looks awfully good and may be the team to beat. Sherman County, Umatilla and Weston-McEwen will be pretty good as well.

”We’ll take it one game at a time and see where it all lands.”

Culver opens its season this Friday by traveling to John Day, where the Bulldogs will play a 2:30 p.m. non-league game against Pine Eagle at Grant Union High School. Culver’s home opener is Sept. 14 against Willamina, then the Bulldogs kick off their CBC schedule Sept. 21 at Umatilla.