Sports
Mercer Island Football to Open Season at Seahawks Home
The Mercer Island football team will open the 2011 season against Seattle Prep on September 3rd at Century Link Field as part of the Emerald City Kickoff Classic.
The Mercer Island High School football team will open the 2011 season under some brighter-than-usual lights.
The Islanders will face off against Seattle Prep on September 3 at Century Link (formerly Qwest) field as part of the Emerald City Kickoff Classic.
Mercer Island will be playing in the nightcap of the five-game event, kicking off at 8 pm.
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“The kids are excited, the fans and parents and everyone is excited," Mercer Island head coach Brett Ogata said. "It will be a fun thing.”
The Islanders were selected for the event by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association in April. Ogata heard that the WIAA was looking for a team for one of the slots and decided to apply. Because Seattle Prep was scheduled to open the season at Mercer Island, the Panthers were selected as the opponent.
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“They were looking for a team and I just kind of asked our AD to inquire about it and see if it’s a possibility for us to play in that game," Ogata said. "I thought it would be a fun game for our kids and our community to be a part of it.”
It seems to be the right year for the Islanders to be headlining an event of this stature. Mercer Island is hoping to compete for a KingCo title, with
Despite the heightened exposure the team will receive by playing at the home of the Seahawks, Lindquist said the team is focusing more on starting the season strong than on the venue.
“It’s going to be quite an experience," Lindquist said. "We still have to go out and play hard and that comes first, but, you know, after the game, hopefully we’re victorious and we can walk off the field under big lights in a big stadium.”
Mercer Island also started the season in the pro football stadium in 2005. Ogata said that experience taught him how important playing a game in that environment was for his players.
"I think it is just a great opportunity for the kids to have a great time and fun," Ogata said. "It’s a once in a lifetime type of deal to be able to play on that field and just enjoy it and be there.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased at http://mifootball.org/.