WARDEN — Pleasant surprises are always nice entering the season.

For Warden head coach Robert Arredondo, what struck him most was his team’s overall speed. Most of the skill players are young, but they can move. And the Cougars have experience where it counts — the trenches.

“We have a bunch of young kids at the skill spots, but we’re senior-heavy and overall team speed is real good,” Arredondo said. “I’m more impressed with our team speed and the carryover from spring ball and we seem to pick up things ... I think the recollection is something that’s got the whole team on the up and up.

“But team speed is something that’s kind of surprising I guess, but that’s what we’ve got.”

The big question is can Warden shock a league that boasts both Class 1A state finalists from a year ago — champion Royal and runner-up Connell? Royal hasn’t lost a game since 2014 and was the only team able to beat Connell in 2016.

“If you dwell on it too much you kind of don’t want to go to practice,” Arredondo said. “With our initial season, we end up making the regional game so that gave the program, the kids that are coming back, huge confidence boost. As far as those guys go, you’ve got to play them. What do you do? It is what it is.

“They’re always going to be good, but like I tell our kids is that playing those guys, or anybody speaking to those guys, is that huge opportunity, huge opportunity and take advantage of it. “We’re excited, absolutely excited to play anyone.”

Warden won’t have to wait long for a huge opportunity in the non-league portion of its schedule. Warden hosts state tournament qualifier Okanogan in its season opener. More, Okanogan won back-to-back Class 2B state championships in 2014 and 2015.

The Cougars lost a close game on the road to the Bulldogs in Week 1 last year 28-26. The Cougars bounced back from a difficult first month of the season to finish 5-3 in the SCAC East to reach a crossover game with Naches Valley, losing 14-2.

“With that Week 1 against Okanogan, that is a multi-state winning program also and so we’ve got them here at the house. We were one possession away last year.”

Warden will lean on seniors Tucker Roden, Martin Dominguez, Tyrone Mendez, Callie Edson and Kevin Garcia.

However, the most exciting addition to the starting lineup could be sophomore quarterback Ryan Arredondo. Ryan Arredondo sat behind starter Tanner Skone as a freshman before bursting onto the varsity scene during baseball as a shutdown pitcher.

His coaches and teammates are eager to see how his 84 mile per hour fastball translates to the gridiron.

“He’s played in the past,” Robert Arredondo said. “He’s traveled on 7-on-7 teams. Kid has a good arm so Tanner is big shoes to fill, but I think we’re going to be OK.”

2017 schedule (all games at 7 p.m.)

Sept. 1: Warden vs. Okanogan

Sept. 8: Warden at Mabton

Sept. 15: Warden vs. Royal

Sept. 22: Warden at Connell

Sept. 29: Warden vs. College Place

Oct. 6: Warden at Columbia (Burbank)

Oct. 13: Warden vs. Wahluke

Oct. 20: Warden at River View

Oct. 27: Warden vs, Kiona-Benton