Here they come again, those Burien Bearcats!

Watch out Tigers, and any other whatever named team that they will play in junior league football this season, because they're...

Grrrrrrrrrrreat.

That's the sound, that is, the "grrr" part, of little and big, young and old, boys-six to 14 year olds going at it hard against each other in their respective divisions on the gridiron as the 2007 JFL practices get underway at Evergreen High School.

The greatest team of all the age group divisions was the Juniors, again. No surprise there, but there were a couple other divisions that had very good seasons, like the 89ers, the youngest division, which made the playoffs. Also, the second youngest division, the Midgets, made it to the championship and lost in it.

And it was another great turnout for the Bearcats.

"We have 180 kids out this season, which is five football teams and a cheerleading squad," said Lisa Snyder, Bearcats president as well as the cheer director.

And this year sports a new twist as far as who the Bearcats will play. In the past it's been the South King County JFL teams of Rainier Beach, CD, Renton and Sea-Tac. Now it's the Northwest JFL of Silverlake (Lynnwood), Richmond Beach, Mukilteo, Lake City, Interbay (Queen Anne), Eastside (Bellevue) and Ballard.

The move comes with not much comment, but Snyder mentioned that the leadership is stronger in the Northwest JFL. Certainly the teams are from north Seattle and the Bellevue areas, and, everyone knows how good Bellevue's high school team is year in and year out in 3A - state champs three times of the last five years, including last year over Kennedy.

Kennedy, speaking of such, is allowing the Bearcats to play their home games on their field this season. Action starts Sept. 8 on the road but the Bearcats come home to JFK Sept. 15.

"All our home games are at Kennedy High School. They are allowing us to use their facilities for all our games," said John Howard, who runs the offense for the Juniors, who were the '"Seniors" but now are the "Juniors" with moving to the NW JFL league. Howard has run that offense through the championship years, which include five of 10 from the SKC JFL the last decade. "Having our home games at Kennedy means we can put more money into the program and less into fields. That is a big help to us."

Time now to talk about that best football division of the five Snyder aforementioned. No one comes close to the Juniors as far as winning a championship goes. Again last year, offensive coach Howard and defensive coach, Milt Chatman and head coach George Jackson combined to blitzkrieg the competition. Not only has that trio won half the championships the past 10 years which no other Bearcats team has come close to doing, Jackson, Howard and Chatman altogether have been a part of this division having won eight of the last 10 SKC JFL titles.

"We were undefeated for the season and we won the championship again," said Jackson.

What is amazing is that these coaches get new players almost every year. Maybe some years a player or two or three or four returns, but they are still after every three years for sure having to bring in new players for the graduated ones that hit age 15 and can't play JFL anymore.

"We have a common goal to help these kids get better and learn football," said Jackson. "None of us care who is boss. We all want to help these kids improve and be prepared for high school football. We are in it for the kids."

And the Juniors players can see how passionate to help them learn the game of football these coaches are.

"They give us discipline," said Hasan Umayam, who will split time at quarterback with Nate Owens for the Juniors. Umayam is a captain.

"They get us hyped up'," said Umayam. "And teaching. I am a first year quarterback and they taught me the position in three days."

So what are these coaches teaching?

"All the fakes and handoffs, who to fake to and give the ball to," said Umayam, who will play at Sylvester football under head coach Howard.

Now here, too, is a kid, Umayam, who played for the year younger age division last year and they won how many games?

"Two games," said Umayam.

So from that kind of record to such a good record would seem a push for a kid to prognosticate.

"We are guessing undefeated," said Umayam.

Jackson said that the team does not have many players return from last year's championship team. Umayam doesn't return. Neither does Nate Owens, the other quarterback. Speaking of two quarterbacks, that has Jackson salivating a bit.

"It is going to be a great battle. We'll see who wants it more," said Jackson. "Both are good."

Others mentioned by Jackson included the guys that will be protecting Owens and Umayam, the offensive line of Ade'Asim, Cody Abel, Uso Olive and Darren Laufausa.

He has a lot of green talent, but knows talent when he's seen it before and the name Laufausa oozes talent.

"I have coached all the Laufausa boys," said Jackson. "Every one has been a standout."

A couple other newcomers that should be good include running backs Irving Gilkey and Marcus Green.

Jackson said that a lot of the past success for the Juniors is no guess.

"Fun, we want to have fun," said Jackson.

Fun doesn't go along with getting in shape does it?

"Oh yeah, we still run them up the hill every day," said Jackson.

And the hill is a a mighty steep one. At 12-14, they are still doing 100 push-ups a day. Always the same.

Give them the football knowledge and win the championship. And having tons of fun.

Guessing the next best team is not that hard, and, although they can't hold a candle, so to speak, record-wise compared to the oldest age group the last 10 years, the Pee Wees (third youngest division) appear ready to not let their flicker of a flame go out this time around.

It went out last year, but only barely, and, in the very end, in the championship game said first year head coach, Lia Fetui.

"As a matter of fact, we gave the Seniors (now the Juniors) a run for their money. We both got to the championship of our divisions," said Fetui. "They won bragging rights over us because we lost in overtime. But we still are family. We cheer for them and they cheer for us. We are one big family."

Fetui has two sons, twins, on his team that are humongous in size. Dion is 5-5, 216 and Dominique is 5-5, 198. Both dominate, as one could guess.

With those two back as defensive and offensive tackles on opposite sides of the line and a couple other key players to this same team as last year in this same division of second oldest kids mostly 11-12 ages, it's simple to think championship for them might be an easy thing.

"Everything we do, we built the team around the line," said Fetui. "So the running backs have humongous holes and the quarterback has time to throw the ball. We basically have control of the game."

The Midgets quarterback is Josiah Malolo, who Fetui said has "a strong arm and is durable and fast." He sounds like he will be in good control of the football. Dominique Smith is another player to watch, a running back and cornerback, on defense.

Who else has a chance to do some damage in the new NW JFL? How about the Midgets, the second youngest group, mostly 9-10 year olds.

"Frankly, we are farther along than I thought we would be at this point," said Pee Wees coach Rich Wellington. "We have quite a few first time players and they have come a long ways."

One that said the right things was Ryan Thol. Why will you be good this year?

"Cuz we are practicing," said Thol.

His next words trailed off as he went in line for a tackling drill.

Wellington mentioned his returning players, who were there last year when this team lost in the championship.

Brandon Wellington is Rich's son. He's a nice-sized 9-10 year old who will be a running back on dad's team.

He was coming up to dad after a play where he was wide open and the ball was thrown the other direction by the quarterback.

He came screaming up to dad regarding that and told his dad his plight of being in the clear.

"I know, but the quarterback can't see everywhere," said coach Rich.

Ah, the dicotomy of father-son on the football field, it's a good thing and, actually, Welllington was asked to coach by colleagues in the Bearcats organization.

Wellington's philosophy is to be going away from anything too complicated and put the focus back on the 'fun" word.

"Focus is a little different this year, too," said Wellington. "Winning is not my main goal, it is to teach them and have fun."

Does that sound fun to the returning quarterback for the Pee-Wees, Travis Thompson?

"Yeah," he said.

What about Wellington and the rest of the Pee Wees coaching staff? How have they done to have you players all have fun?

"We got a great line now and we have players that can become good and great in a couple weeks," said Thompson.

Other players that Wellington mentioned were the nucleus of returners, including tight end David Ramirez, tight end Chance No-Hanson and left tackle Chris Moore.

"We can put any of these guys I've mentioned in any position and they will play it well," said Wellington.

There still is the second oldest age group, which used to be called the Juniors but is now, with the league switch, called the Bantams.

First year coach DeShawn Carter spoke of his team being really enthused about playing.

"We are young, inexperienced and we are looking to go .500," said Carter, pausing, adding, "To go .500 would be beautiful."

What does Carter need most on this team now?

"We are taking skinny, lightweight kids now. We have room for 10 players."

But, as the proverbial phrase says, you have to play the hand your dealt.

Carter's hand includes some kids, albeit 14 of them, which is about 15 less than the next lowest team's head count, that listen well in practice.

When he was demonstrating on the whiteboard how to run plays, the players were going out and doing their best without back talking. Carter ran some plays a lot and could be heard saying things like '"Whistle, whistle, did you hear the whistle? That wasn't a sweep. You got to go through the hole," as the kid carrying the football swang way wide and went around the outside.

"They pay attention pretty good," said Carter. "It seems like they block a lot better after I drew it (a play) up, and, after a couple plays in scrimmage."

Players Carter mentioned would be his quarterback, Caen Rowland, and running back Eddie Cervantes. Besides that, he asked how many were first-year players at the end of practice and about half the hands in attendance went up.

Now for the last group, the 89ers. One never knows what one will get with seven and eight year olds but there coach Al Daniels has some kids back off a team that lost in the first round of the playoffs last year. He has his son back, Talon, who looks tough along with Josh Meyer, with both being a good nucleus to run this team.

"Undecided," said Daniels, who was so busy just trying to get these kids to line up and do things in a practice offense-defense scrimmage that his attention was definitely not very affordable for anyone.

Daniels wants his players to show the new league who's boss.

"We are looking to have fun in this new league," said Jackson. "We are looking forward to new competition, some new people to meet and beat."

With that Jackson, who has a customary infectious grin, let out a chuckle. Won't be funny probably for this new league to get a load of the Bearcats.

Especially Jackson, Chatman and Howard. And Chatman is a guy that hardly has other team's score on his defense.

"You need a bold prediction from me," he said, wryly.

Actually, and one can guess that Chatman would say so echoing confident of the Juniors going to win another championship just like Jackson said in a catch '"meet and beat'" way, too. And, actually, Howard, Jackson and Chatman were going to hang up their coaching after last season, but they decided that it was too long.

"Too long for me, 15 years. I've been having fun doing this too long," said Chatman, smiling.

And one can guess that Jackson and Howard would be saying the same response as Chatman.

This trio of coaches love what they do and they said why they love it. Their minds are right, their hearts are right, for the kids. That's it. That wins it.