Roseville High School won a share of the Sierra Foothill League football championship two years ago. The Tigers didn’t win an SFL game last season.

The SFL is better than ever this year – some say it’s one of the top leagues in the state – and Roseville looks pretty good, too.

Coach Larry Cunha has 17 returning starters from last season’s 2-8 team and a group of juniors who went 9-1 on the junior varsity level.

“They’re pushing themselves well. They’re a good group, self-motivated,” he said. “The talent level is relatively high. They pick up things quickly.”

Quarterback Nick Blaser passed for 2,454 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, and four of Roseville’s top five receivers return, including Beau Smith, who caught 43 balls for 780 yards and four scores.

“He has touch. He has feel for the game and a quick release. And he’s accurate,” Cunha said of Blaser. “He’s just super accurate with the ball.”

What the Tigers couldn’t do last year was run. Their top two rushers shared the team lead with 291 yards.

This is where the junior class comes in – specifically, Casey Lambert. Cunha said Lambert is fast, strong and explosive. Just what the offense needs.

“He has a ton of potential,” Cunha said.

Roseville is even more stacked on defense, where 10 starters return, including all three linebackers and the entire secondary.

Drew Tawlks leads the linebackers, and on the line, senior end Jeff Minasian has emerged as the strongest player on the team. Junior Ammon Tuimaunei is Minasian’s bookend. Smith will anchor the secondary and be one of maybe two two-way players for the Tigers.

Cunha said the Tigers are strong and fast, and they’re as big as most other teams with 17 players listed at more than 200 pounds. The key will be chemistry between two successful classes. This year’s seniors were 8-2 as sophomores.

“They’re used to success, and they’re used to being the alpha dogs, so we have to blend that,” he said.

The Tigers will need every positive element they can muster to play a schedule that includes area powers Folsom and Pleasant Grove in addition to the monster SFL.

“You have quality programs and kids, good schools, good coaches. You put that in a proximity of however radius and it just amps up the energy and the rivalry, and it’s just outstanding football,” Cunha said. “I don’t think you’ll see an undefeated team. I think it’s going to be tough to get up to play five consecutive weeks. When you’re playing top-quality teams and rivalry games every week virtually, if someone comes through unscathed, that’s a hell of a job.”

Bill Poindexter can be reached at billp@goldcountrymedia.com.

Roseville Tigers

2009 record: 2-8 overall, 0-5 in the Sierra Foothill League (sixth place).

Season opener: 7 p.m. Friday at Rio Linda.

Primary weapons: Quarterback Nick Blaser, receiver/defensive back Beau Smith, linebacker Drew Tawlks.

Eye opener: Senior receiver Dana Davis is playing football for the first time after flirting with the sport last year. He’s 6 feet 3 inches, 175 pounds and, according to coach Larry Cunha, catches everything. “He just made a strength of the team that much stronger,” Cunha said.

Notable: Roseville has on its schedule six of the top nine teams in the greater Sacramento area, according to local polls. In addition to SFL foes, the Tigers will play Folsom and Pleasant Grove. “If you want to see top quality opponents, you come to a Roseville game,” Cunha said.

SCHEDULE

All games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted

Sept. 3: At Rio Linda, 7 p.m. Sept. 10: Vs. Folsom, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 17: At Oakmont, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 24: Vs. Pleasant Grove. Oct. 1: Vs. Oakland. Oct. 8: Vs. Woodcreek. Oct. 15: At Rocklin. Oct. 22: Vs. Nevada Union, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 29: Vs. Del Oro. Nov. 5: At Granite Bay.