“This afternoon, I expect you guys to be living in ice bags.”

Mark Hodson isn’t taking it easy on his players this fall. Starting his third year as head coach for the South Whidbey High School football team, he’s punishing his boys earlier than usual. They playing full-contact in preseason practice twice a day — linemen are expected to hit each other full on during passing drills, and receivers and running backs can fully expect to get nailed.

They need to get used to it, if they want to improve on their 4-6 overall record from 2002. As always, they know the top teams in the North Cascades Conference — Lynden Christian, Meridian, and Nooksack Valley — will be coming to play with big, hard-hitting style.

In many ways, the Falcons come into 2002 an untried team. Lost to graduation was four-year starting quarterback Jeremy Iverson, who was often a threat to pass for more than 200 yards a game. Also gone is graduate Andy Wills, who rushed the ball practically every other play last year and was a 100-yard threat every game. Replacing those two potent offensive tools are senior quarterback Travis Tornga — who did receiving duties last year — and Nick Plastino. Plastino will take on the bulk of the running duties this year after using his tall, speedy gait in the wide receiver slot last year.

Tornga, who was a state placer in the javelin during the track season and a top 100-meter sprinter for the team, is — at 5-11 — fast enough, tall enough and has enough of an arm to captain a strong passing offense. Doing backup duties this year will be baseball pitcher Dustin Sidhu.

On top of those changes is pressure to succeed. Without a winning season for seven years, the Falcons — 45 players strong this fall — are nonetheless going after it this year. Only a top-three finish in the NCC is acceptable this season, because only those team will make it into the playoffs.

The Falcons were close in 2002. The best team in the southern half of the conference, they fell just short at season’s end, tying for fourth place and just missing out on going to playoffs. This season, with plans for a harder-hitting defense and a more pass-oriented offense, the Falcons are looking to do with strength and speed what the opposition has done with experience and size.

Hodson notes that this is a lofty goal.

“That’s ambitious for a team without a winning season in seven years,” he said.

Though outweighed by many teams by several tens of pounds per position, the Falcons expect athleticism to get them through. Hodson said his players came into the season in better shape than he’s seen since he’s been head coach.

“We have good athletes out here,” he said.

The defense and offensive line, which will be built around junior Michael Greene and Mike Moore, has the simple goal of shutting down everything the opposition tries.

After being victimized by northern NCC teams last year on pass plays, Greene said he doesn’t see that happening again.

“The defense is aggressive this year,” he said.

Also strong is the team’s coaching staff. Assisting Hodson are former Falcon head coaches Mick Heggenes and Jim Lierher, as well other former head coaches Mark Eager and Donald Elliot.

Hodson said his players are specifically targeting Nooksack Valley, Mount Baker and Blaine, all of whom must play the Falcons at Waterman Field this season. That advantage, plus the boost of playing their first three games of the season at home, may well jump start the season, he said.

With the season opener coming this weekend in a non-conference game against Port Townsend, the Falcons will soon know what they are doing right and what needs work before the start of conference play.

They get their first NCC action on Friday when Blaine comes to town. The Falcons smashed the Borderites in 2002 46-16.