For the first time since 2002, there’s no post-season football for Muskogee High School, giving coach Matt Hennesy an earlier -than-usual setting to sit down with the local media in a wrap-up of the 2009 campaign, with a peek at 2010.

Breaking down what was, and looking to what is or may be:

High points:

1. Fountain of youth.

The infusion of youth may have not led to many victories, but it gives approximately 15 sophomores and freshmen varsity-level experience and a head start on a two-year run.

“These guys got thrown into the fire because we had no choice with our numbers, but we’ll be better off in the long run,” Hennesy said.

Victor Williams and Kyler Harris will battle for the quarterback spot beginning next week, Hennesy said, but both are also interchangeable parts in the wildcat offense. A core of offensive linemen including Cody Heaton, Cameron Ousley and Dale Ford will hit the weight room to build on their seasoning. Matt Rust, whose knee injury in the summer knocked him out of the lineup, will bring some size comparable to the graduating Jeremy Burton at one tackle spot.

On defense, the more Darnell Walker, Xavier Hunter and Bradley McGee develop the more time Williams and Harris will be used primarily on offense and therefore not spreading two primary offensive weapons thin. Wesley Starr at linebacker and Chris Summers as a pure tight end also surfaced solidly this year. Virgil Moore at fullback has less of the running back by committee at this point with significant graduation losses there.

2. The seniors.

Brenton Bogar and Jeremy Burton got Division I looks the past two years and will extend their careers. But the overall success of this group won’t be measured until they’re married and with children.

“They learned a lot about life,” Hennesy said. “That may not be related directly to wins and losses but life isn’t always about wins. They showed a lot of resiliency through some tough times.”

Low points