To say Gabe Walsh will endure a role reversal this season is not entirely accurate.

As one of the top returning passers in the state, the senior quarterback from Cherokee Trail still is expected to put up gaudy numbers for the Cougars.

Yet Walsh will have to do it in what is a bit of a "situation reversal."

After bursting onto the scene last year as a sort of conductor for an orchestrated offense filled with experienced parts, Walsh will direct an offense this year long on talent but appreciably short on experience.

"He had an advantageous situation a year ago, where we had veteran receivers and a veteran offensive line," Cherokee Trail coach Monte Thelen said. "This year, our receivers are not nearly as experienced.

"This will be an interesting experience for Gabe in that now he is experienced, but the guys around him will be a little inexperienced. It will be challenging."

Walsh ascended quickly from an unknown asset to one of the top passers in Class 4A, if not the entire state, by distributing his passes among a deep cadre of receivers that thrived in Thelen's wide-open offense.

Walsh finished with 2,422 passing yards and 27 touchdowns, but most of the talent that helped him reach those numbers is gone.

The Cougars graduated players who accounted for nearly all of Walsh's 180 - and the team's 210 - completions, leaving behind a void Walsh will have to fill with fresh targets, and one Thelen hopes to offset with more balance.

"The chemistry is real good with the new guys," Walsh said. "We all go throw all the time. From the end of winter workouts until now, there has been a big difference. And our running backs are going to be good.

"Last year, we basically had no running game. This year, we should be better at that and, hopefully, the wide receivers should have a little time to get going. We're going to have more balance."

Expect the transition to be made smoothly by Walsh's uncanny ability to hit his targets. As impressive as any of the yardage or touchdown totals the 6-foot-1 Walsh compiled last season was the fact he threw only five interceptions in 320 attempts.

It was a remarkable display of accuracy that helped draw interest from a lengthy list of universities that includes Colorado, Colorado State and Wyoming.

"We ask him to do a number of things and he does a very good job at all of them," Thelen said. "He has that gunslinger's mentality. All he wants to do is go out and make plays.

"When a kid throws over 300 times and throws just five picks, you know he's doing all he can to put the team in position to score points."