ALEXANDRIA — Sporting T-shirts with the motto “Believe,” the Alexandria Tigers are looking to bounce back from an 0-10 record last season. With all of the changes that the Tigers are going through, optimism is high.

One of the biggest changes for Alexandria will be in the quarterback position. Austin Quinn (Sr. RB, 6-1, 170 pounds), who was last year’s starting quarterback, will move to running back. A pair of sophomores, Nik Parkinson (So. QB, 6-0, 155) and Chance Morphew (So. QB, 5-10, 155), will compete for quarterback this season. Parkinson and Morphew are splitting snaps in what is a competitive competition for the starting job.

“Nik and Chance are both strong in different areas,” said acting head coach Greg Kyle, who is replacing Brad Hanner, out because of illness. “Chance has the experience because he was able to play some quarterback last year on the varsity level. Nik has been away from football, but he is just a good athlete, and what he lacks in experience, he is making up for in athleticism.”

In the backfield, the Tigers are stacked with experienced players. Two seniors, Landon Glass (Sr. FB, 5-10, 180) and Aaron Hasse (Sr. FB, 6-1, 220), will split the duties at fullback. Two-year letterman Steven Backous (Sr. RB, 5-10, 170) will share time with Quinn at running back.

Defensively, the Tigers are largely made up of returning starters, including Austin Hodges (So. LB, 5-9, 170), who led the team last season with 55 tackles as a freshman.

“I started as many as five freshmen on defense last year, so for those guys it was baptism by fire,” Kyle said.

The Tigers, who are carrying an 11-game losing streak and haven’t had a winning season in 10 years, insist that they have much to prove this year.

“We are looking to get respect from the community and our opponents,” said Zach Wilber (Sr. OL, 6-1, 270).

“We all worked so hard this offseason. Being here over the summer, we have stayed committed, and it’s something to leave behind,” said Zeb Clark, (Sr. FB, 5-9, 190).

Alexandria’s first game is Friday at Winchester, and the Tigers are looking to get in the win column early. The Tigers’ last win came against the Falcons in the 2006 sectional.

“Looking at our schedule, we feel that we will be much more competitive this year,” Kyle said. “We are concerned with our first game against Winchester. The sooner we can get a win, the sooner we can get that winning attitude.”

2008 SCHEDULE

Friday — at Winchester, 7 p.m.

Aug. 29 — Shenandoah, 7 p.m.