WINSTON -- The Douglas Outlaws are hoping for an Oregon Football League title defense -- in more ways than one.

Last year's OFL championship game typified the way Douglas County's Class AA minor league football team won its games. The Outlaws defeated the Klamath County Crusaders 3-2 on a field goal by placekicker Keith Fuchs and gave Klamath its only points on a safety.

The Outlaws open their regular season at 3:30 p.m. Saturday against the Central Oregon Stampede at Winston Middle School, and defensive end Rob Castleman said this year's squad will be a lot like last year's: it might not score a lot of points, but it won't give up many, either.

"If our defense is not the best in the league, I want to see whose is," said Castleman, who is also the team's owner and founder.

Douglas went 1-1 in the preseason, and its defense stood out in both contests. In last Saturday's 9-0 loss to the Eugene Timberwolves, the Outlaws held a team that averages 46 points a game to just 10 points, according to Castleman.

"For us to hold them to nine points, I felt it was a moral victory for us," he said.

The Outlaws surrendered just one touchdown March 23 in an 8-6 win over the Yamhill Enforcers.

Linebacker Heath Wharton led Douglas with 14 tackles in the loss to Eugene, followed by strong safety Keala Aiwohi with 11.

Free safety Rocky Rodgers snatched two interceptions in the win over Yamhill.

Joining Aiwohi and Rodgers in the Outlaw secondary will be Fuchs (who will also handle the punting and placekicking duties) and Shawn Cardoza. Lining up alongside Wharton at linebacker will be George Rubio and Ryan Thomason.

Anchoring Douglas' defensive line will be Eric Koegler, a 5-foot-9, 190-pounder who will play nose guard on defense and line up at guard on offense.

"Koegler defies all football theory from a line standpoint," Castleman said. "To look at him you wouldn't think he'd be able to do what he does, but he plays like a 275-pounder. He has phenomenal quickness and great football sense."

Castleman and Reid Gislason are the Outlaws' starting defensive ends. Eric Percell, who stands at 6-2 and 280 pounds, will start at defensive tackle.

"On defense we line up 11 guys who can get after it and fly to the football," Castleman said.

Offensively, Douglas plans to use former Bandon High coach Don Markham's famed double-wing offense in an effort to put up higher point totals. The offense features two wingbacks, a fullback and two tight ends -- all of whom appear to move together as a huddle.

"The key to the offense is that you put more blockers at the point of attack than the defense has tacklers," Castleman said.

"It's an easy offense to learn in the sense that there's very few plays, but it's complex in its timing and blocking schemes. We go toe-to-toe; there's no line split. ... We put a lot of blockers at the point of attack; there's a lot of deceptive plays, misdirection and that kind of stuff."

The offense will be led by quarterback Steve Hutchinson. Playing wingback will be Brian Marsters and Mike Fassler.

When he returns from a foot injury suffered three weeks ago, Keri Ewing will be the starting fullback. Ewing scored the Outlaws' only touchdown so far this season against Yamhill.

Blocking for Douglas' backfield will be tackles Phil Kailiuli (6-0, 330) and Tim Brock (6-1, 240), guards Koegler and Paul Hudson (5-9, 185) and center Mickey Calvert (6-3, 285). Bion Mills and Brian Eckman will line up at the tight end spots.

Al Forde, an assistant coach for the Outlaws last year, takes over as head coach this season. Russell Stoeckert, who played receiver for Douglas a year ago, is now the team's defensive coordinator.

Last season the Outlaws got into the OFL championship game by virtue of some foul play on the part of another team. The Rogue Warriors of Medford brought in some players from a professional indoor football team after the cutoff date to add players.

Since those players were on the squad when the Warriors handed Douglas one of its two losses, it earned a berth in the league championship game.

"We did earn our spot in the championship game," Stoecker said. "The only thing that changed was our record."

Castleman is confident the Outlaws can get there without that kind of aid this time.

"As long as we stay healthy and stick together, I see us defending our championship," he said. "We may not score a ton of points, but we'll do what we've got to do to defend our title."