Jake Plummer, 34, led Capital High to its last football state championship 18 years ago.

A 1993 graduate, Plummer was an All-American quarterback at Arizona State and played 10 years in the NFL with Arizona and Denver before retiring in 2007. An avid handball player, Plummer now lives in Sandpoint, where he is an assistant coach at Sandpoint High, which is playing in the 4A title game Friday night at the Kibbie Dome.

On Wednesday, Plummer took time to talk with Statesman reporter Jesse Zentz:

Question: When you look back on your accomplishments as a football player, where does the 1991 championship rank?

Answer: "It was huge. It's hard to rate things like that, but at the moment, it was the biggest thing I had done. I can't say winning the Pac-10 with Arizona State was bigger, because it wasn't. That state title was really the only championship game I won. It was huge. There's video of me crying and saying it was the greatest feeling of all time, which is kind of embarrassing, but it was the greatest feeling. It's something I will never forget. It's a feeling that will last a lifetime."

Q: What do you remember about the 1991 title game?

A: "It was a lot of fun. We had a great team and a great player, Adam Alaniz (1991 All-Idaho Player of the Year), who made my job a lot easier. He was a great running back and I think he scored five TDs in the championship game. He was one of the best."

Q: Can you believe it's been 18 years since Capital's last title?

A: "No. It's hard to believe it's been that long, but hopefully, they can win another one. It's been too long."

Q: You're taking part in a championship on Friday as well. How did you get involved with Sandpoint's football team?

A: "I have always enjoyed coaching and working with kids. I didn't jump into this full time, but as the season has gone on, I find myself going to practice every day. I want to try to help these guys win a state title. But honestly, I wanted to get in good with the coach so I can get some of these players on the handball court if they're not playing other sports during the winter."

Q: How much handball are you playing these days?

A: "In the summer, we don't play at all, but from now until the middle of March we're inside two to three times a week. We have about 30 guys in Sandpoint playing. My brother is one of the best in the Northwest and I play in an occasional tournament. I kind of dropped it during college, but I picked it up again in Arizona and we had a great group of guys in Denver. Once I retired, I lost 15 pounds. Now, I'm quicker and I can move around the court a little bit better."

Q: Why did you want to get some of the high school football players on the court?

A: "The sport benefited me as an athlete, so we wanted start a little league up here this winter. I wanted to get them on the handball courts so they have a life sport."

Q: Are you enjoying being a football coach?

A: "Coaching these kids has been fun. I have a new appreciation for high school coaches. The time they put into it is amazing. Coaching high school has also put football back in a positive light for me. There were some negative feelings there in Denver after I retired and I was kind of able to purge that. The kids have brought the fun and enjoyment back out of me. I will continue to help out and hopefully inspire the kids. Who's to say they can't do what I did?"

Q: So when you're not coaching or playing handball, what are you up to these days?

A: "I've just been enjoying life up here, traveling a lot. I got married a couple years ago and life is great. I get to see family when I want to. I am enjoying life."

Q: How much do you know about Capital's current team? Do you follow their progress?

A: "Once coach (Steve) Vogel (Plummer's coach at Capital) was gone I lost a little interest, but I knew coach (Todd) Simis from coaching at my camp and he's done a nice job. Whenever Capital and Eagle played, (Eagle graduate and Denver teammate) Jeb Putzier and I used to have a nice little bet. I think we would give 100 bucks to the other guy's high school or something like that if we lost. I'll have to get in touch with him and see what we're going to do about this one."

Q: Any message you'd like to send to Capital's players prior to Friday's game?

A: "I would just say, 'Don't take this for granted and enjoy every minute.' This is something they may never do again and it's something they will always remember. I look back on times in high school and remember how much fun I had. They need to have fun and leave it all on the field. Hopefully, they'll be state champions."