The Castle Park High School football team has been knocking on the door the past few seasons with excursions deep into the San Diego Section playoffs. The Trojans advanced to last year’s Division IV quarterfinals after making a trip two seasons ago to the division semifinals.
Castle Park’s combined record those two seasons was 15-9 with league championships in two both years.
This season’s Trojan squad will be looking toward the future rather than the present, according to head coach Hans Graham.
“We’re really young — we’re inexperienced,” Graham noted up front. “It’s going to be a rebuilding year.”
Castle Park lost 25 players to graduation after last season’s 7-5 finish.
“All the skill kids will be the new kids,” Graham said. “Pretty much everyone is up from the junior varsity.”
Top returners include wide receiver/corner back Anthony Navarro, wide receiver/defensive back Charles Tolbert and two-way lineman Ricardo Chavez.
Top newcomers include fullback/cornerback/safety Tyshon Peters, quarterback/safety Eleazar Cruz and running back/safety Airrien Smith.
Other players looking to impress include receiver/safety Ruben Navarrete, quarterback/linebacker Anthony Rodriguez, linebacker/running back Isaiah Morineau, defensive back Alex Gonzalez, linebacker/running back Joseph Chesser and defensive back Tony Shoemo.
Graham believes Smith will be the surprise of the bunch.
Navarro racked up 671 all-purpose yards last season: 175 rushing, 265 receiving, 153 on kick returns and 25 on punt returns. Navarro scored six touchdowns: five receiving and one rushing.
Tolbert amassed 411 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Finding players to bridge the gap will be the key to the team’s success in what rates a flat-out learning season.
“We’re almost starting over,” the CPHS head coach explained. “Learning will be a big part of it as the season goes on. It will be an interesting year.”
Southern exposure: Aztecs, Raiders, Cougars seek to join in on Metro-Pacific League banner chase
Montgomery Aztecs
The Montgomery Aztecs finished 2-8 last season but both of those wins came in Metro-Pacific League play. The Aztecs finished runner-up to Castle Park for the league title but did not qualify for the playoffs.
Top underclassmen on last year’s team included receiver Anthony Parra, and defenders Felipe Muro, Anthony Bugarin and Leon King.
Parra had 34 receptions for 625 yards and six touchdowns while Muro recorded 91 tackles (second on the team), Bugarin tallied 69 tackles (fourth on the team) and King racked up 34 tackles.
Bugarin also had four fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown.
Other players being counted on to buttress this year’s Montgomery squad include offensive lineman/linebacker Andrew Villagomez, receiver/defensive back Gabriel Santoyo, two-way linemen Orlando Castro, Juan Moreno and Diego Hernandez, and quarterback/defensive back Rene Moctezuma.
Castro, Moreno and Hernandez are all in excess of 240 pounds and will be difficult to move on the line.
Castle Park hosts Montgomery in the teams’ regular season finale — the Warrior Bowl. This year, it could carry more meaning than just for neighborhood bragging rights.
San Ysidro Cougars
The Cougars finished 0-9, including 0-3 in Metro-Pacific League play last season, under first-year head coach Bobby Hatchett. Hatchett’s second year looks to be more productive. San Ysidro graduated 12 seniors; a sizable number of players return familiar with the system, including quarterback Angel Guardado.
Fullback Alejandro Bonneau and running back Jeremiah Martinez both bring experience to the backfield. The Cougars also possess some size on the line and among the linebacker corps.
Southwest Raiders
The Raiders finished 1-9, including 1-2 in Metro-Pacific League play last season. Second-year coach Paco Silva is optimistic about improvement this season with the return of 13 starters.
Quarterback David Espinoza will be joined in the backfield by running backs Lenny Hoar, Josh Sanchez and Zaire Simpson. Angel Saldana and Josh Aguayo, both with size, will anchor the defensive line. Saldana is a two-way lineman; Aguayo plays tight end on offense.
Montgomery, San Isidro and Southwest will all be vying for berths in this year’s Division V playoff field.
2016 Metro Conference Football Schedules
Metro-Pacific League
Castle Park Trojans
August
26: Castle Park at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
September
2: Castle Park at Mar Vista,7 p.m.
9: Santana at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
16: Chula Vista at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
23: Bye
30: San Pasqual at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
October
7: Castle Park at Bonita Vista (Southwestern College), 7 p.m.
14: Castle Park at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
21: Southwest at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
28: Castle Park at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
November
4: Montgomery at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
Montgomery Aztecs
August
26: La Jolla at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
September
2: Montgomery at El Cajon Valley, 7 p.m.
9: Army-Navy Academy at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
16: Santana at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
23: Montgomery at Clairemont, 7 p.m.
30: Orange Glen at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
October
7: Montgomery at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
14: Bye
21: San Ysidro at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
28: Montgomery at Southwest, 7 p.m.
November
4: Montgomery at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
San Ysidro Cougars
August
26: San Ysidro at Coronado, 7 p.m.
September
2: Serra at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
9: Los Angeles Crenshaw at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
16: Vincent Memorial at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
23: San Ysidro vs. Lutheran at Hilltop High School, 7 p.m.
30: Murrieta Mesa at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
October
7: San Ysidro vs. Escondido Charter at Orange Glen High School, 7 p.m.
14: Bye
21: San Ysidro at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
28: Castle Park at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
November
4: Southwest at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
Southwest Raiders
August
26: Holtville at Southwest, 7 p.m.
September
2: Tijuana (Mex.) Xochicalco at Southwest, 7 p.m.
9: Crawford at Southwest, 7 p.m.
16: Tri-City Christian at Southwest, 7 p.m.
23: Mountain Empire at Southwest, 7 p.m.
30: Southwest at Calexico, 7 p.m.
October
7: Bye
14: Mar Vista at Southwest, 7 p.m.
21: Southwest at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
28: Montgomery at Southwest, 7 p.m.
November
4: Southwest at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
