Eastlake High School established itself as the preeminent football team in the Metro Conference last season by winning the Metro-Mesa League championship and advancing to the San Diego Section Division I semifinals.
The Titans, who finished 10-2 overall in 2018, figure to rank among the top teams in the section once again this season despite undergoing some major lineup changes.
Veteran head coach John McFadden is hoping the gains offset the offseason losses.
“Our main goal is to come together as a team,” McFadden said. “We’ve had some kids leave for other schools but we’re very lucky to have the kids we have. I’m excited about the kids we have. We have a very good football team.”
Eastlake topped the large entry list of Metro teams at June’s 13th annual Southwestern College Passing Tournament by advancing to the championship bracket semifinals. The Titans dropped their final game, 36-34, to La Jolla to miss a match-up against Lincoln in the final.
Eastlake, in fact, entered two teams in the 31-team tournament. The Eastlake B squad advanced as far as the consolation bracket quarterfinals, losing 33-17 to eventual consolation bracket champion West Hills.
The two Titan squads combined for a 9-4 record in the two-day event.
“It gets the competitive juices going,” McFadden said in regard to offseason competition. “The offense gets to look at defensive patterns. You get to see the intensity of the kids.”
McFadden admitted several players will have to step up their game this season for the team to enjoy continued success.
The team’s biggest loss to graduation, particularly on defense, was middle linebacker/tight end Josh McCurty. Otherwise known as a one-man wrecking crew, McCurty led the Titans last season with 193 tackles, including 127 solo stops, while amassing nine sacks and collecting three fumble recoveries.
As a junior, he led the section with 206 tackles.
The intensely charismatic McCurty (6-1, 230) scored two touchdowns last season — one on a fumble recovery and one on a pass reception. He will look to wreak havoc on the community college gridiron with Southwestern College this coming season.
The EHS lineup also took a big hit on offense.
Darius De Los Reyes, who led Eastlake with 14 touchdowns last year as a junior, has since transferred to Lincoln, while Richard Colmenero III, who threw for 2,111 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore, has transferred to St. Augustine.
The Titans lost 25 seniors to graduation. They accounted for 32 touchdowns last season.
But it’s not a complete rebuild.
Eastlake returns six starters: seniors Maximum Susi (outside linebacker), Mateo La (running back), Jackson Daley (defensive/offensive lineman), Josh Concepcion (offensive/defensive lineman), Holden Stephens (receiver/defensive back) and Jerwin Novicio (safety/receiver).
Other top returning players include senior lineman Nick Pultorak, senior outside linebacker/quarterback Josiah McGuire and senior defensive back Andrew Kamo.
Daley, Stephens and Susi have all received recruiting interest from college programs.
La and Stephens rank as the team’s top returning offensive players; both scored two touchdowns last season in support roles.
Newcomers Jerome Patterson and Kalehn Newsome, both senior running backs/defensive backs, are top track and field athletes and will bring breakaway speed to the lineup. Senior Emiliano Lozano is another fleet-footed addition to the backfield.
Daley (6-3, 155), Concepcion (6-0, 225), and Pultorak (5-11, 220) will anchor the line with help from newcomers Miguel Esparza (6-0, 260), Jordan Collier (6-0, 240) and Gabriel Acosta (6-3, 215).
Defensive leaders include Susi, Novicio, Kamo and McGuire — “all returners who either started or played a lot,” McFadden said.
Top newcomers include sophomores Christian Aguilar (linebacker/running back), and Trey White (linebacker/running back) along with juniors Gabriel Acosta (linebacker/offensive line), Anthony Gonzales (receiver/defensive back) and Michael Martin (receiver/defensive back).
Other newcomers looking to impress include sophomore receiver/defensive back Jordan Blondin (5-10, 160) and sophomore running back/defensive back Jordan Swan (5-7, 155).
Adriel Colmenero and Cole McFarlane, up from last year’s junior varsity team, were battling for the starting quarterback job over the summer.
“Overall, our team speed will be better than last year — we will be a lot faster,” McFadden said. “The quarterbacks are adjusting, getting better and better.
“Our weakness will be our youth.”
Iron men
Eastlake will need to get it together from the very beginning as the Titans will not have a break, playing 10 consecutive weeks before enjoying a bye week prior to the start of the CIF playoffs.
It will be a grueling non-stop schedule, starting at Steele Canyon (Aug. 23) and continuing with non-league games against St. Augustine (Aug. 30), Lincoln (Sept. 6), San Jacinto (Sept. 13), Cathedral Catholic (Sept. 20) and El Camino (Sept. 27) before league play kicks off Oct. 4 against visiting Mater Dei Catholic.
Eastlake will have the playoffs to look forward to — either in the Division I or Open Division brackets.
Eastlake defenders got into the action as well during last Friday’s scrimmage. Photos by Scott Hopkins
Metro Conference
Football Alignment
Metro-Mesa League
- Bonita Vista Barons
- Eastlake Titans
- Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders
- Olympian Eagles
- Otay Ranch Mustangs
Metro-South Bay League
- Chula Vista Spartans
- Hilltop Lancers
- Mar Vista Mariners
- Sweetwater Red Devils
Metro-Pacific League
- Castle Park Trojans
- Montgomery Aztecs
- San Ysidro Cougars
- Southwest Raiders
Sam Kirkland hopes to achieve better success in his second season at Bonita Vista. Photo by Phillip Brents
METRO-MESA LEAGUE PREVIEW
Young Barons looking to play as a unit, eliminate mistakes
Sam Kirkland is embarking on his second season as head coach of the Bonita Vista Barons. His first season produced a 2-8 record and several things on the checklist that needed correction.
“The first thing I took from last year was that I wanted us to be accountable,” Kirkland said. “Last year I noticed some division in the team, cliques by class. I want us to be one class going forward, one team. That was the only negative. Otherwise, we were a young team last year.”
The Barons expect to be a young team again this season, though with more experience.
“We graduated quite a few seniors,” Kirkland said. “We graduated our quarterback, two receivers, two offensive linemen. On defense, we lost a lot of guys — three linebackers and two defensive backs.
“This year we have quite a few guys coming back, but we’ll still be a relatively young team. But those guys have some experience because they had to play last year. They’re fast and aggressive. The biggest thing is that we need to cut down on turnovers and finish plays.”
The last two attributes defined the course of last year’s team and seem correctable.
A more user-friendly schedule should also facilitate improvement, with games against San Ysidro and Sweetwater added to the team’s non-league schedule.
However, Kirkland said he is not looking past any opponent.
“The last two years we have played some great teams in our non-league schedule but we look at everybody as tough opponents,” he said. “None of these teams are by any means a pushover. It should be more competitive for us.”
Top players this season include senior defensive tackle Egor Cleary and senior defensive end Adriel Ramos, junior linebacker Justin Locke and senior defensive backs Tony Cornejo, Ron Vann Jr. and George Herrero.
“We have a lot of experience on that side of the ball,” the BV head coach said.
Promising newcomer Darian Whaley expects to see plenty of action
this season for the Barons. Photo by Phillip Brents
First team all-league pick Roland Cota, a cornerback/receiver/running back, and senior offensive tackle Alex Alcala, a returning second team all-league selection, will anchor the offense.
Cota amassed 1,026 all-purpose years in nine games last season, scoring eight touchdowns, while averaging 29.9 yards on kickoff returns.
The Barons are counting on production from senior Gabe Burke, sophomore Darian Whaley and junior John Inzunza at the tailback position.
Whaley is the son of former Eastlake standout Mark Whaley.
Kirkland said there has been a preseason battle at quarterback between sophomore Nathan Roble-Cristobal and senior Chris Kane.
Promising newcomers include Whaley, Burke, Roble-Cristobal, junior defensive tackle Muhammad Deiraneh and sophomore linebacker Leo Zepeda.
Kirkland called Cornejo the team’s “surprise.”
“Tony is a playmaker on both sides,” Kirkland said. “He could be all-league if he lives up to his potential. He’s our biggest surprise and wants to take it to the next level his senior year.”
Bonita Vista kicks off the season Friday, Aug. 23, against St. Augustine. Game time is 7 p.m. at Mesa College. The game will be available for viewing on the NFHS Network.
The Saints drubbed the Barons, 35-0, in last year’s season opener.
Non-league games follow against San Ysidro (Aug. 30), Sweetwater (Sept. 6), Steele Canyon (Sept. 13), Patrick Henry (Sept. 20) and Hilltop (Sept. 27) before kicking off Metro-Mesa League play Oct. 4 against visiting Otay Ranch.
Bonita Vista hosts Eastlake a week later in the teams’ annual Battle for the Boot rivalry game.
“I want us to play aggressive on both sides of the ball and be on the plus side of the turnover margin,” Kirkland said. “We want to protect the ball on the road. We’ve got to make plays on special teams. We’ve got to find a way to make a game-changing play. Every team has to do that to be successful.”
Mater Dei Catholic High School:
Calvert, Appelman loom big as offensive leaders for Crusaders
The Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders finished 3-7 last season, 1-3 in Metro-Mesa League play, and did not qualify for the San Diego Section playoffs.
The Crusaders will be fielding a very young team this season, with only two seniors in the lineup, but will be powered by players at key skill positions that could allow the team to grow on the field.
Senior Aiden Calvert returns in the backfield after punishing opposing defenses with his speed last year while junior quarterback Trevor Appelman has matured with a year of experience behind center as well as maturing in body size (6-6, 190).
Calvert has already attracted a number of scholarship offers, including those from Army, Air Force, Bucknell and Montana State.
“He’s now a senior, he’s a load,” Mater Dei Catholic head coach John Joyner said in regard to Calvert. “He’s the man.”
Joyner said he likes Appelman’s maturity — both physical and mental — as a key element in the offense. “He’s taken giant leaps,” Joyner said of his signal-caller.
Appelman will be throwing to a cadre of extremely fast receivers: juniors Jacob Cannon, Raymond Romero, Darren Barkins and Kailon King.
Defensive leaders include junior linebacker Michael Harrington and senior defensive back Jonathan Miller, a returning all-league performer.
“Defensively, we’re very young but it’s a fast defense,” Joyner said.
The team’s linemen are led by Eric Davis (defense) and Matthew Pena (offense).
As for the whole package? “I’m quietly excited,” Joyner said.
Otay Ranch High School:
Mustangs to reload after graduating more than 30 seniors
Otay Ranch head coach Lance Christensen is entering his sixth year at the helm of the Mustangs, who came within a whisker of advancing to the second round of last year’s San Diego Section Division I playoffs.
At 6-5 overall in 2018, Otay Ranch finished 3-1 in Metro-Mesa League play, dropping a defensive-minded 14-0 decision to Eastlake in the league championship game.
The Mustangs will have to absorb the loss of more than 30 seniors to graduation, including key players such as linebacker Dylan Zolezzi and quarterback Jonte “Puka” Stewart.
Stewart passed for 1,314 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while rushing for 715 yards and five scores.
Zolezzi racked up 103 tackles and eight sacks.
Both were first team all-league picks.
Otay Ranch does return a wealth of talent in 2019, especially on the line.
Top returning offensive linemen include tight end Dylan Baca as well as Zak Rachow, Gerald Cordero, Mike Herrera and Esteban Vargas.
Top returning defensive linemen include Jaiden Smith, Valu Kauvaka and Angelo Marquez.
Fullback/linebacker Owen Oswald and defensive back Paul Richardson also return.
Rachow dominates the line at 6-8 and 240 pounds. Putting opposing players on their backs will open up holes for the Otay Ranch running game.
Baca caught 20 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns last season.
The Mustangs’ younger skill position players will need to step up.
Paco Puentes, who is in line to inherit the quarterback position, completed two of four passing attempts for 34 yards in three game appearances last year.
Manuel Martinez recorded 31 kicking points in seven games last season, finishing 22-of-25 on PAT conversions and successfully making three of five field goal attempts, including a 40-yarder.
Otay Ranch showed it can compete after advancing to the quarterfinal round of June’s 13th annual Southwestern College Passing Tournament, dropping a 26-25 decision to league rival Eastlake in a hotly contested game.
The Mustangs completed pool play undefeated at 2-0-1, notching a 13-6 win against Christian, a 35-7 win over Sweetwater and a 14-14 tie against Mar Vista.
Otay Ranch defeated Hilltop, 46-12, in its opening playoff game, then topped Montgomery, 33-28, to draw the Titans.
The Mustangs host San Marcos to kick off 2019 regular season play on Friday, Aug. 23, before traveling to Valley Center (Aug. 30) and Point Loma (Sept. 6) for an additional pair of non-league games. Otay Ranch’s schedule doesn’t get any easier with games scheduled against St. Augustine (Sept. 13), Steele Canyon (Sept. 20) and Cathedral Catholic (Sept. 27) before hitting league play.
Olympian HIgh School:
Eagles seeking to move in positive direction under new coach
First-year Olympian head coach Ryan Van Nostrand seems highly optimistic about the 2019 high school football season. Why not? The Eagles have the potential to soar.
“We are really excited to have many returning players in key roles,” explained Van Nostrand, who takes over the coaching reins from his father Paul after a lengthy stint as an assistant coach. “Offensively we have three starters returning on the offensive line as well as the quarterback returning. First team all-leaguer Anthony Gilpin will play a major role on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver/defensive back. Defensively Diego Sanchez will look to fill the void left by first team all-league linebacker Jared Desmond. Returning juniors Rob Pagan and Berry Buxton will look to improve after solid sophomore seasons.”
Top returners include Gilpin, a senior, who earned first team all-league honors as a receiver, senior quarterback Lukas Hamilton, Sanchez, a senior running back/linebacker, senior tight end/linebacker Tyler Powers, senior lineman Jonah Guerrero, Buxton, a junior receiver/defensive back, and Pagan, a junior lineman.
Sanchez registered 115 total tackles last season, second on the team to Desmond’s 156 stops. Gilpin recorded 97 tackles, including 77 unassisted tackles, while making one fumble recovery.
Guerrero had three sacks while Powers and Buxton both scored on interception returns.
Impact newcomers include junior receiver/linebacker Ohwofasa Briggs, junior receiver/defensive backs Matthew Hawkins and Nevin Baclig and junior running back/linebacker Alijah Robinson.
Olympian will be looking to improve on its 3-8 record of a season ago, including a 2-2 mark in league play. Despite the optimism, the Eagles still possess one of the more challenging schedules in the section.
Olympian kicks off the 2019 season with a non-league game at Ramona (Aug. 23), followed by top-notch non-league match-ups against Poway (Aug. 30), Torrey Pines (Sept. 6), Grossmont (Sept. 13), Point Loma (Sept. 20) and Oceanside (Sept. 27) before opening league play with a home game against Mater Dei Catholic on Oct. 11.
METRO-SOUTH BAY LEAGUE PREVIEW
Hilltop High School:
Lancers could be poised for breakout season in title defense
The Hilltop Lancers finished last season with a rush to win their second consecutive Metro-South Bay League championship.
The Lancers finished 5-6 overall, including a 42-14 loss to eventual Division III champion Morse in the opening round of the San Diego Section playoffs.
Last year’s record was highly misleading, with several games within reach of a victory before events conspired to send the team off the field with a disappointing loss.
The new season, of course, brings renewed hope and higher expectations.
“This year’s team has the chance to be the most successful in school history as they have been in a strength training program for three years,” Hilltop head coach Drew Westling explained.
“This is our fourth year. This group of seniors will be the first class I’ve had all the way through from freshmen. We’re excited to see how good they can be with four years of development.”
The Lancers closed out summer passing tournament play by fielding a split squad for the 13th annual Southwestern College tournament at the end of June. The team has been hitting the practice field hard since the start of August, hosting La Jolla in a scrimmage last Friday.
Top returners include a trio of all-league performers: seniors Marko Aki, Jeremiah Serrano and Gage Scruggs. Aki (30 catches, 317 yards) and Serrano (670 rushing yards, four touchdowns) were both first team picks while Scruggs (77 tackles) was named to the second team.
Serrano showed his versatility by also catching 42 passes for 428 yards.
Aki scored three touchdowns last year — one rushing and two receiving.
Scruggs made 31 unassisted tackles and had three sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Other impact players include seniors Javin Deanda, Colton Tull and Andrew Velasquez.
Deanda is taking over the starting quarterback reins after appearing in six games last year with six completions in 11 attempts for 82 yards and two touchdowns. He takes over for graduated senior Joey Castillo, who passed for 2,207 yards and 12 TDs.
“It feels great,” Deanda said. “I think I can handle the pressure. Last year was a learning experience.”
Tull and Velasquez are among five returning starting linemen, joining classmates Andrik Haros, Michael McShane and Michael Dye.
Impact newcomers include juniors Christian Leyva, Ian Ramirez, Michael Rodriguez and Steve Collins.
Game on
Hilltop kicks off the 2019 season with a pair of non-league road games at Escondido on Aug. 23 and El Capitan on Aug. 30 before hosting San Ysidro in a non-league contest on Sept. 6.
The match-up against San Ysidro kicks off a run of five consecutive home games that also includes non-league contests against Valhalla (Sept. 13), Morse (Sept. 20), Bonita Vista (Sept. 27) and Mountain Empire (Oct. 4).
The Lancers’ three league games include match-ups against Chula Vista, Sweetwater and Mar Vista.
Hilltop will play at Chula Vista on Oct. 18 as the teams resume their Kiwanis Bowl series.
The Lancers will host Sweetwater on Oct. 25 as Hilltop alumnus and current SuHi head coach Bryan Wagner makes a personal homecoming to Robert Dodds Stadium.
Mar Vista will host Hilltop in the teams’ regular season finale on Nov. 1.
Chula Vista High School:
Spartans looking to rebound with experienced returning group
The Chula Vista Spartans kicked off the 2018 season on a promising note by winning their opening two games. The team then lost its next eight games to finish regular season play 2-8.
The Spartans regrouped in the playoffs by defeating host Coronado, 31-7, in the opening round but saw their season end with a 27-0 loss to eventual Division IV champion San Diego.
“Although 2018 was a rough year, many of our best players last year were juniors,” CVHS head coach Howard Bannister III pointed out. “Dylan Sallee was our MVP and Leo Ibarra was our defensive MVP. Andrew Marquez and Jesus Rodriguez will be three-year starters on varsity. Karlos Jimenez got significant carries the last three games of the season and will be ready for varsity this year.
“We are very excited about Martin Jellison, who transferred in from La Jolla. He will be playing middle linebacker and running back and will be a problem for most teams this year. We are similarly excited about Omar Perez taking the reins at quarterback. He has every measurable you want in a quarterback: He’s tall, he’s smart and he has a big arm. Now he just needs to get the experience under his belt.”
Of special note, Sallee (safety/wide receiver) logged 31 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns on offense while leading the team with 64 tackles and making two interceptions on defense.
He joins six other top returners as senior leaders in 2019: Ibarra (strong safety, receiver), Marquez (tight end/defensive end), Rodriguez (middle linebacker/fullback), Alejandro Guzman (receiver/cornerback), Marcus Castillo (defensive tackle) and Carlos Serratos (cornerback/quarterback).
Jimenez, a running back/receiver, is a junior.
Impact newcomers include Jellison (5-10, 250), Perez (6-2, 200) and senior running back/safety Nain Fernandez.
Jellison appeared in nine games for the Vikings last season, recording 32 tackles and one fumble recovery.
Perez appeared in just one game last year, attempting two passes.
Expect significantly more this season from both players.
The Spartans host Mount Miguel on Aug. 30 after kicking off the season Friday, Aug. 23, with a non-league game at La Jolla Country Day.
Sweetwater High School:
Young but smart Red Devils look for improvement in new season
The Sweetwater High School football team experienced a series of highs and lows during the 2018 prep pigskin campaign. It ended with a first-round playoff loss and an overall 3-8 record, including 1-2 in South Bay League play.
Prospects for the 2019 season are much more encouraging with an experienced group of returners and a lighter schedule.
“We expect to have a more competitive season,” SuHi head coach Bryan Wagner said. “The team’s football IQ is better than previous years and there is more of a team-first mentality. We are in our third year running the same offense and the second year running the defense, so we are continuously getting better. Our non-league schedule is better suited for us to have a winning record.”
Top returners feature seniors Cesar Salazar and Nicholas Salazar, both first team all-league selections, and juniors Steven Aviles and Maria Villa.
Villa rushed for 236 yards last season while Nicholas Salazar had 10 catches for 75 yards.
Aviles was a second team all-league pick.
Impact newcomers include Isaiah Atayde, C.J Sanders and Adrian Gonzales.
Atayde, a junior, comes into the season after throwing just 13 passes last year, completing eight for 110 yards, as a back-up in the team’s run-oriented offense.
The Devils will need to overcome the loss of Luciano Estopier, who collected 1,167 all-purpose yards last year, averaging 106.1 yards per game.
“We’re going with a lot of sophomores this year as we had a lot of seniors graduate,” Wagner noted. “We’re young but smart. If we can make the right decisions on both sides of the ball, we’ll be OK. Our offensive line is better. That should help us.”
Sweetwater hosts San Pasqual in a non-league contest on Friday. Aug. 23, to kick off the 2019 season. The Red Devils’ non-league schedule also features contests against Fallbrook, Bonita Vista, Santana, Mount Miguel, Vincent Memorial and Montgomery.
Wagner, a Hilltop graduate, returns to his alma mater on Oct. 25 as the Red Devils tackle the Lancers in a league match-up.
“We have a better schedule — we don’t have to play Lincoln or Carlsbad,” Wagner said. “I definitely think we’ll be in the hunt for league.”
Mar Vista High School:
Inexperienced Mariners will need to overcome challenges in 2019
The Mar Vista Mariners rewarded head coach Tyler Arciaga last year with a 7-4 record, including a runner-up finish in Metro-South Bay League play.
The Mariners earned the No. 4 seed in the Division IV playoffs but the season ended on a disappointing note with a 23-6 loss to fifth-seeded Santana in the quarterfinals.
With 11 returning varsity players, including only four returning starters, the upcoming season looks to be somewhat more challenging for the Imperial Beach team.
“We have a very young and inexperienced team,” stressed Arciaga, whose team hosts Classical Academy on Friday, Aug. 23, to kick off the new season. “There are a lot of guys battling for starting positions and playing time. We do not have a single player who scored a point for us last year — touchdown, PAT, safety.”
However, not all is gloomy. Arciaga noted that all the team’s seniors have varsity experience.
Top returners include senior offensive lineman Paul Fieweger (6-1, 220), senior linebacker Diego Garza (5-8, 190), junior running back/defensive back Isaac Maldonado (5-10, 170), senior linebacker/tight end/long snapper Zack Duhala (6-0, 205), junior lineman Lyziah Wright (5-10, 245), junior lineman Pablo Malave (6-1, 235) and senior receiver/defensive back Jesus Godinez (5-8, 160).
Top newcomers include senior receiver/running back/defensive back Jo’Vahn Young (5-11, 180), senior receiver/defensive back Angel Mesa (5-10, 160), sophomore receiver/defensive back Dante Pacheco (6-1, 170), sophomore center/defensive lineman J.P. Risley (5-10, 210) and junior running back/linebacker Elias Gomez (5-8, 175). Young amassed 941 all-purpose yards and scored nine TDs last year at Southwest.
“On offense, I believe our strength will be our running backs with Isaac Maldonado, Elias Gomez and Jo’Vahn Young getting carries,” Arciaga said. “We are currently having a battle at quarterback with senior Mike Maeva and sophomore Hunter Thomas. Neither have any varsity experience and the start probably won’t be named until after the scrimmage. Linebacker Diego Garza will be our emergency quarterback as he can command the huddle and distribute the ball.
“Our receiving corps should be solid with Pacheco, Godinez, Mesa, Young, Max Gutierrez and veteran Juan Larson. Our offensive line is fairly young, but the most experienced lineman returning is Fieweger and Wright. Sophomore J.P. Risley has looked like he will be the center going into the season and we have a guard and tackle position up for grabs.
“On defense, we look for MLB Diego Garza and OLB Zack Duhala take a leadership role as they are both returning all-league performers. We also look to have Pacheco, Young, Mesa, and Godinez make a significant impact in the secondary. Our defensive line will be very inexperienced. Losing All-CIF performer Damon Thomas and first team all-league performer Demetrius Smith will be tough to replace at the defensive ends.”
METRO-PACIFIC LEAGUE PREVIEW
Castle Park High School:
Trojans to field young team with potential in defense of title
New head coach Chris Livesay calls the 2019 edition of the Castle Park Trojans a “young team with a lot of potential.”
The Trojans finished 2018 with a 6-5 record as Metro-Pacific League champions and secured a berth in the San Diego Section Division V playoffs.
Castle Park narrowly lost its first-round playoff match, 7-0, to Maranatha Christian.
Livesay said he see’s a lot to build on from last season.
“The strength of the team will be defense, with four returning all-league players — Chris Romero, Jose Castro, Ramon Cabal and Robert Abarca — and new transfer Sergio Cortez,” Livesay said.
Romero, a senior defensive end/tight end, earned accolades last season as a first team all-league defensive pick while Abarca, a junior defensive back/running back, Castro, a senior linebacker tight end, and Cabal, a junior linebacker/running back, were all second team all-league selections.
Abarca led the team with 60 total tackles last season, followed by Castro (46 tackles) and Romero (43 tackles).
Other top returners include junior offensive lineman/linebacker Bobby Escobar, senior running back/defensive back Chris Wright, senior quarterback/cornerback Demarkus Lewis and junior running back/receiver/defensive back Erik Hernandez.
Hernandez rushed for 260 yards and scored one touchdown behind graduated senior Tyrone Lake (661 yards, four touchdowns) while catching 15 passes for 129 yards and one score.
Wright and Cabal both scored rushing TDs last season.
Livesay lists a number of newcomers expected to impact the team this season, including sophomore defensive back/receiver Ashaun Duncan-Clayborn, senior defensive end/linebacker Sergio Cortez, sophomore offensive lineman/linebacker Ricardo Soto, junior running back/linebacker Jonathan Soto, junior defensive back/receiver Sammy Garcia, sophomore cornerback/receiver Jose Jackson, sophomore lineman Oscar Sandoval, junior defensive back/running back. Receiver Xavier Alvarado and junior receiver/defensive back Marco Esparza.
The Trojans averaged 117 rushing yards and 102 passing yards per game last season as the team won five of its last six regular season games, with the only loss in overtime.
Matching that will be a goal this season.
“We have a lot of question marks on the offensive line,” Livesay conceded.
Skill positions appear set, however.
“Demarkus Lewis has had an impressive offseason in his first year playing quarterback,” Livesay said. “Erik Hernandez and Chris Wright will get a bulk of the carries on offense.”
The Trojans will have a bead on where they stack up when they play at O’Farrell Charter to kick off the 2019 season on Friday, Aug. 23. Castle Park beat the first-year Falcons, 55-6, last year.
Montgomery High School:
Aztecs look to impress with good mix of seniors, upcoming talent
The Montgomery Aztecs finished 5-5 last season as the Metro-Pacific League runner-up and, in the opinion of several observers, should have been included in the San Diego Section playoffs.
The Aztecs look to impress in upcoming seasons, according to second-year head coach Freddy Dunkle.
“We have a nice mix of seniors but with really good young talent from the junior and sophomore classes,” Dunkle said. “A year from now, we should be really good, but if we can get a lot of players to step up now we could have a good year.”
Montgomery will field a team with starters in several key positions.
Senior offensive linemen Angel Lemus and Jonathan Chavez, along with senior tight end Agelu Meredith, key the offensive front line for junior quarterback Alexander Dixie and running backs Daniel Ortiz, a junior, and Xavier Brown, a senior.
The defense is led by juniors Jaheem Williams (safety) and Zach Pearson (linebacker), along with safeties Ben Larsen, a junior, and Juan Estrada, a sophomore.
Williams and Venegas may also see time in the offensive backfield while Pearson may join junior Isaiah King at the receiver slot.
Sophomore running back/defensive tackle Christian Venegas and senior linebacker/running back Adrian Biseno are other key two-way players.
Venegas led the team with seven touchdowns, including six rushing scores, last year while Williams (435 all-purpose yards) scored six rushing touchdowns.
Briseno ranked second on the Aztecs last season with 48 tackles and led the team with two fumble recoveries while Larsen had two interceptions.
Southwest High School:
Raiders looking to compete under new head coach
Former Marian Catholic High School and Imperial Beach/South San Diego Chiefs youth football standout Domonic Cruz entered his name in the San Diego Section record book by averaging 42.0 yards per carry in a game against Christian High School on Oct. 24, 1997.
The rushing statistic ranks second all-time.
He’d like to see a few of his current charges enter their names in the section record book as well after assuming head coaching duties at Southwest High School.
“I’m happy to be back in the neighborhood I grew up in and giving back to the community, the values and experiences I had playing football,” Cruz said.
He has his work cut out for him in his first year. The Raiders return just three starters from last year’s 5-7 playoff squad. The goal is to compete this season, he said.
“After winning their first playoff game in recent years, the Raiders have lost key returners due to transferring out,” Cruz assessed. “Under a new head coach, the Raiders will be learning a new system, so it may take time for everything to mesh. Academics hurt their chances in the playoffs last year, so keeping everyone eligible will be a major goal.”
Top returners include juniors Daniel Carrillo, junior fullback/outside linebacker Enrique Gonzalez, senior linebacker/running back Ray Flores and junior running back/center Sebastian Valadez.
Flores earned first team all-league defensive honors last season while Carrillo, who rushed for 372 yards and four touchdowns, was a second team all-league pick.
The team’s impact newcomers include seniors Keshon Stokes and Juan Cobian, juniors Joel Salazar, Cristian Ruiz, Jesse Luna, Nathaniel Rosillo, Enrique Cisneros, Isaac Solano and sophomore Brian Garcia-Malo.
San Ysidro High School:
Cougars — 0-10 in 2018 — want more in 2019
Coming off an 0-10 season, San Ysidro head coach Keith Aguon said the Cougars can only go up.
“Our team goal every year is to win league, and being in the Metro Pacific, we hope to feed off what Castle Park did, which is win the league coming off an 0-10 season,” Aguon said. “Our JV did well last season and, when we called them up late last season, we almost upset Castle Park. We are excited to bring the young guys up, and also adding a few athletes from basketball and soccer. Those athletes have stood out the most so far this summer.”
Top returners include senior running back Josue Juarez, a second team all-league selection last year, junior receiver Jesse Hernandez, senior nose guard/offensive tackle Joshiel Alvarez, junior lineman Daniel Placencia, junior offensive lineman Jesse Ulloa, senior lineman Hector Lopez, senior defensive lineman Thomas Layana, sophomore athlete Mckai Jackson, senior quarterback Alfredo Mendez and senior punter Hector Borbon. Aguon said to keep an eye on Jackson.
The team’s impact newcomers include sophomore linebacker/running back Matthew Jaime and junior linebacker Santiago Portillo, both up from the junior varsity squad, senior athlete Philix Kilbourne and junior defensive back Hezekiah Carter, both from basketball, junior receiver Marco Gonzlaez (from soccer) and senior transfer Bernard Phillips.
San Ysidro hosts Mission Bay (Aug. 23) and Bonita Vista (Aug. 30) in its opening two games.
