Although the expectations of the area’s five high school football teams may vary, they share a common goal for the upcoming season. It’s all about making the playoffs.
Doing so will likely require winning a weak division (the aim of Los Altos and Gunn highs), finishing among the top three in a stronger one (Mountain View and Homestead highs) or placing among the upper half of perhaps the toughest league in the state (St. Francis High).
Recent history indicates fewer than half of these teams will reach this measure of success – St. Francis was the lone local school to make the Central Coast Section playoffs last year and was joined by only Mountain View the year before – but all appear capable of contending for a spot.
Here’s how each team shapes up for the 2006 season, starting as early as Friday for some:
Los Altos High
League: Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division.
Coac Jeff Kalb, first year.
Last season: Second in division at 5-1; 7-3 overall.
Key returners: OG/LB Kellen McColl; DL/OL Yousef Saadeh; HB/CB D.J. Archie; CB/WR Dion Taylor; OL/DL Semisi Hoko; FB Devin Matthews; LB Mitch McGillis; FB/LB Robert Guadagnini.
Top newcomers: QB Danny Young; DE Taeaonaisaua Tuufuli; WR/S Ben Kohl; WR/CB Kenny Peterman.
Outlook: The Eagles haven’t made the playoffs in eight years, and Kalb said he feels pressure to take them there in his first year as coach. It won’t be easy. Los Altos is hindered by playing in a little-respected division that rarely sends more than the champion to CCS and by facing an underwhelming non-league slate that may not produce enough power points for an at-large berth. Kalb, the Eagles’ third coach in as many years, believes the division title will come down to Los Altos and Saratoga, a team returning to the El Camino after taking its lumps in the formidable De Anza Division. Kalb isn’t too concerned about having a roster of only 33, because “26 are very good players and athletes” and no more than four will start both ways. All-leaguer McColl will be among those starting on offense and defense. The coach said the 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior has improved as an outside linebacker and will be the division’s best tight end, even though he’s making the transition from guard. That’s one of several changes on an offense that has new starters at quarterback, running back and receiver. Look for Los Altos to rely on the run game and not ask Young, a junior emerging as a team leader, to win games with his arm. Kalb predicts a 1,000-yard season from Archie, a senior who was part of the halfback-by-committee approach that worked so well last year. All-leaguer Saadeh (6-2, 240) and Hoko (6-1, 250) will again be counted on to open the holes. Kalb said receiver Kohl “is very athletic” and will likely team with fellow junior Peterman. The coach considers the defense the team’s strength, a unit led by all-league cornerback Taylor, physical linebackers McGillis and Guadagnini and explosive pass rusher Tuufuli.
Coach’s quote: “We need to take care of business right off the bat and get in a rhythm and build chemistry. If we don’t, we could have problems.”
Season opener: 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Evergreen Valley (San Jose).
Did you know? Archie’s father, Darrell, is the head coach of Los Altos’ junior-varsity team.
Mountain View High
League: SCVAL De Anza Division.
Coac Dan Navarro, 20th year.
Last season: Fourth in division at 3-3; 5-5 overall.
Key returners: TE/NT Joape Pela; HB/SS Brandon Hamilton; FS/WR LeShawn James; WR/DB Trevor Campbell; CB/HB Shane Buonos; LB Shane Cooney; LB/FB Mark Good; DE/OG Nikolai Lemak; OL/LB Adam Yefet; QB Jeff Jalaba; DE David Fisher.
Top newcomers: WR/DB Arthur Washington; LG Matt Tippets.
Outlook: The Spartans ooze experience, with 14 starters returning from last year’s squad. This includes Hamilton, voted the De Anza Division Junior of the Year after rushing for more than 1,300 yards, and James, the league’s co-safety of the year. Pela, Buonos, Campbell and Cooney are also coming off all-league seasons. At 6-1, 300 pounds, Pela “has gotten bigger and better,” Navarro said, and moves from linebacker to nose guard on defense. The coach also raved about the development of receiver Campbell, who is “quicker and more confident.” He and fellow junior Washington, who played on a state championship team in New Jersey last year, figure to be the main targets for Jalaba, elevated to starting quarterback midway through the 2005 season. Jalaba’s improvement as a passer is vital to Navarro’s plan for a more balanced offense that won’t be as dependent on the run game. Hamilton should still be the focal point of the offense, however, with electrifying return man Buonos in the mix. The Spartans have strength and some size along the line, but Navarro is concerned by the lack of depth and athleticism. Lemak is among the linemen who will play on defense as well, raising Navarro’s concerns about keeping his upfront players upright throughout the season. Staying healthy will be crucial to Mountain View’s hopes of nabbing one of the division’s three automatic CCS berths, because the team has just 34 players. That’s a small number to survive the physical De Anza, in which most teams have 40-50 players.
Coach’s quote: “We’re more experienced than last year, and I hope that translates into a couple of more wins. The problem is numbers – we have good skill kids and athletes, but if a couple of them get hurt, it’s a whole new ball game.”
Season opener: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at Gunn.
Did you know? Hamilton, James and Pela’s older brothers played together at Los Altos High.
St. Francis High
League: West Catholic Athletic League.
Coac Mike Mitchell, 11th year.
Last season: Tied for second in league at 4-2; 9-3 overall; lost to Palma in CCS Open Division semifinals.
Key returners: TE/LB Rhett Ellison; OL/DL Andy Vargas; NG Je’Marcus Williams; QB/S Ryan Van Amburg; DT/OG Clovis Kaboga-Miller; DE/TE Stephan Kadash; FB/DE Scott Zipse; RB/SS Bobby Enquist; WR/CB Preston Marguet; RB/LB Jake Harris.
Top newcomers: LB/RB Cameron Fariba; QB/S Sam Scudellari; DE/RB Kyle Birney; DT/OT Mele Penitani.
Outlook: Graduation cost the Lancers nine all-leaguers and leaves them with just three returning starters on each side of the ball. However, about half of the 63-man roster has varsity experience. The most experienced group plays on the line – offense and defense – which Mitchell considers the team’s biggest strength. Seniors Vargas and Kaboga-Miller will play both ways; all-leaguer Williams, a 6-1, 275-pound junior, anchors a defensive line bolstered by sophomore Penitani (6-2, 230). Tight end Ellison, the team’s other returning all-league player, makes a big target at 6-5, 235 and will also start at linebacker. The offensive backfield features new starters in athletic quarterback Van Amburg, fullback Zipse and rotating halfbacks Enquist and Fariba. Van Amburg will also start at safety. Having so many new starters is Mitchell’s biggest concern, and he said they must step up quickly with the Lancers’ rugged pre-league schedule. The schedule gets only more difficult in a league that sent four teams to CCS last year, including Open Division champ Valley Christian-San Jose. Mitchell’s expectations remain the same, though – win the WCAL and compete for the CCS title. The Lancers haven’t missed the playoffs since 1976 and there’s little reason to believe that streak will end this year.
Coach’s quote: “It’s a great group of kids who work well together. We’re not as talented as last year, but we hope that through teamwork we can accomplish some things.”
Season opener: 7:30 p.m. Friday against visiting Oak Grove.
Did you know? Ellison is the son of Riki Ellison, who won three Super Bowls as a linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers.
Homestead High
League: SCVAL De Anza Division.
Coac Charlie Bostic, sixth year.
Last season: Tied for fifth in the division at 1-5; 4-6 overall.
Key returners: RB/DB Brian Backo; RB Kevin Rogers; RB/DB Shamir Ross; OG/LB Matt Power; OT/DL Josh Laber; QB/FS Alex Jones; TE Tim Banderet; NG/OL Jonathan Pique; RB/LB Evan Matthews; OL/LB Phillip Birton; DB/WR John DaSilva; OL/LB Dominic Chapot.
Top newcomers: QB Rex Blodgett; RB/LB Alex Lumdoa; OL/LB Ben Kinure.
Outlook: The Mustangs haven’t had a winning season since 2002, but Bostic is confident that will change this year. He believes Homestead has the desire and experience to compete for third place in the division, despite being down to 37 players. Eighteen of them are returners, 11 of whom started last year. The offensive line may be the strongest and most fragile part of the team; Bostic said he has never had a better group of starters, led by Laber and Power, but an injury could prove devastating due to a lack of depth. All-leaguer Backo is back to tote the ball, with Rogers and Ross also expected to get significant carries in the wing-T offense. Jones and Blodgett are battling for the quarterback job and “both bring athleticism to the position that we haven’t had in a few years,” Bostic said. Defensively, the Mustangs are loaded at linebacker, a position anchored by third-year starter Power. Nose guard Pique, a junior, is expected to plug the middle.
Coach’s quote: “The kids have worked real hard and put in a lot of time this summer. They’re a lot less likely to get beat in the third or fourth quarter.”
Season opener: 7:30 p.m. Friday hosting Saratoga at Fremont.
Did you know? Homestead has produced three NFL players in Sean Dawkins, Bob Pifferini Jr. and Jeff Sevy.
Gunn High
League: SCVAL El Camino Division.
Coac Matt McGinn, first year.
Last season: Tied for fourth in division at 2-4; 3-7 overall.
Key returners: QB/DB Tucker Laurence; RB/DB Josh Lee; WR/LB Stephen Campbell; C/DL Josh Bloomenfeld; FB/DL Brian Miki; OL/LB Stephen Salazar.
Top newcomers: TE/LB Kyle Einfalt; WR/QB/DB Stephen Strnad; QB Chris Gumbrecht.
Outlook: McGinn faces plenty of challenges in taking over the team after four years as an assistant. The Titans are down to 30 players after a handful of seniors quit, and there’s a quarterback controversy brewing. McGinn said the competition among returning starter Laurence, Gumbrecht and Strnad is too close to call. The picture at running back is clearer, with junior Lee establishing himself as the top guy after a strong offseason. Bloomenfeld leads the line and is one of its biggest players at 5-11, 215. Campbell, a third-year starter at inside linebacker, anchors an improving defense. Gunn returns only eight players, six of them starters, and will rely heavily on juniors. McGinn anticipates using eight or nine players as two-way starters but said he’s developing a solid rotation to relieve them. What the Titans lack in numbers and size, they make up for in character and quickness, according to the coach.
Coach’s quote: “We want to compete for the championship, and I think we can do it. It will take the full effort of all 30 guys, but it’s not out of the question.”
Season opener: 7:30 p.m. Friday against visiting Lincoln.
Did you know? McGinn is one of five new coaches in the division.
