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Firebirds are set for 2000 season
Mattman will lead Fremont into action
By Dick Sparrer
When Ron DeMonner tells a player what he's capable of doing on a football field, that player really should listen.
After all, DeMonner certainly knows what he's talking about. He should... he's been around the game long enough.
So when the Fremont head coach tells quarterback Mike Mattman what he can to do to become one of the best signal-callers in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, Mattman should heed his coach's advice. Because DeMonner is speaking from nearly a half century of football experience.
DeMonner enters his 40th campaign as a football coach this fall, and that doesn't even count the years he spent on the field as a player. His career includes a 16-year stint at Santa Clara University, five years at San Jose State University and 19 years at the high school level--four at Awalt, eight at Mitty and seven at Fremont. On top of that, DeMonner has worked for four seasons as the line coach for the San Jose Sabercats in the Arena Football League.
So does DeMonner know his football? You bet! And he knows what it will take this fall for Fremont to contend for the title in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL.
"Our success depends primarily on Mike Mattman's maturing into the kind of player he is capable of becoming," said DeMonner.
And what kind of player is that?
"He's the best all-around athlete on the team," added the coach.
Mattman (6-foot-1, 195) will play quarterback and linebacker for the Firebirds, and he could also see some action at tailback.
But with tailbacks Anthony Baza (5-foot-7, 155) and Donnel Forks (5-foot-9, 165) running the ball along with fullback Ron Cerda (5-foot-8, 200), Mattman will likely concentrate his efforts behind the center. Forks is a talented transfer from American High in Fremont who "has good wiggle," said the coach.
"We could have a solid running game," said DeMonner. "The passing attack is in Mattman's hands. He has a strong arm and good mobility. Accuracy in the key."
Mattman, a junior returner for Fremont, will be looking for the capable hands of veteran wide receivers Victor Lopez (5-foot-7, 140) and Tin Pham (5-foot-7, 145), newcomer Jesse Enchill (6-foot-1, 160) and senior tight end Adam Storek (6-foot-2, 200).
"(Lopez) has good speed and hands, and (Pham) is tough and smart," said DeMonner. "(Enchill) is a talented athlete who lettered as a freshman in varsity basketball."
Mark Amador (5-foot-11, 210) and Esteban Carbajal (6-foot, 245) are returning starters at guard. They'll be joined on the offensive front wall by letterman tackle Jorge O'Connor (6-foot, 255), and by junior center Kevin Wilder (6-foot-2, 220), who has "good potential and is smart."
"(Carbajal) is the best lineman on the team," said the coach. "He's quick, agile and strong, but was injured the second half of last year."
Carbajal doubles as a defensive tackle along with O'Connor and senior Bob Santiago (5-foot-11, 220).
"(O'Connor) is a tough two-way starter," said the coach.
Joining the others in the defensive front will be senior Carlos Garcia (5-foot-7, 215), "an aggressive kid," said the coach, with Amador, Mattman, Cerda and Storek as linebackers. Cerda, the team captain, won all-league second team honors at 'backer last fall, and the coach adds that Storek is "very solid both ways."
Baza returns to the secondary after winning all-league second-team honors there last year, and he'll be joined in the defensive backfield by Lopez, Pham and Enchill.
The Firebirds last won an El Camino Division title in 1996, and DeMonner picks Gunn and Santa Clara as the preseason favorites this fall. He figures his 'Birds for a "middle of the pack" finish.
Fremont will open the season on Sept. 8, 7:15 p.m., at Westmont. The Firebirds will open El Camino play on Sept. 28 at home against Gunn.
DeMonner will be assisted this fall by Daryl Olson, Dan Attencio, Mike Walker, Charles Saltzman and Dave Andona.
Nichols, Sumpter return
Homestead isn't blessed with a large crop of returning starters for the 2000 season--just three--but a couple of them are standouts.
Steve Nichols and Jaye Sumpter are talented returns for the Mustangs, and both figure as two-way starters for the club.
Nichols is a junior running back who doubles as a defensive back, and he returns after playing for the varsity as a sophomore.
Sumpter is a senior wide receiver who joins Nichols in the defensive backfield as the Homestead strong safety.
Homestead will open the season against Independence on Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m., at Fremont. The Mustangs will open play in the rugged De Anza Division of the SCVAL on Sept. 29 at Milpitas.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
