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WG football team gearing up for fall football season
Rams thin in the ranks, but are ready for the 2000 season
By Dick Sparrer
There aren't a lot of football players on the field at Willow Glen this fall.
But the ones who are there are mighty good, says second-year head coach Sonny Flores. And they have the coach feeling pretty good about his Rams as they enter the 2000 season in the rugged Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
"Our first team is real good," said Flores. "We just don't have a whole lot of depth."
"But we're going to be competitive," he added.
So is the division. From top to bottom, the Santa Teresa Division looks competitive this fall.
"We're going to be in for a war every week," said Flores. "The key is for us to stay as healthy as possible and eliminate mistakes."
The coach rates Piedmont Hills as the preseason title favorite, but he's quick to add that Del Mar looks "real strong" and that Andrew Hill had "a solid team." He's also not ruling out Gunderson or Prospect, and he's aware that Westmont returns a solid club with Chris Snyder back for his third year as the varsity quarterback.
And as for the Rams?
"I have a lot in confidence in my first team on both sides of the ball," said Flores. And he's really excited about his senior quarterback, Bobby Hobbs.
"He's definitely our leader and our captain," said Flores of Hobbs. "He'll be the key to our success this year."
Hobbs takes over the quarterback position that David Macchi dominated for the last three seasons. Macchi has since graduated, played in the North-South All-Star Football Game and is now playing at West Valley Community College.
"Macchi really elevated the quarterback position at Willow Glen," said Flores.
He leaves some big shoes to fill, but Flores is convinced that Hobbs is up to the challenge.
"He's big, strong and extremely bright," said Flores of Hobbs. "He's like a coach on the field for us."
Hobbs will look to a corps of returning receivers this fall, including Gabe Candelaria, Al Rideau and Scott Wallberg, who all return from last year's club.
"We have some quality receivers coming back," said the coach.
Junior Mark Sarinana is a "real good receiver" coming up from the frosh-soph, and senior Daniel Rice (6-foot-4, 200) is a "big target" as he returns to the tight end spot.
Returning running backs Nick Rohwer (6-foot-2, 185) and Kyle Martinez (5-foot-8, 165) give the Rams speed and size in the backfield.
The Rams are pretty thin numbers wise on the offensive line, but the starters look big and strong.
"We have three real good guys up there," said Flores, singling out Steve Klein, Kevin Clarke and Chris Jones.
Klein (6-foot, 205) is a senior guard returning to the line for the Rams, and Clarke (6-foot-3, 275) is a senior tackle whose season was cut short last fall by grades. Jones (6-foot-5, 300) is a junior tackle up from the frosh-soph.
Joining them up front will be sophomore Steve Nakatsu (6-foot, 260) at guard and senior George Torres (5-foot-8, 160) at center.
Many of the Rams will be serving double duty on the defensive side, with Klein leading the charge at linebacker.
"He has really stood out as linebacker," said Flores of Klein. "He had some big hits in our scrimmage against Overfelt. He's a big hitter."
Jones and Clarke will hold down spots in the defensive line for the Rams, and Candelaria and Rice will play at linebacker.
Flores has been pleased with the play of defensive ends Jared Simms (6-foot-2, 185), a junior, and David Piech (5-foot-10, 175), a senior.
"They are real active, real mobile and real aggressive," said Flores of Simms and Piech.
Rohwer will start at free safety for the Rams and Rideau will be in the Willow Glen secondary.
Wallberg will also handle the place-kicking chores for Willow Glen this fall.
The Rams open play this week when they take on Lincoln on Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m., at San Jose PAL Stadium.
"Their first string looked pretty good," said Flores of Lions' showing in a scrimmage against Pioneer last week.
Willow Glen will also play Silver Creek and Yerba Buena (Flores' alma mater) in the preseason before opening play in the Santa Teresa Division on Sept. 30 against co-favorite Piedmont Hills.
Willow Glen returns to a single coaching staff this fall that will work with both the varsity and frosh-soph teams. Flores is the head coach, and his staff includes Mitch Bigger, Joe Berg, Jose Martinez and Seth Martinez. Berg will serve as the head coach of the frosh-soph squad on game days.
"We're real excited about our frosh-soph team," said Flores. "They're working hard and looking good."
Mustangs move up
Pioneer faces a new challenge after winning the Santa Teresa Division championship last fall. The Mustangs find themselves in the rugged Mt. Hamilton Division of the BVAL.
But Mark Krail and his staff welcome the challenge as they boast a solid corps of returners from that championship team as they move up to the top division.
Quarterback Tim Scheffer returns for his second season as the Pioneer starter, and he'll lead an offense that includes junior running back Jacob French and senior fullback Kyle Terry.
Scheffer and the Pioneer backs will work behind an experienced offensive line led by returning all-leaguers Nick Davalle at guard, Josh McDonnell at tackle and Steve Larussa at center. Junior James Dunne is starting at the other tackle post.
Dan Scheffer and Jeremy Lowry are top returners at wide receiver for the Mustangs.
Senior Sean Sarsfield is back for his third season as a starter in the defensive secondary and he's joined there by D. Scheffer, another comeback starter, and junior Donnie Bresee, up from the frosh-soph.
Matt Mallon is a tough junior linebacker who started at the position as a sophomore, and senior Adam Ferla is a solid 'backer who is another returning starter. Jason Lopes and Andrew Orepeza are top linebackers up from the championship frosh-soph team.
Keith Bernstein and Terry are tough defensive ends for the Mustangs.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
