It was his first year at the helm of the Rams and they battled their way to a 7-3 season record, including a 5-1 league mark. That was good enough to earn the Rams the championship in the West Valley Division in the Blossom Valley Athletic League. However, success does not come without its challenges.

Because of the way the BVAL is structured, the result of winning the title is that the Rams will move up to the Santa Teresa Division for the 2004 season. Penwarden is encouraged by the success of the Rams but he also realizes that they have their work cut out for them—especially this year.

"We are going to be real thin with not many numbers," said Penwarden. "We have only about 20-25 kids to go to battle with and many of them will be on the field all the time during games."

In pre-season drills, Penwarden has been emphasizing to his team the "need to be in great shape and play mistake-free ball in order to give ourselves the chance to win."

In addition to limited numbers, Penwarden is faced with filling the holes left by the graduation of 10 all-league players. including the division's 2003 Most Valuable Player. Most of that talent was on the offensive side of the ball, depleting the Rams of most of their scoring, rushing, and receiving punch.

Senior Tyler Smith (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) is ready to step into the starting quarterback role and lead the Ram charge. He will be joined in the starting backfield by fullback Robert Oxsen (5-foot-9, 195). Smith will need some targets to fire at as Willow Glen has a history of presenting a potent aerial attack. He has a good one in returning senior Tim Cremer (6-foot-2, 233) who will line up at the tight end spot. Potential help coming up from the ranks of the junior varsity are wide receivers Angel Posada and Nick Abbatelli, who will battle for playing time.

The situation is not quite as slim defensively as the Rams have some experience to build upon. A key ingredient is returning first team all-league defensive lineman Nate Torrez (6-foot-2, 250), who will do double duty on the offensive line. He will receive support from Cremer, who in addition to his offensive duties will anchor one side of the defensive front at a defensive end position. Another key player in the defensive mix is senior Mathew Arevalo (5-foot-10, 210), who was a first team all-league selection at linebacker.

Penwarden was counting on the leadership and skills of returning senior linebacker Eugene Martinez (5-foot-7, 175) until misfortune struck last week in pre-season drills. Martinez suffered what could prove to be a season-ending knee injury and his presence will be missed. Some of the void left by Martinez could be filled by senior transfer Joe Horner (6-foot-2, 285), who has experience at both offensive and defensive tackle.

Junior Jason Gibilisco (5-foot-11, 180) will move up from the junior varsity and contribute at an outside linebacker spot. When Smith is not directing the Rams offensive attack, he will be roaming the defensive secondary looking to wreak havoc from his safety slot.

Other players that Penwarden is expecting to step in and find a spot to contribute include Michael Green, Corey Laherran, Vihn Nhuyen and Eric Zetterquist.

Penwarden believes that the Rams need "excellent and solid special teams play that does not make mistakes and give up the easy scores" in order to be successful this year. Jairo Ramirez, a senior transfer from Prospect, could be a key element in making that happen.

One of the significant challenges the Rams will face competing in the Santa Teresa Division will be the depth of the teams they will face. "Most of the other teams carry 40 or more players which gives them the advantage of substituting fresh legs later in the game and that is especially effective up front in the offensive and defensive lines," the coach pointed out.

With so many young players moving into varsity starter roles, Penwarden is uncertain as to what the 2004 season may hold for the Rams.

"It will be tough in the new league and we are just trying to see where we fit in and find our place in the circle," he said. He is anticipating that Santa Teresa, which came down from the Mt. Hamilton Division, will benefit from the past experience of tougher weekly competition and be a contender. Lincoln has good depth and could be the team to beat as well.

Penwarden will have a chance to see how the Rams respond to the competition of a new league early when they open division play on the road against Santa Teresa on Oct. 1. An additional challenge that the Rams will have to deal with is, due to the upgrading of facilities at Willow Glen, they will not play on their home field until Oct. 23 when they host Gunderson.

Even with all of the unknowns and changes that the 2004 season holds, Penwarden is looking forward to his second year leading the Rams. He is encouraged by the fact that "the program he is trying to implement is coming together, which included a good off-season program." The new facilities will be a "big help" as well.

In addition, he has the foundation of his coaching staff returning, which has been instrumental in preparing for the upcoming season.

"We have deeper relationships among our staff with mutual respect and confidence in each other's abilities," Penwarden said. "That will help us work better together and be more effective and efficient as a staff."

"We have great kids with good hearts who will play hard," he added. "They are not tested yet and we will just have to wait and see who will step up and respond."

Sept. 11, at Fremont, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 17, Monta Vista, 3:15 p.m.
Sept. 24, at Del Mar, 3:15 p.m.
Oct. 1, at Santa Teresa, 7:30 p.m. *
Oct. 8, at Westmont, 7:30 p.m. *
Oct. 16, at James Lick, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 23, Gunderson, 2 p.m. *
Oct. 30, Lincoln, 1:30 p.m. *
Nov. 5, at Mt. Pleasant, 7 p.m. *
Nov. 12, Andrew Hill, 1:30 p.m. *

* Denotes Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division game

Westmont

* Tyler Porras (6-foot-2, 245), Sr., OL/DL, all-league
* Daniel Weller (5-foot-9, 170), Sr., RB, all-league

Del Mar

* Mike Howery (6-foot, 200), Sr., OL/LB, all-league, three-year varsity starter
* Danny Hauff (5-foot-10, 170), Sr., RB/LB, second team all-league, three-year varsity starter
* Johnny Daniels (6-foot-1, 170), Sr., QB/DB, all-league

Valley Christian

* Dominique Hunsucker (5-foot-10, 180), Jr., HB, WCAL sophomore of the year
* Joseph Townsend (6-foot-4, 280), Sr., OT/DT, all-league
* Mark Pirotta (5-foot-10, 240), Sr., C/DT, all-league
* Kyle Thompson (6-foot-3, 210), Sr., DE, all-league
* J.R. Adams (6-foot, 180), Sr., HB, all-league
* Mike Gintler (5-foot-11, 180), Jr., HB, WCAL JV MVP

Los Gatos

* Erik Rollin (6-foot-5, 207), Sr., QB, third year varsity, all-league
* Mike Brienzo (6-foot, 181), Sr., WR/DB, SCVAL De Anza Division Junior of the Year
* Evan Wynne (6-foot-4, 248), Sr., OG/DT, all-league, "could be one of the best we have ever had"
* Liam Smith (6-foot-6, 240), Sr., OT/DT, three-year starter, all-league second team
* Devin Lopez (6-foot, 250), Sr., NG, "a throwback to some of the best nose guards we have had at this school"
* Vince Bellotti (6-foot-3, 190), Sr., FS, all-league second team

Branham

* T.J. DeStefano (5-foot-7, 165), Sr., QB, all-league
* Nolen Robison (5-foot-8, 160), Sr., DB/RB, all-league
* Kyle Johnson (5-foot-10, 210), Sr., DL/OL, second team all-league
* Louis Sakoda (5-foot-9, 170), Sr., PK/SE/DB, second team all-league

Mitty

* Joe Ciesinski (6-foot, 183), Sr., DB/RB, WCAL Junior of the Year
* Malcolm Odoh (6-foot, 243), Sr., DL
* Brian Dressman (6-foot, 170), Sr., QB, all-league
* Richard Ricketts (6-foot-3, 230), Sr., DL, all-league
* Kyle Hansen (6-foot-2, 225), Sr., DL/OL, all-league
* Matt Guild (5-foot-8, 165), Sr., LB, all-league

Lincoln

* Raul Figueroa (5-foot-8, 180), Sr., RB, all-league
* Chris Garcia (5-foot-8, 200), Sr., OL/DL, all-league
* Patrick Yanez (5-foot-9, 180), Sr., OLB

Saratoga

* Phil Spencer (5-foot-8, 170), Sr., RB/CB, all-league
* Adam Sato (6-foot-2, 225), Sr., TE/LB, all-league
* Brent Walter (6-foot-3, 215), Sr., DL, all-league, all-state wrestler
* T.J. Florence (5-foot-7, 175), Sr., FB/LB, all-league

Harker School

* Ben Shapiro, Sr., QB, all-league, three-year varsity starter
* Kevin Park, Sr., RB, all-league, three-year varsity starter
* Eric Gavarre, Sr., TE, all-league, three-year varsity starter

Leigh

* Kiel Trudeau (6-foot-2, 180), Sr., QB, BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division Junior of the Year, No. 2 rated passer in CCS
* Brian Wendt (6-foot-3, 215), Sr., TE/LB, all-league, led the division in tackles
* Jon Brown (5-foot-10, 210), Sr., FB, second team all-league
* Matt Hoffman (6-foot-2, 180), Sr., WR
* Mike Edwards (5-foot-9, 185), Sr., LB, second team all-league

Monta Vista

* Matt Delgado (5-foot-10, 200), Sr., NG, all-league, three-year varsity starter

Leland

* Kirk Andre (5-foot-8, 180), Sr., RB/LB, all-league
* Gabe Castaneda (6-foot-3, 305), Sr., OL/DL, all-league
* Alex Gregarick (5-foot-11, 205), Sr., OL/DL, all-league

The King's Academy

* J.T. Martin (6-foot-1, 160), Sr., WR/FS, all-league
* Ji Jo (6-foot-1, 220), Sr., FB/DT, all-league

Willow Glen

* Matt Arevalo (5-foot-10, 210), Sr., LB, all-league
* Nate Torrez (6-foot-2, 250), Sr., DL, all-league
* Eugene Martinez (5-foot-7, 175), Sr., LB/FB, second team all-league
* Tim Cremer (6-foot-2, 235), Sr., DE/TE

Homestead

* Chris Morris (6-foot, 210), Sr., RB, SCVAL De Anza Division Offensive Player of the Year
* Jay Atkins (6-foot, 190), Jr., RB, all-league, transfer from Fremont
* Aaron Hickson (6-foot-2, 195), Sr., WR, all-league, transfer from Fremont

Fremont

* Nathan Carthcart (5-foot-10, 185), Jr., RB/CB, all-league
* Adrian Adrias (5-foot-9, 185), Sr., LB, team's leading tackler

Prospect

* Garrett Karren (6-foot-2, 210), Sr., TE/DE/PK, all-league, third year varsity
* Scott Skinner (5-foot-10, 185), Sr., RB/LB, third year varsity

Pioneer

* Collin McCarthy (6-foot, 200), Sr., LB, all-league
* Andrew Schultz (5-foot-8, 170), Sr., RB/DB, all-league
* Rolando Gomez (6-foot-4, 255), Sr., TE/DE, all-league
* Steve Matos (5-foot-9, 220), Sr., OL/DL, all-league
* Shaun Souza (5-foot-8, 170), Jr., RB/DB

Bellarmine

* John Gill (6-foot-4, 290), Sr., OL/DL, second team all-league