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Barstow loss in Week 7.

The Jackrabbits went on to win two of their final three games, but missed out on the playoffs.

“We can’t wait for league,” Eudy said. “We have to start peaking earlier. We feel that we have the opportunity to be in the running for league and the playoffs — they just take care of themselves.”

In an unusual schedule, DSL play begins the first week of the season.

Adelanto hosts Barstow on Aug. 30, then the Saints travel to Victor Valley the following week. So by the end of the second week, those three teams will have a good sense of where they stand.

As for the games that could decide the league title, mark Oct. 18 (Victor Valley at Barstow), Oct. 25 (Silverado at Burroughs), Nov. 1 (Victor Valley at Burroughs) and Nov. 8

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(Silverado at Victor Valley) on the calendar.

“Our first goal is G8JK :?8DG@FEJ to make the playoffs,” )'()1 9Xijkfn# 9liifl^_j Adelanto head coach )'((1 J`cm\iX[f Jayson Hughes said. “We start out with two league )'('1 M`Zkfi MXcc\p# 9liifl^_j )''01 J`cm\iX[f games with Barstow )''/1 J`cm\iX[f# 9liifl^_j# first and that’s who 9Xijkfn were thinking about the )''.1 J`cm\iX[f whole time. If we can )''-1 J`cm\iX[f squeak three games out )'',1 9liifl^_j in league, we’re going to )''+1 J`cm\iX[f )''*1 9liifl^_j the playoffs.” )'')1 9liifl^_j# J`cm\iX[f )''(1 9Xijkfn# 9liifl^_j# Mark A. Peinado can be reached at mpeinado@vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6274.

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he Desert Sky “Other coaches have League is in a state told me it’s wide open, of flux. and I believe that too,” There were five teams Granite Hills head coach in the league last year, Damian Staricka said. “I and this year it expands believe Silverado is the to six with the addition of front-runner.”

Adelanto.

Silverado, with the But come next year, bulk of its starters the DSL will contract returning, might be the to five again slight favorite as Burroughs, coming in, but which has been Burroughs and with the league Victor Valley since it was creboth feel they ated in 2000, have a chance at departs for the bringing home Mojave River the crown.

League.

“I would say ;JC What does Silverado is the GI<M@<N all of this mean? favorite,” Burros D8IB G<@E8;F Look for there to head coach Todd be a mad scramMather said. ble for the three automat- “They have more athletes ic playoff berths among than the rest of us to the six teams because at choose from.” this point, it seems that That may be the case, the league title is defibut just because a team nitely up for grabs. has a bunch of talented There are two firstathletes doesn’t mean it year head coaches in the automatically is going to league (Granite Hills, win games.

Barstow) and two secIt takes discipline and ond-year head coaches execution from the players (Silverado, Adelanto). as well as good coaching.

The Saints are beginVictor Valley head ning their first varcoach Leland Eudy also sity season, while the said it takes a team peakCougars are looking to ing at the right time. improve on their point Eudy said that his team total from a year ago last year didn’t really — 40. get going until after the

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Daily Press

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A SEASON OF CHANGE

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18849 Hwy 18, Apple Valley, CA 92307

Fall 2013

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Daily Press

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK Adelanto will join Desert Sky League for first varsity season 9p D8IB 8% G<@E8;F JK8== NI@K<I

8;<C8EKF On Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. on the campus of Adelanto High School, the lights will shine bright and the stands will be packed.

It’s the night Saints players and coaches have envisioned since the start of fall practice.

Finally, the team is set to play its first varsity football game.

Adelanto head coach Jayson Hughes said he knows the players, coaches and parents have all been preparing for the season opener, but it’s up to him to get his team ready for the game. On the opposing sideline will be the Barstow Aztecs, and they’ll be more than happy to spoil the party.

“We’ve got to get through the first few minutes and get the jitters out,” Hughes said. “Our goal is to win the first game. The only thing we’ve been talking about is Barstow. We’re going to have to endure some pain this year.

We’re playing Serrano, so we’re playing the big boys this year.

Barstow was in the championship a couple of years ago.

“But we’re going for it. I’d rather go for it than hold back.”

A win over the Aztecs would let the rest of the High Desert know loud and clear that these Saints might be a force to be reckoned

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Fall 2013

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with, even if they’re suiting up a bunch of sophomore and juniors.

“I’ve thought about it every night,” Saints junior quarterback Kyalon Brokenbough said. “Our first real varsity game, I’m hoping to get the ‘W’ for that night.

“The first few minutes are going to be, ‘We’re here now. It’s not play time no more.’ After that you just have to show your skills and play football.”

Adelanto will be tested in its first two varsity contests as it opens with a pair of Desert Sky League opponents. After Barstow, the Saints hit the road for a game at Victor Valley on Sept. 6.

Players and coaches agree that making the playoffs isn’t such a far-fetched idea if they can come away with a couple of victories over two teams ripe with history and tradition.

“It’s kind of ironic how that sets up,” Saints sophomore guard Jonathan Uribe said. “Barstow and Victor have been around the longest, but if we win those two games, come hard and beat them, we’re going to surprise everybody.

We won’t surprise ourselves, but we’ll surprise everybody else.”

Because the students still don’t go to class on the Adelanto campus, Hughes said a number of talented players transferred

back to Silverado, leaving him with a smaller, undersized team.

But Hughes said all of the hurdles his team has had to jump over only drives him more to make Adelanto’s football program succeed where others might envision failure.

“I’ve been out here every day since I got the job to get these kids ready and prepared for football,” Hughes said. “That’s all I care about is Adelanto High School football and making them the best we can.”

Mark A. Peinado can be reached at mpeinado@vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6274.

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back. Now you can balance it out and make the defense play you honest.”

Barstow will have a senior quarterback in Oshua Rothwell.

Sophomore fullback Brandon Pierce, half backs Dion Brown and Brandon McHenry, and wing back George Gatti are slated to get the bulk of the carries on offense.

“It’s a pretty equal offense.

Everybody should share the football,” Silva said.

Brown and wide receiver Ashim Skeete — both Riverside Prep transfers — may have to

sit out the first four games of the season due to the CIF-SS transfer rule.

Silva, a 1989 Barstow graduate, has put together a varsity coaching staff with deep Aztecs roots. Other Barstow graduates on the staff are Mark Hassell, Paul Knight, Malcom Norman and Silva’s classmates Harold Green and Kyle Ostrander.

“In the past, the bar has been set high here,” Silva said.

“The coaches bring different stories from different eras. We just want to bring that Barstow

football attitude. We want to be competitive year in, year out.”

Silva wants that attitude to be passed all the way down to the freshman level, which begins every practice with the varsity squad. Former Barstow head coach Jose Rubio will help out with the freshman team.

The Aztecs will find out quickly where this team stands as they open the season with a DSL game against Adelanto on Aug. 30.

C.J. Daft can be reached at christiand@ vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6275.

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98IJKFN Inexperience may be a factor for the Barstow football team this year.

According to MaxPreps.com, every player who recorded an offensive statistic is gone from last year’s team, which tied with Burroughs for the Desert Sky League title and went 7-4 overall.

On defense, the top 11 tacklers from last season are also gone.

In all, 27 players graduated and just right guard Kiler Holmeyer and right tackle Rodolfo Bravo are returning starters.

“We’re starting from the ground up,” first-year head coach Ray Silva said.

Silva, Barstow’s defensive coordinator from a 2008-10 and an Barstow alumnus, replaces Mike Esposito, who stepped down after two seasons to take a position as the defensive coordinator at Victor Valley College.

Silva said the Aztecs will run a 4-2-5 defense and the wing-T — a formation he grew fond of while watching film of Tehachapi use it effectively aga i n s t Burroughs — on offense.

“I like the offense,” Silva said.

“It gives the line more angles.

They pull a lot and trap a lot.

You don’t have to focus on one

Daily Press

JUST LIKE STARTING OVER

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Fall 2013 G8>< ,

Daily Press

LAST DANCE IN THE DSL Burroughs looks for one more DSL title before joining MRL 9p D8IB 8% G<@E8;F JK8== NI@K<I

I@;><:I<JK Burroughs has been part of the Desert Sky League since the league’s inception in 2000. But come this time next year, the Burros will make a return to the Mojave River League.

The Burros are looking to exit the DSL with a yet another championship.

“It’s something we definitely talked about,” Burroughs head coach Todd Mather said. “Since we’re moving leagues, we want to win the league title. That’s our goal. We feel we have a shot. We feel we’re always right there in contention.”

To achieve that goal, Mather said his team will have to overcome a couple of obstacles.

First, a lack of experience on defense and at some of the skill positions on offense.

“Defensively we look pretty good, but we’re very untested,” Mather said. “We had to replace almost everybody.”

The Burros do return linebackers Isaiah Ramon and Richie Villa as well as defensive lineman Ethan Haddock.

“I feel (the defense) is getting the job done,” Mather said. “But we won’t really know until we’re

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Fall 2013

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tested. A lot of the guys haven’t seen varsity action.”

On offense, the Burros will be inexperienced at quarterback and receiver.

Ryan Sanford takes over under center. Sanford was the backup last year and played wide receiver. He’ll be looking to find some chemistry with a new crop of receivers.

“We have to see who is going to perform in game situations at a high level at the varsity level,” Mather said.

While looking for playmakers, Mather said the team will rely

on its linemen and a very talented trio in the backfield.

The Burros return four of five starting offensive lineman (Haddock, Villa, Michael Stanciu and Austin Groshens) as well as running backs Tyrone Jones, Adan Pena and Trevor Baker.

“We’re going to rely heavily on our offensive line and we have three fantastic running backs,” Mather said. “(The offensive line) has a good feel and grasp of the offense. We’re just polishing plays. They’ve seen every stunt, twist and blitz. I put it on them.

They know we will go as they go.

And the running backs can get through those small creases.”

Mather said he’ll use his nonleague schedule (Palmdale, Tehachapi, Antelope Valley and Apple Valley) to prepare for the DSL. All four schools run a different style of offense and have tendencies that are comparable to teams within the DSL, he said.

“We want to see every style of offense in our preseason schedule,” Mather said.

Mark A. Peinado can be reached at mpeinado@vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6274.

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Granite Hills rebuilds with a new coach after a winless season 9p :%A% ;8=K JK8== NI@K<I

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But Staricka and the current crew of Cougars are looking to reverse that experience through accountability, conditioning and added respect for a coach with experience. When Staricka was hired during the spring, only nine players could bench press more than 200 pounds and none more than 250. Now 27 have gone over 200 and nine over 250.

The players say they have respect for his coaching experience. Staricka has never been a varsity head coach, but he has been a coordinator for 10 years at various Inland Empire schools.

“He’s a lot different,” junior middle linebacker Nathan Wright said. “He makes you do a lot more conditioning. Last year, we did conditioning, but not as much as this year.”

Staricka said conditioning and an improved offensive line should be Granite Hills’ strengths.

“More talented kids would’ve quit with some of the stuff we’ve done,” Staricka said. “These kids have stuck with it, and I’m proud with that.”

Calpreps.com gives Granite Hills a -45.1 rating to start the season.

“Watch that (-45.1) go up,” Staricka said. “First things first, these kids have to learn to be competitive, be tough. As soon as they get that first win, that taste will continue to drive.”

Granite Hills’ players are using last season as motivation.

“We’re definitely going to be hitting a lot harder, executing plays a lot better,” said third-year starter Johnny Gonzales. “Any team that thinks we’ll be laying down for them is sadly mistaken.”

C.J. Daft can be reached at christiand@ vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6275.

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8GGC< M8CC<P After going winless in 2012, the goal for Granite Hills this year is easy.

“Get a dub. Get that first win,” Granite Hills first-year head coach Damian Staricka said. “That’s the main goal, we want to get that first win. Be competitive, don’t lay down like they did last year.”

In going 0-10 last year, Granite Hills was on the wrong end of nine running clocks and five shutouts. The Cougars’ lost by fewer than 42 points only twice — they lost those two by 34 and 21 points — and the most points they scored in a game was 13.

Current players alluded to the team giving up after falling behind in games. Granite Hills — which suffered its third winless season — currently has a 12game losing streak dating back to the 2011 season.

“It was very embarrassing, what all the critics and people were saying about us from the different towns, just how we were the worst football team they had ever seen,” said Granite Hills junior running back Chris Glick, one of just three returning players with considerable varsity playing experience. “It hurts.”

Daily Press

A NEW BEGINNING

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Fall 2013 G8>< .

Daily Press

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE Silverado will play in on-campus stadium for first time this season 9p :%A% ;8=K JK8== NI@K<I

M@:KFIM@CC< Silverado has been a visitor ever since it played its first football game in 1997.

The Hawks’ main home field has been Ray Moore Stadium on the Victor Valley High School campus. They also played at Mavericks Stadium in Adelanto for part of the 2000 season.

They’ve never had a stadium or locker room painted their colors, and they’ve always had to catch a bus to their own home games.

That will finally change this season. The school completed construction of its 5,000-seat stadium earlier this year and the Hawks will play a home game on their own campus Sept. 6 vs. Serrano.

The field was released for practice on Aug. 12. It includes the school’s Hawk logo at the 50-yard line with blue end zones, and has a fieldhouse with two locker rooms and a film/team room located behind the north end zone. “ I t’s d e f i n i t e l y b ro u gh t (the excitement) up a notch,” Silverado head coach Rafael Ginorio said. “Everybody’s excited — the school’s excited, the community’s excited. ... It’s going to bring a bunch of school pride.

I think it’s going to elevate everything around us.

G8>< /

Fall 2013

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“To play your home games, go ride a bus each week, that takes a toll. I don’t think people realize or really know.”

The funds for building the stadium came from Measure V, a $500 million bond passed by local taxpayers in 2008.

Silverado went 4-7 overall and 2-2 in the Desert Sky League for a tie for third last year. The Hawks won their first two league games, including a win over co-champion Burroughs, but dropped their final two and had to settle for an at-large berth from CIF to make the playoffs.

“We learned that opportunities like that will come, so you have to take advantage,” returning all-DSL running back P.J. Hanchett said.

Silverado played last season with a lot of young players and has several key returners. That includes Daily Press All-Area defensive end Lamont Smith — who recorded 14 sacks — and the rest of the defensive line, along with Hanchett, offensive lineman Agustin Beltran, linebacker Ammon Mauu and safety Tyreece Myers, who were allleague players.

Starting quarterback MarkAnthony Walker also returns, but he will compete for the position with a Serrano transfer Sam Taylor. Ginorio said whoever loses out on the job will still find a way onto the field.

“We’re still young, but the other side was we played a whole lot of juniors and a whole lot of sophomores and we have a lot of good youth coming up, so we’re excited,” Ginorio said. “It’s going to be fun.”

C.J. Daft can be reached at christiand@ vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6275.

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The strength of the Jackrabbits will be the offensive and defensive lines. Eudy said the team boasts a number of second- and third-year players in the trenches and that experience should allow them to control the line of scrimmage. “(Offensive line) is really our strength because we have a starter back at every position and we have one or two backups that also played,” Eudy said.

“Our offensive and defensive line

look pretty strong — it’s the best we’ve looked in a while.

“If you can block, then you have an opportunity to run and throw.”

As always, Apple Valley and Barstow will be gunning for the Jackrabbits in the annual Bell and Axe games, respectively.

There’s also the yearly game with cross-town rival Silverado that they must contend with.

But De La Torre said the goal for the team is simple: Beat the

school that’s on the schedule each week.

“I’m worried about our first game with Adelanto, then whoever we have the next week,” De La Torre said. “I really hope we get the Axe back and the Bell back. I just hope we take every team we play. I have a strong feeling we can. Anything is possible.”

Mark A. Peinado can be reached at mpeinado@vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6274.

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Victor Valley M@:KFIM@CC< head coach Leland Eudy said he knew the subject was going to be brought up. His stance was not to speak about it.

Two prominent players from last year’s team, Eric Turner and Marquis Wimberly, transferred to Upland High School.

While Eudy didn’t wish to comment about their departures, he did think their absence might be beneficial to the program.

“Most people are going to look at us like (we) can’t replace those guys,” Eudy said. “But the one thing I do see is our team is much more cohesive. We don’t have as many egos to worry about or the individualism that we’ve experienced. Honestly that might be something that carries us throughout the year. And as long as the kids make that commitment and stick together, I think they will have a successful year.”

Senior middle linebacker Sean De La Torre likes his team’s chances of not only competing for a playoff spot, but contending for a Desert Sky League title.

“We’re putting in the work every day,” De La Torre said. “I still think we can handle teams people think we can’t handle.”

Daily Press

COMING TOGETHER

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Fall 2013 G8>< 0

Daily Press

DFA8M< I@M<I C<8>L< Fall 2013 G8>< ('

MORE D’BACK DOMINATION? H

he Mojave River Not so fast.

League has had a Serrano will be a good consistent theme team, and if they don’t over the years: You have win the MRL title this to go through Serrano to year it won’t be from a win the title. lack of talent or effort.

In the 15 seasons that The Diamondbacks may the Diamondbacks have even reach the semifinals been part of the MRL, for a sixth consecutive they’ve won 12 league season. titles and they’ve never The D’backs have a missed the playoffs. number of key returnPlayers graduate, and ers on defense, includthe machine that ing Division I is Serrano has recruited defensomeone ready sive ends Jay to step in. Case in Henderson and point, it’s been 12 Grant Koontz. seasons since the Offensively, Diamondbacks though, a lack of returned their varsity touches starting running at the skill posiDIC back. tions leaves quesGI<M@<N So it should tion marks and :%A% ;8=K be safe to pencil might open the the D’backs in door enough for for another MRL crown, another team to come especially coming off through. a season in which they The biggest chalwon their fourth straight lenger to the throne will league title, advanced to be Oak Hills, which is the semifinals for the fifth the school I’m picking year in a row and reached to win the league title. a CIF-Southern Section Their game against championship game for Serrano on Oct. 18 at the fourth time.

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its strong passing game, played spoiler.

The Scorpions, who I’m picking to finish third, lost to Oak Hills on a touchdown in the final minute of last year’s game.

The Bulldogs haven’t had much success against Serrano, having lost two of their three games by 25 or more points.

But they’ve been building. Two years ago, the Bulldogs won their first seven games before fading. Last season, they won a school-record 10 games and reached

the second round of the Eastern Division playoffs for the first time.

Personnel wise, the Bulldogs return a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. There’s 3,500 yards of offense returning along with four offensive lineman, plus Apple Valley transfer Troy Bacon.

Defensive end Kennedy Emesibe — who has seven Division I offers — anchors the other side.

Oak Hills players alluded to some of their teammates focusing on individual stats last year,

but this year they’re just focused on winning, and running back DeZhontae Fletcher said the team’s theme this year is family.

“This year we’re not even going to look at the tackle section, the touchdowns, the yards,” junior Bradley Kistner said.

“We’re just here to win ball games.”

That could go a long way for the Bulldogs in a league and division that are as tough as ever.

C.J. Daft can be reached at christiand@vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6275.

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“This group of kids this year — we all have heart this year,” Kelly said. “We all want it. We took the time during summer to put in work even before spring ball — came in and worked out.

We want it bad and this is the group that’s going to get it.

“The first step is the first game. After that game, we’ll go from there.”

During his tenure at Apple Valley, Pulice has worked to instill that type of attitude in his players.

“It’s been since 1984 that we’ve been league champions,” Pulice said. “We’ve talked about it. We’ve been waiting for a group of kids who would do whatever it takes to win a league championship. I’d like to see them achieve that goal.”

The players feel the same way.

Senior quarterback Justin Connors, who is in his second season as the Sun Devils’ starter, said the camaraderie among teammates is very strong. It’s

just a matter of maintaining that bond when times get tough.

“Everything is clicking well right now,” Connors said. “It’s all heart and this year we want it more than anything. We have the will to win.

“It’s going to take us sticking together as a team like we have been all summer and all spring ball.”

Mark A. Peinado can be reached at mpeinado@vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6274.

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8GGC< M8CC<P

8GGC< M8CC<P When Frank Pulice took over as head coach of Apple Valley in 2000, his goal was to lay down a strong foundation for the football program.

Thirteen years later, the Sun Devils have established themselves as a tough, hard-nosed football team.

That’s all well and good, Pulice said, but his desire is to have his team ascend to elite status like Mojave River League foe Serrano. That means making a deep run in the playoffs each and every year.

That hasn’t happened yet for Apple Valley as the school has never been past the second round of the playoffs. The Sun Devils are looking to change that this season with the goal of reaching the CIF-Southern Section Eastern Division semifinals and beyond.

“We’re on the cusp of being a championship-caliber team,” Pulice said.

That type of talk begins with attitude. And at the end of the Sun Devils’ first practice in pads, senior linebacker and captain Mason Kelly made it known to his teammates that 2013 was going to be a 14-week season.

Daily Press

READY FOR THE NEXT STEP

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Daily Press

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Fall 2013

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THE CHANGING VIEW OF Local coaches and players now view concussions as more than just ‘getting your bell rung’ Assessment and Cognitive Testing, baseline exam.

When someone uses a term r. Thomas Liu can talk at that is quickly becoming a relic length, and passionately of a foregone time and still so, about high school doesn’t listen, Liu just lets it be. athletics.

“I’m not trying to pick a The orthopedic surgeon runs fight,” Liu said. “All I can do is the Southern California Bone try to educate them. It’s just and Joint Clinic and specializes like any other piece of medical in sports medicine and concusadvice. They can choose to take sion care. He can often be seen it or leave it. I know the data is Friday nights patrolling the side- on my side clearly.” line as the team physician for The data only keeps flowing. one of several local high school Concussions have become a hot football teams. topic in sports, particularly footThat passion is no less eviball where former collegiate and dent — even as his tone changes professional players are banding dramatically — when together through the DFI< FEC@E< legal system. asked what he thinks =fi dfi\ fe about the old-school More than 4,500 ZfeZljj`fej# m`j`k fli former NFL players approach of labeling a Ycf^ Xk _[jgfikjgXjj% potentially concussion- ]i\\[fdYcf^^`e^%Zfd have filed suit against causing hit as simply the league in more “getting your bell rung.” than 200 lawsuits. Meanwhile, “It really pisses me off, to be USA Today reported the honest,” Liu said. “It shows that NCAA was considering a they are really disrespecting settlement in a lawsuit filed by the injury and they really don’t former Eastern Illinois football understand how serious it is. It player Adrian Arrington for upsets me.” damages from lasting effects When that happens, Liu of concussions. The plaintiffs tries to educate. His interest filed a motion seeking classin concussions started when action certification on July 19. he studied under Dr. Michael There are an estimated Collins and Dr. Mark Lovell at 300,000 sports-related conthe University of Pittsburgh cussions in the United States Medical Center. Collins and each year, according to a Lovell are leading concussion 2012 American Journal of researchers who developed Sports Medicine paper. In the the ImPACT baseline concusstudy, which ran from 2008 to sion test and helped write the 2010, 1,936 concussions were NFL’s concussion guidelines. reported in high school sports.

When Liu opened his Hesperia Football accounted for the most clinic in 2010 he began reachconcussions (47.1 percent) out ing out to local teams to of the 20 high school sports offer the ImPACT, short for monitored and had the highest Immediate Post-Concussion rate of concussions.

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8

Local high school coaches freely acknowledge that the culture has changed drastically from their playing days and has continued to evolve greatly in recent years. The High Desert’s two longest tenured coaches are evidence of that.

“As far as the culture, everything’s changed,” Serrano head coach Ray Maholchic said. “I don’t want to say we baby the kids, but we actually look out for the kids a little more, which is a good thing. It’s really more safety oriented.”

Apple Valley head coach Frank Pulice said his opinion changed dramatically when he attended a concussion seminar in 2011 in Riverside along with representatives from many other High Desert schools.

Pulice said he was particularly moved by videos of former players who weren’t the same anymore due to concussions.

“We all played and concussions were different in the ’70s and ’80s,” Pulice said. “There’s such a focus on memory loss and problems later with your head.

There’s too much education and knowledge now to ignore it.”

Coaches have changed not just their attitude about concussions, but their approach to the game. Several coaches spoke of re-emphasizing tackling techniques and teaching players to not to lead with their helmet.

“We teach form tackling way back in spring,” Hesperia head coach Jeremy Topete said. “Eyes to the sky, wrap in and seeing what you hit. We do that all spring and all summer. So when we put the gear on, at that point it’s just re-emphasizing.”

Maholchic and Oak Hills head coach Robert Kistner said they limit full-speed contact plays in practice.

Today MLB, MLS, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL all have

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concussion policies, but in each case those policies were only enacted within the last four years.

An internal NCAA survey from 2010 that was recently revealed due to court procedings showed that 50 percent of responding schools didn’t require players with concussions to see a physician, according to AL.com. Half reported allowing players to return to the game after suffering a concussion.

In California, that cannot legally happen for any athlete in any school-sponsored sport from kindergarten through

Baseline testing slowly growing in High Desert 9p D8KK?<N G<K<IJ JK8== NI@K<I

Fall 2013 G8>< (*

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almost took someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pads to be on the field, but the coach just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let me.â&#x20AC;?

Garcia experienced postconcussion symptoms for about a month after the collision and missed a significant chuck of school. Today, he acknowledges sitting out was the right move. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a hard choice,â&#x20AC;? Garcia said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to go with whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right.â&#x20AC;?

Part of the problem is that there is still so much unknown about concussions and how to treat them. Studies are ongoing. Once itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determined that a player has a concussion, the only treatment is rest. Players who return too quickly are at a heightened risk of doing more brain damage or in rare cases dying from whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s known as second-impact syndrome. Liu said there are drugs and other treatments in the experimental stage, but none close enough to mention as a standard of care. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A concussion is so complex,â&#x20AC;?

Liu said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even the definition is still ever changing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely a work in progress. Even as much progress as we think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely still changing.â&#x20AC;?

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve reached the point J8I8? 8CM8I8;F# =FI K?< ;8@CP GI<JJ \fe# ilej k_\ Jflk_\ie :Xc`]fie`X 9fe\ Xe[ Af`ek :c`e`Z Xe[ X[d`e`jk\ij k_\ @dG8:K YXj\c`e\ \oXd% where most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t trivialize head injuries, Liu said. Which 12th grade. The state passed have been emphasized to referalways in the back of your head, puts football in place to tackle a Assembly Bill 25 in 2011, requir- ees. Both offensive and defensive but you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let it control problem it once almost ignored. ing any player suspected of hav- players can be charged with a you, you know?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sports by nature, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s risky,â&#x20AC;? ing a concussion to be pulled 15-yard penalty for leading with Sultana senior running back Liu said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But again, if played from the game and not allowed the head or ejected if the hit is Sal Garcia suffered a concussion safely we can try to make the to return to competition until deemed malicious. at the end of his sophomore year sport as safe as possible. But the cleared by a licensed health A sampling of local players after a head-to-head hit. thing is, if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make football care provider. As part of the showed various opinions. Some â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was to the point he was as safe as possible, unfortunately law, parents and players are have had concussions, some calling the ref â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and he was it may go down toward the path required to sign a head injury worried about getting one and looking around,â&#x20AC;? lineman Kyle of boxing and that would be horinformation sheet prior to the others didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

Alberts said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I and a couple rible. How many boxing matches season. The state went a step â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve feared that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotother players told the referee, do you see on TV anymore? Not further in 2012 when it passed ten one before, but eventuâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hey, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not doing so good.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;? much. Obviously the cat is out of a bill requiring all high school ally it wears off through a With one game remaining in the bag on that one.â&#x20AC;? coaches to receive training for game,â&#x20AC;? Serrano senior lineman the season, Garcia wanted to concussions.

Brendyn Lolmaugh said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It play but wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cleared.

Matthew Peters can be reached at On the field, the parts of the really does scare me, but you â&#x20AC;&#x153;I took it kind of hard because mpeters@vvdailypress.com or rulebook covering helmet hits just have to keep playing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s I love being on the field and I at 760-955-5365.

Daily Press

F CONCUSSIONS IN FOOTBALL

Daily Press

BUILDING ON LAST YEAR Hesperia returns the bulk of a team that went .500 last season 9p D8KK?<N G<K<IJ JK8== NI@K<I

?<JG<I@8 Comparing the Hesperia football team to a house, head coach Jeremy Topete said that in recent years the Scorpions have built a foundation and then added a roof, paint and some blinds.

The latest metaphorical renovation? Landscaping, Topete said.

“Things are real positive around here,” Topete said. “This is what we’ve been working for the last couple years, building up to this.”

The Scorpions are looking to build off a 5-5 season in which a young team flourished. They came close to late upsets against perennial powers Silverado and Oak Hills and lost just five seniors and return their top skill players.

Hesperia is hardly standing pat though. The Scorps made significant changes to their offense and defense in the offseason.

They’re going with a no-huddle offense to utilize their skill and speed. Hesperia returns junior quarterback Austin Williams, top receivers senior Chris Crummel and junior Alex Hammond and top rusher senior Semaje Williams.

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Austin Williams is coming off a season in which he threw for 1,750 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 56.8 percent of his passes.

The scheme will stay largely the same, the team will just operate at a much higher tempo.

“Offensive personnel wise, we’ve got a lot of guys coming back,” Topete said. “Last year we wanted to give them a base knowledge. Now we are just building on top of that. It’s the same vehicle, we’re just pressing on the gas a little bit more.”

To accommodate that switch,

practices have turned into hightempo affairs.

“It’s a lot faster,” Williams said. “When we scrimmage people it’s so slow it’s almost boring.

“Our line, they do running and skill guys, it’s just constant moving the entire practice. We’re never stopping except for very short water breaks.”

On defense Hesperia is moving from a 4-4 to a 3-5.

“We’ve got more linebackers and skill guys than we did last year,” Topete said. “It’s more out of adapting to our personnel than anything.”

The confidence at Hesperia has continued to climb since last season ended.

While talking about playing the Key Game against Sultana in the regular season finale, senior linebacker and fullback Elijah Wallace said, “It’s going to be senior night plus our last game plus the Key Game.”

He pauses a moment before amending that statement.

“Well, last league game. We are trying to go to CIF.” Matthew Peters can be reached at mpeters@ vvdailypress.com or 760-955-5365.

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Fall 2013

ALL NEW redesigned for 2014

starting at

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Two D-I recruits will help Bulldogs try to win MRL title 9p :%A% ;8=K JK8== NI@K<I

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and we feel it’s time to end it and step up and finally claim the crown.”

Last year, Oak Hills won a school-record 10 games in going 10-2, finished second to Serrano in the Mojave River League standings and picked up its first CIF-Southern Section Eastern Division playoff win before losing to Tahquitz 67-56.

“The expectation is to go further than we did last year,” Oak Hills quarterback Nolan Brammer said. “It was a heartbreaker to lose like that.”

Brammer threw for 2,205 yards, completed 50 percent of his passes and threw 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Junior running back DeZhontaey Fletcher (1,278 yards and 14 touchdowns) will become the main man in the backfield after Brett Kokesh transferred to Citrus Valley, and second leading receiver junior Gino Mastandrea (34 catches for 515 yards and seven TDs) is Brammer’s top returning target.

Four of the Bulldogs’ five starting offensive lineman also

return, and Bacon will be added to the mix.

Emesibe (8 1 ⁄ 2 sacks) will anchor a defense that also brings back linemen Tristian Coddington and Dillon Jinnies. Morris Fidis will start at linebacker again, and Bradley Kistner (68 tackles and two interceptions) will move from linebacker to safety.

“We just want to get better,” Robert Kistner said. “We just want to get better every week.”

C.J. Daft can be reached at christiand@ vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6275.

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F8B ?@CCJ Cameras and coaches from NCAA Division I schools lined the fence of the Oak Hills practice field during some of its spring workouts.

“It was a who’s who during the spring time,” Oak Hills head coach Robert Kistner said.

The main point of interest was senior defensive end Kennedy Emesibe. Now senior offensive tackle Troy Bacon, who transferred from Apple Valley this summer and may have to sit out the first four games due to the CIF transfer rule, has been added to the mix.

Emesibe has already received seven scholarship offers, and Rivals.com lists 13 teams with interest in Bacon.

While scouts are focused on the two recruits, there’s much more to this year’s Oak Hills team, which returns several quality players on both sides of the ball. The returning talent makes the Bulldogs a serious contender to unseat Serrano from the top of the Mojave River League — a position the Diamondbacks have held for the last four years.

“Serrano’s the team to beat,” Emesibe said. “Serrano’s had league for the last four years,

Daily Press

CENTER OF ATTENTION

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READY FOR ANOTHER RUN Serrano will try to reach the semifinals for sixth straight year 9p D8KK?<N G<K<IJ JK8== NI@K<I

G?<C8E After dropping to 1-3 in CIF-Southern Section championship games with a loss to Citrus Hill to end the 2012 season, Serrano head coach Ray Maholchic was given a copy of the book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where Else Would You Rather Be?â&#x20AC;? by former Buffalo Bills coach and four-time Super Bowl loser Marv Levy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think (my friend) thought I was on suicide watch, so he gave that to me to cheer me up,â&#x20AC;?

Maholchic said with a laugh.

Maholchic and the Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;backs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need much cheering up as the 2013 season nears. Players said they are over the loss, and Serrano expects to have another strong team for a possible title run.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just be much different than last season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we can be a very good team,â&#x20AC;? Maholchic said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last year, I think we were good coming out of the gate and kind of maintained that. I think this is a team thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to have to grow. I think we will.â&#x20AC;?

The Diamondbacks return a veteran defensive core, while the offense is missing the depth and skill that made it sparkle in 2012 and will return to a runfirst approach.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see a return to traditional Serrano,â&#x20AC;? Maholchic said.

Jay Henderson and Grant Koontz help anchor the defense at the two defensive end spots â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Maholchic called them the most dynamics ends heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever had. Henderson has already committed to San Diego State and Koontz is receiving interest from Colorado and Colorado State.

Michael Morris replaces Daniel Epperson at quarterback. Morris took just a handful of snaps at

the position last year. Because he was already the starting linebacker, Maholchic said there was no reason to risk putting him a QB during mop-up duty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not as good as Daniel (Epperson) as a passer, but I can run pretty good,â&#x20AC;? Morris said.

The Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;backs will also get a big boost from the return of senior running back/cornerback Lee Hogan. Hogan sat out half of last season with an ACL injury, but said heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back to full strength. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He makes a big difference.

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very talented,â&#x20AC;? Maholchic said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 90 percent or better heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a special player. He really makes us better.â&#x20AC;?

So things sound positive at Serrano. Pencil the Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;backs in for a sixth straight run to at least the Eastern Division semifinals? â&#x20AC;&#x153;That would be great,â&#x20AC;?

Maholchic said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Lou Holtz it. We still have a lot of question marks.â&#x20AC;?

Matthew Peters can be reached at mpeters@ vvdailypress.com or 760-955-5365.

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Rancho Motor Company wishes Serrano High School a great football season.

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Fall 2013

We invite everyone to join us at Serrano HS during the Varsity games to participate in the Silverado Truck Bed Kick program for the chance to win a new 2014 Chevy Silverado!

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Booth Jr. takes over as head coach at Sultana after touring city 9p D8KK?<N G<K<IJ JK8== NI@K<I

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“He’s a great coach,” junior quarterback Tyler Manning said. “He brings a certain energy to the team that I think we need. He keeps a level head. He knows when to light you up and when to talk you down and kind of make sure you understand.

He’s very knowledgeable about the game.”

That hope has helped bring more players to the team, which should improve one of the Sultans’ problems from last year. They started the

season 4-1, but wore down as games and the season went on because of a lack of depth.

Along with a new attitude, Booth Jr. is changing up the offense and defense.

He plans to use an aggressive run-based offense, moving away from the Sultans’ previous focus on the passing game.

That move sits well with lineman Kyle Alberts.

“I like it,” Alberts said.

“Honestly, I like being more straight forward and physical. I

like having the chance to push someone forward and pancake them.”

On defense, the Sultans are switching from a 3-5-3 to a 4-3.

“I wish we would have done that last year,” senior linebacker Ralph Hanson said. “Because (opponents) would just run the ball. If we would have had another lineman it would have helped a lot.”

Matthew Peters can be reached at mpeters@ vvdailypress.com or 760-955-5365.

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JLCK8E8

?<JG<I@8 David Booth Jr. has spent time coaching at every high school in Hesperia.

Now he’s tasked with making Sultana the football school in Hesperia.

The Sultans are entering their first season with Booth Jr., who replaces Blake Robbins, as their head coach. His father Dav i d B o o t h S r. co ac h e d Hesperia Christian and is now an assistant with Sultana. Booth Jr. played for Hesperia Christian and later joined the coaching staff before working his way to Hesperia and then Oak Hills.

He was the Sultans’ linebacker coach and junior varsity defensive coordinator last year.

“We’re starting off with the attitude, changing the attitude of Sultana football,” Booth Jr. said. “We don’t want to be the third team in Hesperia anymore.

We are looking to move our way up to be the best team.”

The Sultans have only been able to tread water in recent years. They’re 13-18 since rebounding from back-to-back winless seasons in 2008 and 2009.

But players said there is a new hope in the program with Booth Jr. on board.

Daily Press

NEW COACH, NEW HOPE

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Daily Press

THE NEXT CHALLENGE Excelsior moves to 11-man football after winning 8-man title

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M@:KFIM@CC< After achieving the ultimate success in 8-man football, Excelsior has its sights set on conquering the 11-man game this season.

The Eagles join the expanded Desert Mountain League and will play 11-man football for the first time in school history. They won the CIF-Southern Section 8-Man Division I championship last season in their third consecutive appearance in the title game. Also joining Excelsior in the eight-team DML is Desert.

“I think it’s going to be a challenge,” Excelsior athletic director Chris Fore said. “No matter what league we’re going into, just the step up in the competitive environment from 8-man is going to be a little bit of a challenge. Especially in the Desert Mountain League, you’ve got some of the top teams in the division in there.”

Excelsior dominated the Agape League the past three seasons and steamrolled through last year’s playoffs. After winning by scores of 90-28 and 78-43 in the quarterfinals and semifinals, the Eagles capped the season with a 69-26 victory over Thacher in the championship game.

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Excelsior would be the favorite to win the 8-man championship again, but the program is moving forward.

“At the core of football it’s still two things: blocking and tackling,” Fore said. “If we’re able to do those things well, we should be able to make the jump to 11-man football without a lot of hiccups.”

Excelsior head coach Bill Rivera has key seniors coming back on both sides of the ball, including running b a c k / l i n e b a c ke r M a t t h e w

Marable and running back/defensive lineman L.T. Richardson. Other key players include linebacker Kameron Peterson, who transferred from Granite Hills, and senior defensive lineman Dillion Vieira.

“There’s a lot more variety in the schemes in 11-man football, and so our coaching staff and kids have been working hard to continue to learn and identify those schemes, how to attack them offensively and how to defend them defensively,” Fore said.

Senior Nathaniel Rivera will start at quarterback this season.

“He was a backup last year and has done a fine job preparing himself all offseason,” Fore said.

“He also grew probably two inches and added 20 pounds of muscle this off season. We’re looking for him to have a great year.

“Winning the CIF championship last year, finishing ranked No. 1 in the state of California, and then moving to 11-man all at the same time — there’s a ton of excitement within the football program right now.”

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Riverside Prep is rebuilding program under new coach 9p ><F== =@JB

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not even about a win, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about leaving the field and having the other team feel like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Man, those guys brought it to us,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;?

Williams said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And they have to respect us because we were competitive and we were in it to win it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The league itself has some tough opponents. Excelsior is in our league, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re definitely a top-notch program. Their kids are like 6-2, 220 across the board, and lift three hours a day in a great weight room.â&#x20AC;?

A new fitness center has been installed on the Riverside Prep campus. Williams said itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a

major improvement for the program and gives the players the chance to lift weights for the first time in the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lifted all summer long.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve utilized every piece of equipment, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stronger,â&#x20AC;?

Williams said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely going to be a way different year.â&#x20AC;?

Riverside Prepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-league nose guard David Loveland returns for his senior season, but this year the 5-foot-10, 150-pounder will play his natural position of linebacker.

Other key players for the Silver Knights include junior free safety Mauricio Venegas, who

can also play quarterback. Senior running back Justyce Cardoza is the strongest player on the team and runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash according to Williams.

Quarterback Dustin Sharer comes back for his senior season after suffering a broken hand last year, and senior center Julio Bolivar anchors the offensive line. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re building it from the ground up,â&#x20AC;? Williams said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My expectations are that we enter every game with the focus that we have nothing to lose. Win or lose, if we can accomplish gaining respect then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won.â&#x20AC;?

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First-year head coach DJ Williams is trying to build the Riverside Prep football program from the ground up, and his goal is to earn the respect of every opponent that steps onto the gridiron against the Silver Knights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our motto for this year is WAR, Win All Respect,â&#x20AC;? Williams said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last year we got blown out numerous times. There were three games in a row where teams ran for 500 yards against us.â&#x20AC;?

The Silver Knights struggled to a 1-7 finish and an 0-5 mark in the Desert Mountain League last season, and Williams is trying to turn the program in a new direction. A former Azusa Pacific wide receiver, Williams has coached football for 15 years, but the 2013 season will be his first stint as a head coach at any level.

The Desert Mountain League has expanded from six teams to eight for this season, with CIF-Southern Section 8-Man Division I champion Excelsior moving up to 11-man football, and Desert also joining.

Boron finished first in the DML last season, and with the addition Excelsior, Williams expects the schedule to be tough.

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Daily Press

LOOKING FOR RESPECT

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Fall 2013

From all the staff at Rancho Motor Company.

We thank you for your participation in the Win a 2014 Chevy Spark Perfect Attendance Program.

Daily Press

PROVING THEMSELVES Silver Valley looks to improve on last season’s 3-7 record 9p ><F== =@JB =FI K?< ;8@CP GI<JJ

P<IDF Silver Valley football head coach John Stewart isn’t looking any further for motivation than the first game on the season, at Crean Lutheran in Irvine on Aug. 30. The game will be a rematch of last year’s season opener, which Stewart still remembers well.

“I try to teach my guys one play at a time type stuff,” Stewart said. “Get through the first game before we start thinking about any other games.

We’re very excited for our first game against Crean Lutheran.”

Silver Valley lost last year’s game 20-14.

“We went in there last year with a lot of guys on the roster than had never played varsity, never scored a varsity touchdown,” Stewart said. “And after out-gaining Crean Lutheran in every statistic, we fell short by six.

“And it was just a lack of experience. Guys that were in position to make plays never had been there before, so they didn’t seize the opportunities to make the plays.”

The Trojans finished last season 3-7 overall and 2-3 in the Desert Mountain League. This season the DML expands from six to eight teams. Desert joins

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the league along with Excelsior, the 2012 CIF-Southern Section 8-Man Division I champion.

“I think it’ll make our league a lot more competitive,” Stewart said. “Excelsior probably having double the amount of kids at their school than any other school in the league should make it quite interesting. From top to bottom, this year should be pretty competitive will all eight teams.”

Silver Valley’s returning seniors include quarterback Evan Martinez, wide receiver/ running back Dante Fields, kicker/wide receiver James Liker and running back Dan Quixchan.

Fields, who was named a linebacker to watch by the Los Angeles Times, and Quixchan will also be starting linebackers on defense, along with junior Brian Ili. Another player that Stewart expects big thing from is junior defensive tackle David Pallante.

“This guy’s been working his butt off in the weight room,” Stewart said of Pallante. “He’s a junior who had one hell of an off season. He’s 6-foot, 320 pounds and he benches about 350. He’s a beast.”

After the season opener at Crean Lutheran, Silver Valley plays a home game against Hamilton

before beginning the DML schedule at Desert on Sept. 13.

The Trojans take on Excelsior on the road for a league clash Oct. 11, and play last year’s DML champion Boron at home Nov. 1.

With a challenging season and an expanded league schedule ahead, Stewart said his team can’t wait to take the field and start playing games.

“Three days a week during the summer, they’ve been putting in weights and conditioning,” Stewart said. “They’re ready to get out there and prove that they’re a lot better than they were last year.”

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all our players a lot of practice and then game situation time.â&#x20AC;?

But the biggest change the Mustangs would like to make this season is claiming a league title. And that might be quite a bit easier in the Agape League with back-to-back undefeated league champion Excelsior moving to 11-man football this year.

Lucerne Valley is coming off a 5-5 season and a playoff appearance. It finished 2-2 and in third place in the Agape League. Heading into this season, Calpreps.com ranks the

Mustangs as the second best team in the league with a 6.1 rating. California Lutheran is first with a 13.6 rating. â&#x20AC;&#x153;California Lutheran and Upland Christian played some very close games with us last season,â&#x20AC;? Klinger said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was just a touchdown difference in our games and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be looking forward to close and high-scoring contests this year.â&#x20AC;?

The Mustangs lost five seniors from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s squad, but return skill at several positions. Senior Daniel Stratton

returns at quarterback after throwing for 1,201 yards and 16 touchdowns and running for another eight last season.

Senior running back Lonye Logan led the team in all-purpose yards with 1,123 for the season and 140.4 per game. On defense he racked up eight tackles per game and four sacks for the season.

Klinger said senior lineman Chris Campos will help anchor the defense after recording 4.2 tackles per game and three sacks for the season last year.

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CL:<IE< M8CC<P Lucerne Valley is still making adjustments since becoming an 8-man football team two years ago.

The Mustangs switched to 8-man late in the 2011 season when they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough players to field an 11-man team anymore. Last year in their first full season in 8-man football, the Mustangs grew accustomed to the new dimensions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had to make many adjustments in our first season last year,â&#x20AC;? Lucerne Valley head coach Chris Klinger said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The defensive scheme for a narrow and shortened field were the most critical. You have only two linebackers instead of four or five and you have to play manto-man football. No teams play zones and you use your free man as the safety.â&#x20AC;?

This year the Mustangs have enough players to bring back their junior varsity program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without a JV program the last few years itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been difficult for our younger players to gain experience,â&#x20AC;? Klinger said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now we can build that level back up. ... I have three paid assistant coaches and we can spread out the coaching strategy and give

Daily Press

MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

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Daily Press

BACK FROM THE BRINK VVCS will field team thanks to addition of exchange students =FI K?< ;8@CP GI<JJ

Fall 2013

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M@:KFIM@CC< Victor Valley Christian’s football season was in danger of being canceled.

Then a group of foreign exchange students tried out for the team and changed that outlook. Two years ago, the Royals had to forfeit their final three games of the season due to not having enough healthy players.

“The players who have come here can speak and understand English,” second year coach David Lindsay said. “Our biggest challenge will be to teach them American football jargon.”

Lindsay said the team has 15 players, and it returns four from last year, including quarterback Benjamin Harris. Jonathan McEwan is slated to be the starting running back, and Greg Lindsay, David Lindsay’s son, will be the starting fullback.

Victor Valley Christian is coming off a 1-7 season. Outside of a 36-14 win over Antelope Valley Christian, the Royals were outscored 338-6 and were shut out five times. The Royals’ last winning season came in 2010 when they went 5-4.

“We are in a rebuilding mode, having a few seniors, some juniors, sophomores, freshman

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and a couple of players who have never played the game before,” David Lindsay said. “We are also changing our offense to fit the personnel we now have.”

Lindsay said the Royals will move away from the I formation.

“Our opponents knew just about what was going to happen,” Lindsay said. “So we’re changing to an offensive look to make it more difficult for opponents to guess what we are going to do.”

Victor Valley Christian is scheduled to play seven games

this season, and six of them will played at home, beginning with their season opener against Sandy Valley (Nev.) on Aug. 30.

The Royals’ only road game won’t be until their sixth game of the season when they visit California Lutheran in an Agape League game on Oct. 18.

Antelope Valley Christian replaces Excelsior, which moved up to the 11-man football, in the Agape League this season.

“I am very thrilled to have six home games and I prefer to have them,” Lindsay said.

“Traditionally, we have never played well on the road. With familiar surroundings and crowd support it should really help a lot.”

Lindsay said the Royals are looking forward to their season finale against Lucerne Valley, the only other High Desert team competing in the Agape League this year. The Mustangs won last season’s game 56-0.

“We played hard against them last year and I look forward to a good game against them again this year,” Lindsay said.

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