Football Preview August 18, 2018

SANTACLARITA CLARITA VALLEY 20182018 SANTA VALLEY SCHOOLFOOTBALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW HIGHHIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW

THIS IS CANYON

The Cowboys’ SHAWN GALLAGHER

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THIS IS GOLDEN VALLEY

The Grizzlies’ DERRESE MORGANFIELD II

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THIS IS HART

The Indians’ MICHAEL COLANGELO

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THIS IS SAUGUS

The Centurions’ DEVIN THOMPSON

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THIS IS

VALENCIA

The Vikings’ BEN SEYMOUR

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THIS IS

WEST RANCH

The Wildcats’ RYAN & JOVAN CAMACHO

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Sports Editor Haley Sawyer

Sports Editor hsawyer@signalscv.com 661-287-5530

Design Joel Z. Rosario

Sports Staff Dan Lovi Diego Marquez

Photographer

TABLE OF

CONTENTS Predictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 The Signal’s sports reporters make their picks for how the Foothill League will go.

PROFILES

Cory Rubin

Contributors Erik Luna

Advertising Brad Lanfranco

Advertising Director blanfanco@signalscv.com 661-287-5557

18

Maureen Daniels Peter Smith Toni Sims

16

Multimedia Account Managers

Travis A. Johnson Sales Coordinator

Management Richard Budman

Publisher rbudman@signalscv.com 661-287-5501

Tim Whyte

Editor in Chief twhyte@signalscv.com 661-287-5591

Perry Smith

Deputy Managing Editor psmith@signalscv.com 661-287-5599

Three & Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 A quicker start and fewer players are among the issues looming in the league.

TEAM PREVIEWS

Foothill League Teams

Valencia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Saugus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Golden Valley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 West Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Private Schools

Santa Clarita Christian . . . . . . . . 28 Trinity Classical Academy . . . . . . 26

In the Driver’s Seat . . . . . . . . . 18 Valencia’s Ben Seymour takes on new defensive role with the same drive.

Structural Support . . . . . . . . 30 Golden Valley’s Derrese Morganfield II hopes to unite his team as a family.

Double Development . . . . . . . 32 West Ranch’s Jovan and Ryan Camacho built their prowess through rivalry.

EXTRAS

Weekends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 A list of Santa Clarita Valley products you can watch play in college or the NFL.

Divisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 What Southern Section playoff division is your school playing in this year? And what teams stand between it and a CIF title?

All-SCV Player of the Year . . 39 A look at every player to have been honored since the award started in 1977.

The Signal Victory Bell . . . . . . 7 The Signal is a newspaper of general circulation as defined by Section 6072, Government Code, State of California, and is adjudicated to be a newspaper entitled to print and publish legal advertising by decree, No. NVC15880, dated March 25, 1988, of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, State of California. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. All contents © The Signal, 2018.

6 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Who will hold symbol of Santa Clarita football supremacy after this season?

20

The Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 We printed six covers for the SCV High School Football Preview.

THE SIGNAL

VICTORY BELL

The Signal Victory Bell symbolizes football supremacy in the Santa Clarita Valley. The Foothill League team with the most victories against other Foothill opponents wins possession of the bell for a year.

If there is a two-way tie for best record, the bell will go to the winner of the head-to-head matchup. If there is a three-way tie, the Foothill League's tie-breaking formula for playoff seedings will be used.

1969 – Hart

1979 – Canyon

1989 – Hart

1999 – Hart

2009 – Valencia

1970 – Canyon

1980 – Saugus

1990 – Canyon

2000 – Hart

2010 – Valencia

1971 – Hart

1981 – Saugus

1991 – Canyon

2001 – Hart

1972 – Hart

1982 – Hart

1992 – Hart

2002 – Hart

1973 – Canyon

1983 – Canyon

1993 – Hart

2003 – Hart

1974 – Hart

1984 – Canyon

1994 – Hart

2004 – Valencia

1975 – Hart

1985 – Canyon

1995 – Hart

2005 – Canyon

1976 – Canyon

1986 – Canyon

1996 – Hart

2006 – Canyon

1977 – Hart

1987 – Hart

1997 – Hart

2007 – Hart

2016 – Valencia

1978 – Saugus

1988 – Hart

1998 – Hart

2008 – Saugus

2017 – Valencia

• Dual College Credit/Enrollment & Advanced Placement Classes • Students Accepted into the Nation’s Top Universities • 12:1 Student-to-Teacher Ratio

2011 – Valencia 2012 – Valencia 2013 – Valencia 2014 – Valencia 2015 – Valencia

• K-12 Competitive Sports: Thirty-five competitive athletic teams offered for grades K-12.

CIF Champions: Basketball (2018) Swimming (2014,-17),

• Caring, Christian teachers and coaches

Girls Volleyball (2014), Football (2008-09), Baseball (2004)

• WASC Accredited

State Campions: Basketball (2018)

Serving grades K-12

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www.sccs.cc 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 7

Davis Cop

Luring Paialii

Kohler Shockley

Jayvaun Wilson

VALENCIA 2017 Results Final record: 12-2 overall, 5-0 Foothill League (First place) Valencia 49 Palmdale 9 Valencia 56 Chaparral 14 Valencia 48 Newbury Park 7 Valencia 56 Bakersfield 14 Calabasas 65 Valencia 63 *Valencia 42 Hart 14 *Valencia 48 Golden Valley 7 *Valencia 50 Saugus 3 *Valencia 64 West Ranch 13 *Valencia 59 Canyon 7 **Valencia 54 Great Oak 23 ** Valencia 70 Norco 35 **Valencia 52 Heritage 34 **Oaks Christian 20 Valencia 19 *Foothill League game

** CIF-SS Div. Playoff game

By Haley Sawyer Signal Sports Editor

A

lthough Valencia football is going full speed ahead toward the 2018 season, there are still a few lingering emotions from last season and this summer.

For one, the Vikings had a CIF-Southern Section Division 2 ring within their reach, but the game slipped through their fingertips as they fell to Oaks Christian 2019. The feeling of loss

8 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

2018 Schedule Aug. 24

Arbor View^

6:30 p.m.

Aug. 31

at Silverado

7 p.m.

Sept. 7 Sierra Canyon^

Projected Starters OFFENSE

7 p.m.

Davis Cop

QB

Jayvaun Wilson*

RB

Kohler Shockley

WR

Jaden Holmes

WR

Sept. 14

at Loyola

7 p.m.

Sept. 21

Calabasas^

7 p.m.

Sept. 28

at Canyon*>

7 p.m.

Hunter Koch

WR

Hart^

7 p.m.

Cade Erickson

WR

Oct. 12 at Golden Valley*>

7 p.m.

Ben Seymour

LT

Oct. 19

7 p.m.

Vincent Casillas

LG

Tanner Miller*

C

Oct. 5

Saugus*^

Oct. 26 at West Ranch*^

7 p.m.

^at Valencia High >at Canyon High * Foothill League game +at COC Game times subject to change.

hasn’t quite left the team, especially Jayvaun Wilson, who was unable to play in the game due to an ankle injury.

“It’s something that gets me sometimes, but I know I have to keep working and keep pushing myself to get there because it’s not easy to get a ring,” said Wilson, a senior.

The rest of the team has matched Wilson’s drive to get back to a championship game, especially after being

bumped to Division 1.

However, that ambition took a bit of a blow when it was revealed that star receiver and corner Mykael Wright has intentions to transfer to Narbonne of the CIF Los Angeles City Section.

Wright led the team in receiving yards with 1,317 and receiving touchdowns with 18. Valencia has kept its fretting to a minimum, however.

See VALENCIA, page 38

Jacques Derderian RG RT Brice Phillips

DEFENSE

Robert Brymer

DE

Caleb West

DE

Justice Forbes

NG

Jime DeYong

OLB

Luring Paialii*

OLB

Owen Hand

ILB

Ben Seymour*

ILB

Josh Doyle

CB

Diego Garcia

CB

Kohler Shockley

S

Jake Santos

S

* Returning All-SCV player

The Basics

Jayvaun Wilson

HEAD COACH: Larry Muir

14th season (career record at Valencia: 103-44-1) Base offense: Spread Base defense: 3-4 Returning starters: Offense - 1; Defense - 5 Top returner on offense: Tanner Miller, OL. A threeyear varsity starter on the offensive line, Miller’s skill will be key in developing an inexperienced O-line.

Top returner on defense: Ben Seymour, LB. As a defensive end last season, Seymour ranked second on the team with 23 tackles and also was second in terms of sacks with 7.5.

Potential NCAA Division I Players: Jayvaun Wilson, Ben Seymour, Tanner Miller, Luring Paialii Key losses: Josh DeNeal, DE; Josh Washington, DE; Reilly Royce, LB; Moises Haynes, RB; Connor Downs, QB Top returners: Tanner Miller, OL; Luring Paialii, LB; Ben Seymour, LB; Kohler Shockley, WR/SS; Davis Cop, QB Top newcomers: Mitchell Torres, WR; Cade Erickson, WR; Jaden Holmes, WR; Jake Santos, RB; Diego Garcia, CB; Josh Doyle, CB/WR

2018 Roster # 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 32 33 34 36 37

NAME Hunter Koch Nick Pham Cade Erickson Josh Doyle Kohler Shockley Jayvaun Wilson Jaden Holmes Ethan Aguillon Camden Wikler Davis Cop Diego Garcia Ryan Aguilar Ryu Minami Ryan Morrison Sean McCollum Dominic Portillo Chris Janiak Mitchell Torres Jake Santos Rusty Griswold JimE Deyoung Jordan Brentley Adam West Lukas Gonzales Nataline Ziola Damien Ocampo Carlos Felipe Daniel Marroquin Lu-Ring Paialii Trenton Griswald Kyrease Gipson Ty Morrison

NEED PAIN RELIEF?

The Numbers

10

potential number of consecutive Foothill League titles the Vikings could have after this season

1

number of returning starters on a Valencia offense with room to grow

POS. WR/CB RB/LB WR/S CB/WR S/WR RB/S WR/S QB LB QB CB QB SS QB SPEC WR LB WR/SS RB/S WR LB CB WR WR K RB LB CB LB/RB P/K CB/RB K

YEAR JR JR SR SR SR SR SR JR SR SR JR SR SR JR SR JR SR JR JR SR JR JR SR SR SR SR SR JR SR JR JR SO

# 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

NAME Brendan Pepe Robert Brymer Damon Zavala Cody Astone Owen Hand Jonathon Tcheumani Luke Fowble Tanner Bench Josh Suh

POS. S DE SS S LB CB K LB NG

YEAR JR SR JR JR JR JR SR JR JR

50

Bryson Carberry

DE

SR

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 62 64 65 66 68 70 72 75 77 79 80 84 88

Ben Seymour Caleb West Jonathan Hernandez Brice Phillips Caleb Wheeler Justice Forbes Vladimir Victoria Gordon Smilanich Ernesto Lozano Tanner Miller Jacques Derderian Aiden Christie Levi Lachman Vincent Casillas Thomas Torres Jonathon Branch Aidan Rosette Ryan Hernandez Gavin Tate Karl Von Mecklenburg Brian Leslie Chris McDowell Braden Ward

LB/OL DE/OL DE OL DE NG NG LB OL OL OL OL OL OL NG DE LS/DE NG OL NG DE DE DE/OL

SR JR JR SR SR SR SR SR SR SR SR JR JR SO JR JR SR JR SR SR SR JR JR

FIND RELIEF FAST!

GETTING YOU BACK IN MOTION

730

How many points the Vikes scored last season. They allowed an average of 18.9 points per game.

9

NCAA Division 1 offers Jayvaun Wilson received before ultimately choosing to go to Oregon

P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y S P E C I A L I Z I N G I N: SPORTS / WORK INJURIES

SPRAINS / STRAINS

P O S T- O P S U R G I C A L R E PA I R S

PA I N M A N AG E M E N T

KNEE / ANKLE

H E A DAC H E S / D I Z Z I N E S S

POOL THERAPY

N E C K / B AC K PA I N

VALENCIA

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2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 9

HART 2017 Results Final record: 8-4 overall, 4-1 Foothill League (Second place) 42 Hart 35 22 Arcadia 6 44 Hart 35 44 St. Bonaventure 34 26 Ventura 0 42 Hart 14 35 Canyon 18 35 West Ranch 6 34 Golden Valley 27 22 Saugus 14 21 Sierra Canyon 7 **Rancho Verde 55 Hart 27

Downey Hart Antelope Valley Hart Hart *Valencia *Hart *Hart *Hart *Hart **Hart

*Foothill League game

** CIF-SS Div. Playoff game

By Dan Lovi Signal Staff Writer

I

t’s never easy replacing a quarterback with a stature like JT Shrout. The now-Tennessee Volunteers quarterback carried the load offensively for Hart last season, throwing for 3,064 yards and 27 touchdowns, while adding 262 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Senior Kyle Wiggins and junior Zach Johnson will do their best to replicate Shrout’s numbers,

10 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Jacob Montes

Drew Munoz

Aaron Rodriguez

Kyle Wiggins

2018 Schedule Aug. 24

at Downey

7 p.m.

Aug. 31

Arcadia

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7

at Burbank

7 p.m.

Sept. 14 St. Bonaventure 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21

at Ventura

7 p.m.

Sept. 28

Saugus+*

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5

at Valencia^*

7 p.m.

Oct. 12

Canyon+*

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 West Ranch+* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Golden Valley>*

7 p.m.

^at Valencia High >at Canyon High * Foothill League game +at COC Game times subject to change.

but by no means do they believe they are simply his replacement.

“I think it’s not about replacing or not doing anything he did or didn’t,” Johnson said. “It’s more about I’m my own player and he’s (Wiggins) his own player, and we each bring things to the table that will help this team. I think that when it comes down to it, it’s about being a great team leader and trying to do whatever you can for the team to get a win.”

The two quarterbacks

have battled throughout summer camp, splitting first-team reps. Both could potentially see time on the field this season as the team’s signal-caller.

“Both the quarterbacks are looking good,” said senior defensive end Jacob Jaramillo. “They are fighting out there. None of them are lacking at all.

It’s a good competition.

It’s healthy.”

While the quarterbacks have been battling it out, two running backs have See HART, page 37

Projected Starters OFFENSE

Zach Johnson

QB

Ethan Blair

RB

Drew Munoz

WR

Ashton Thomas

WR

Michael Colangelo WR Ryan Tomaszewski WR Justin Curtis

LT

Tommy Adame

LG

Tyler Thompson

C

Steven Cespedes

RG

Diego Montes

RT

DEFENSE

Jake Jaramillo

DE

Dylan Vradenberg

DE

Freddy Alvarenga

DT

Brayden York

DT

Jacob Montes

LB

Leighton McCarthy

LB

Jack McBride

LB

Drew Munoz

SS

Kyle Wiggins

FS

Michael Colangelo CB Josh Ashton

CB

The Basics HEAD COACH: Mike Herrington

30th season (career record at Hart: 282-84-2)

Base offense: Spread Base defense: 4-3 Returning starters: Offense - 4; Defense - 4 Top returner on offense: WR Jacob Montes — 32 catches for 427 yards and a touchdown Top returner on defense: DB Michael Colangelo — 2 interceptions, 38 tackles Key losses: QB JT Shrout, WR/DB DaVon Jones, WR/DB D.J. Palmer, DE C.J. McMullen, OL/DL Nathan Bradder, RB Ben Rosen, LB Julian Salazar Top returners: WR Drew Munoz, WR Jacob Montes, OL Tommy Adame, OL Diego Montes, DL Jake Jaramillo, LB Jack McBride, DB Michael Colangelo, DB Drew Munoz Top newcomers: WR/DB Ashton Thomas, LB Leighton McCarthy, WR Ryan Tomaszewski, DE Dylan Vradenberg

2018 Roster # 2 3 5 6 9 10 11 12 15 16 18 20 21 22 25 27 28 48

NAME Michael Colangelo Jacob Montes Ryan Tomaszewski Taden Littleford Ashton Thomas Leighton McCarthy Jake Davidson Dylan Vradenburg Kyle Wiggins Zach Johnson Aaron Rodriguez Nathan Dodds Cedric Ornelas Drew Munoz Ethan Blair Max Bjorkman Jack McBride Brayden York

POS. WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB TE/DE QB/DB QB/DB K/P WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DT WR/DB WR/LB RB/DT

YEAR SR SR SO JR JR JR JR SO SR JR SR JR SR JR SR JR JR JR

Jack McBride # 50 51 52 54 55 56 58 64 65 67 68 72 74 75 77 79 87

NAME Sean Beauchamp Jacob Jaramillo Diego Montes Hadi Maaz Steven Cespedes Jordan Sioussat Blake Gill Brandon Dieguez Jacob Carlson Francisco Avendano Tyler Thompson Freddy Alvarenga Luke Jenkins Justin Curtis Tommy Adame Luis Ramirez Connor Finley

POS. OL/DE OL/DT OL/DE OL/DT OL/DT OL/DE OL/DT OL/DT OL/DE OL/DT OL/DT OL/DT OL/DT OL/DT OL/DT OL/DT WR/DB

The Numbers

42.5

3

11

252.2

The number of team sacks they had last year

The number of years since Hart last won the Foothill League title

The number of transfers on the roster this season

The average number of receiving yards per game

YEAR JR SR SR SO SR JR JR JR JR JR JR JR JR SO JR JR SR

Best of Success TO ALL THE SANTA CLARITA FOOTBALL TEAMS FOR THE 2018 SEASON!!!

Bob Jensen, CPA Dennis King, CPA Evan Faucette, CPA Mike Garrison, CPA Tom Engman, CPA Bud Alleman, CPA Sandie Snetiker Phone 661-705-4222

KKAJ, LLP

27200 Tourney Road, Suite 475 ▪ Valencia, CA 91355 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 11

SAUGUS 2017 Results Final record: 6-7 overall, 2-3 Foothill League (T-Third place) Saugus 21 Santa Barbara 21 Camarillo 42 Saugus 14 Saugus 29 Buena 27 Ventura 51 Saugus 27 St. Francis 49 Saugus 20 Saugus 17 Golden Valley 0 Saugus 11 West Ranch 7 Valencia 50 Saugus 3 Canyon 35 Saugus 31 Hart 22 Saugus 14 Saugus* 44 Sonora 2 Saugus* 28 St. Paul 27 Bishop Diego* 45 Saugus 27 * CIF-SS Div. Playoff game

By Dan Lovi Signal Staff Writer

N

ew faces don’t necessarily equate to a new brand of football, but it does mean new opportunities.

Saugus graduated eight of the nine players who made the All-CIF team in Division 6 last season. The only returning player is senior lineman Nathan Tripp, who will be operating as the team’s center this season.

Tripp, who switched

12 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Angelo Bornn

Cole Gallagher

Myles Garrett

Nathan Tripp

2018 Schedule Aug. 17

Taft+

7:30 p.m.

Aug. 24

Agoura+

7:30 p.m.

Aug. 31

at Buena

7 p.m.

Sept. 7 Thousand Oaks+ 7:30 p.m.

Projected Starters OFFENSE

Cole Gallagher

QB

Reid Huseman

RB

James Sumpter

WR

Sept. 14

at St. Francis

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28

at Hart*+

7:30 p.m.

Matthew Ballentine WR WR Nick Thanaet

Golden Valley*

7:30 p.m.

Devin Thompson

WR

Robert Ferialdi

G

Thomas Barrero

G

Nathan Tripp

C

Jacob Villanueva

T

Gaetano Ferrera

T

Oct. 5

Oct. 12 at West Ranch*^

7 p.m.

Oct. 19

at Valencia*^

7 p.m.

Nov. 26

Canyon*+

7:30 p.m.

^at Valencia High >at Canyon High * Foothill League game +at COC Game times subject to change.

over from guard to replace Waide Brummer in the middle, is looking forward to the challenge.

“Center is such a difficult position because you have to call out everything and set it up,” Tripp said. “If anyone is pulling you have to know where they are pulling to. You also have to worry about the snap as well as taking your first step.

It’s a simultaneous thing and you can’t forget about the snap or else the whole play is going to get messed up.”

While Tripp is one of the mainstays on the offensive line, he’ll be snapping the ball to a new face under center.

Cole Gallagher takes over for Nathan Eldridge at the quarterback position. He knows what Eldridge meant for the Saugus football program, but he also knows it’s time to focus on his game.

“It was a big honor,” Gallagher said. “Nate was the guy for two See SAUGUS, page 36

DEFENSE

Carson Smith

DL

Robert Ferialdo

DL

Gaetano Ferrera

DL

Angelo Bornn

OLB

Myles Garrett

ILB

Josh Bond

ILB

Blake Adams

OLB

Jake De Britz

CB

Matthew Ballentine CB Devin Thompson* S Trevor Girch

S

* Returning All-SCV player

The Basics HEAD COACH: Jason

2018 Roster

Bornn

16th season (career record at Saugus: 87-84) Base offense: Balanced Base defense: 3-4 Returning starters: Offense — 6; Defense — 4 Top returner on offense: Devin Thompson, WR/SS - 29 receptions for 346 yards and 5 TDs in 2017 Top returner on defense: Myles Garrett, LB - 44 tackles in 2017 Key losses: QB Nathan Eldridge, RB Quinn Sheaffer, LB Jimmy Stirwalt, WR/LB Tyler Hampsten, DL Jordan Durden, OL Richard Meza Top returners: WR/SS Devin Thompson, WR Nick Thanaet, RB Reid Huseman, OL Nathan Tripp, OL/DL Gaetano Ferrera, SS Trevor Girch, LB Myles Garrett Top newcomers: WR/CB Cade Gallagher, RB/ILB Josh Bond, RB/S Julian Bornn, WR/S Robert Vega

Devin Thompson

The Numbers

10

The number of years since Saugus last beat Valencia

4

The division Saugus is now in after moving up two spots

39

The number of touchdowns Saugus scored last season

2

The number of safeties Saugus had last season

#

NAME

POSITION

YEAR

2

Azariah Beaugard

WR/CB

JR

3

Cole Gallagher

QB/S

SR

4

Cade Gallagher

WR/CB

JR

5

Jake De Britz

WR/CB

SR

6

Roberto Vega

WR/S

SO

7

Devin Thompson

WR/S

SR

8

Trevor Girch

WR/S

SR

10

Angelo Bornn

OL/ILB

SR

11

Matthew Ballentine

WR/CB

SR

12

Kyle Binkley

WR/S

SR

13

Jakob Corrigan

WR/OLB

JR

14

Ben Gonzalez

WR/S

SR

16

Evan Dawson

WR/S

JR

18

Brayden Giraldo

QB/S

JR

20

Zack Hirst

WR/CB

SR

21

Julian Bornn

RB/S

SO

22

Blake Adams

WR/OLB

SR

23

Cameron Warr

RB/S

JR

24

Josh Bond

RB/ILB

JR

27

Seth Rowe

WR/CB

SR

29

Travis Mathis

TE/ILB

JR

31

James Sumpter

WR/S

SR

33

William Trunkey

TE/S

SR

34

Nicholas Schreiner

WR/CB

SR

36

Reid Huseman

RB/ILB

SR

42

Nick Thanaet

WR/S

SR

43

Myles Garrett

RB/ILB

SR

45

Joe Anaya

RB/OLB

SR

50

Gaetano Ferrera

OL/DL

SR

51

Trevor Dahring

TE/ILB

SO

53

Tyler Ayers

OL/DL

JR

54

Thomas Hitch

OL /DL

SR

55

Nathan Tripp

OL/DL

SR

59

Thomas Barrero

OL/DL

SR

62

Brandon Cabaccang

OL/DL

SR

66

Nicholas Encinas

OL/DL

SR

67

Ryan Hampsten

OL/DL

JR

70

Tyler Dulaney

OL/DL

SR

71

Mason Oh

OL/DL

SR

72

Logan De Shazer

OL/DL

JR

75

Jacob Villanueva

OL /DL

SR

76

Benny Bacelis

OL/DL

SR

80

Colton Dolder

K

SR

82

Carson Smith

TE/DL

SR

85

Vincent Schneider

RB/OLB

SR

95

Robert Ferialdi

OL/DL

SR

99

Seth Edwards

TE/DL

SO

2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 13

Johnathan Kaelin

Zack Chevalier

Tyler Walker

Lendale Cervantes

GOLDEN VALLEY 2017 Results Final record: 8-6 overall, 2-3 Foothill League (T-Third place) Golden Valley Golden Valley Crescenta V. Golden Valley Fullerton *Saugus *Valencia *Golden Valley *Hart Golden Valley **Golden Valley **Golden Valley **Golden Valley *Bishop Diego

30 Highland 0 28 Royal 21 26 Golden Valley 19 26 Crespi 13 27 Golden Valley 23 17 Golden Valley 0 48 Golden Valley 7 38 Canyon 0 34 Golden Valley 27 34 West Ranch 12 15 Nipomo 2 41 Fountain Valley 14 20 Mira Costa 18 37 Golden Valley 6

*Foothill League game

** CIF-SS Div. Playoff game

By Haley Sawyer Signal Sports Editor

G

olden Valley running back Tyler Walker didn’t have to think long when coming up with a description for this year’s team.

“If I could identify them as, like, anything in the world, I’d probably use an ocean term,” he said. “A great white shark. One of the most feared predators in the world.”

After years of swim-

14 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

2018 Schedule

Projected Starters

Aug. 17

at Highland

7 p.m.

Aug. 24

at Antelope V.

7 p.m.

Aug. 31

Fullerton >

7 p.m.

Zach Chevalier

QB

Sept. 7

Crespi >

7 p.m.

Tyler Walker

RB

Sept. 14

Bishop Diego >

7 p.m.

Johnathan Kaelin* WR WR Antonio Abrego

Sept. 28 at West Ranch ^*

7 p.m.

Oct. 5

at Saugus+*

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12

Valencia >

7 p.m.

Oct. 19

at Canyon >

7 p.m.

Oct. 26

Hart

7 p.m.

^at Valencia High >at Canyon High * Foothill League game +at COC Game times subject to change.

ming along the bottom of the Foothill League standings, GV has surfaced as one of the most dynamic teams in the Santa Clarita Valley. The escalation was fortified by an appearance in the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 championship game last season.

The Grizzlies, who will compete in Division 4 this year, aren’t just satisfied with a title game appearance, though.

“Every year we’ve been trying to prove

ourselves,” said coach Dan Kelley. “When I first got here, just winning a league game was something we needed to prove. And now that we’ve played in seven playoff games in the last two years, the expectations are we want to go to playoffs and we just don’t want to make a run.”

A handful of players at a variety of positions – including DJ Turner, AhSee GOLDEN, page 40

OFFENSE

Carlos Meza

WR

Breydon Simmons WR Darnell Musgrove LT Blake Cruz

LG

Lendale Cervantes C RG Joseph Lahn Joseph Salazar

DEFENSE

RT

Pablo Duran

DE

Zach Perez

DE

Darnell Musgrove NG Lendale Cervantes DT Derrese Morganfield II*

LB

Kyle Mendoza

LB

Chris Mendoza

SS

Carlos Meza

SS

Johnathan Kaelin* FS Tyler Walker

CB

Breydon Simmons CB * Returning All-SCV player

The Basics HEAD COACH:

2018 Roster

Dan Kelley

Fifth year (career record at Golden Valley: 25-22-0) Base offense: Spread Base defense: 4-2-5 Returning starters: Offense - 4; Defense - 3 Top returner on offense: Zack Chevalier, QB — 1,956 yards and 11 TDs in 2017 Top returner on defense: Derrese Morganfield II, LB — 109 tackles in 2017 Potential NCAA Division I players: Johnathan Kaelin, Zack Chevalier, Derrese Morganfield II Key losses: DeGabriel Floyd, WR/DB; Ahvie Harris WR/DB; Jalin Lewis WR/CB; DJ Turner, RB/LB; CJ Ravenell OL/DE Top returners: Zack Chevalier, QB; Johnathan Kaelin, WR/DB; Derrese Morganfield II, LB Top newcomers: Carlos Meza, WR/S; Breydon Simmons, WR; Lendale Cervantes OL/DL; Antonio Abrego, WR; Darnell Musgrove OL/DL

Zack Chevalier

The Numbers

4

years it took the Grizzlies to reach a CIF-SS title game in Dan Kelley’s time as a coach

109

tackles that Derrese Morganfield II racked up last season.

Expect that number to escalate quickly

800

Meters in receiver Antonio Abrego’s race of choice during track season

1

Golden Valley only lost one preleague game last season. This year, they’re hoping for a perfect five

#

NAME

POSITION

YEAR

1

Antonio Abrego

WR/CB

SO

2

Austin Garcia

QB/DB

JR

3

Breydon Simmons

WR/DB

SR

4

Vincent Fernandez

RB/DB

SR

5

Christopher Alcantar

RB/LB

JR

6

Matthew Topete

WR/DB

JR

7

Chris Mendoza

WR/DB

JR

8

Antoine Hall

WR/DB

JR

9

Tyler Walker

RB/DB

JR

10

Zack Chevalier

QB/DB

SR

11

Logan Morrison

QB/LB

SR

12

Jacob Andrus

WR/DB

SR

13

Johnathan Kaelin

WR/DB

JR

15

Carlos Meza

WR/LB

SO

16

Ethan Leppke

WR/LB

JR

17

Zachary Perez

WR/DL

JR

19

Carson Farber

P/K

JR

21

Austin Acree

WR/DB

JR

22

Cameron Wedge

WR/DB

JR

25

Jason Huerta

WR/DB

SR

26

Hunter Hudson

WR/DB

SR

28

Harley Medelin

WR/DB

JR

32

Michael Cleveland

RB/LB

SR

34

Jonathan Aparicio

WR/DL

JR

44

Derrese Morganfield II RB/LB

SR

45

JJ Okunna

RB/LB

JR

50

Raysean Gilmore

OL/DL

SO

51

Samuel Gabler

OL/DL

SR

52

Blake Cruz

OL/DL

SR

54

Darnell Musgrove

OL/DL

JR

55

Steven Barrera

OL/DL

SR

56

Pablo Duran

OL/DL

JR

57

Alberto Palacios

OL/LB

JR

65

Tim Kashchenko

OL/DL

SR

72

Lendale Cervantes

OL/DL

JR

75

Joseph Lahn

OL/DL

JR

77

Joseph Salazar

OL/DL

SR

78

Jose Meza

OL/DL

SR

79

Daniel Morales

OL/DL

JR

81

Hunter Mcmahon

WR/LB

JR

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2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 15

2018 SCV HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THREE & OUT Earlier start means sport heats up faster than usual

By Haley Sawyer Signal Sports Editor

I

n the past, the first week of school could be a little tough for Foothill League football players. Not because of academics or pre-first day jitters, but because the end-of-week promise of Friday night lights was still another week away.

This season, they’ll be diving right into football, as the CIF-Southern Section changed the date of

zero week. Last season, football started on Aug. 24. This season, the first games were on Aug. 17.

The change was made with playoffs in mind.

Shifting fall sports up a week consequently moves the other seasons up as well, which will hopefully cause an increase in playoff game attendance and avoid conflicts with fans’ summer vacation plans.

See START, page 32

Sport sees participation drop in some campuses

By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

Y

ear after year, schools lose kids to graduation. It’s normal. But with sports being such a viable option for kids in the Santa Clarita Valley, some must wonder why football participation numbers are down.

Last year out of the 14,372 students enrolled in the six Foothill League schools, about a third (5,757) students partic-

ipated in some type of sport, with football being the most dominant among boys.

That is why it’s unusual to see that participation numbers for three out of the six Foothill League schools down from last year.

Canyon, Golden Valley and Valencia have seen an increase in the number of participants that come out for football.

West Ranch’s Jovan Camacho, left; his brother Ryan, right; and Golden Valley’s Derrese Morganfield II. Signal photo by Cory Rubin.

16 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

See DROP, page 32

Chances at revenge among games to watch this year

By Dan Lovi Signal Staff Writer

Calabasas vs. Valencia, 7 p.m., Sept. 21

Valencia’s perfect regular season was derailed

by Calabasas in Week 5 last year, losing 65-63 in a thriller.

The Vikings will have a chance to turn the tables this year when they take on the Coyotes in a Week 5 rematch.

Moises Haynes led Valencia with 222 rushing yards and four touchdowns last year, while Jayvaun Wilson added three rushing touchdowns on just six carries.

Haynes graduated as did quarterback Connor Downs. Valencia’s experienced defense will be heavily relied upon if they want to win this game.

“Defensively, that game definitely sticks out because we let up a lot of points,” said Vikings linebacker Owen Hand. “But just we’re just more focused right now on trying to get ourselves better and not really thinking about anyone else. Just how we can improve. It’ll be a tough game, but I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be fun.”

See WATCH, page 32

Canyon’s Shawn Gallagher and Hart’s Michael Colangelo. Canyon has seen an increase in the number of football participants this year over the previous one. Hart however has seen a decrease. Signal photo by Cory Rubin.

Go to a game “There’s something about the feel of Friday night football”

- Garrie Calhoun

HartDistrict.org

2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 17

PROFILE — VALENCIA’S BEN SEYMOUR

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT Rock of Vikings defense takes on new role with same drive

By Haley Sawyer Signal Sports Editor

O

n a Friday afternoon in early August, it’s impossible to find Ben Seymour when first walking into the Valencia High weight room. And yet he’s the center of attention.

In the center of the room, surrounded by a swarm of chanting teammates, he’s going push-

up-for-pushup with teammate Damien Ocampo.

“He just energizes the whole team and so, like, after lift, he still wants some more,” said Seymour, of Ocampo. “It was just like, kind of a pumpup thing. Whoever jumps up next to him. It’s just cool to get the whole team just pumped up after lifts. Kind of brings us closer together.”

Ahead of his senior year, Ben Seymour has come out of his shell, and the pushup competition is just one example of that. After a successful year on the defensive line last season, he’s taken on a leadership role and a new position, too.

In his varsity career up to this point, Seymour was known as a relentless worker. True to his

Midwestern roots, he quietly put in effort and the results showed as he was part of a defense that allowed an average of 18.9 points per game last season.

“When he’s so driven, driven, driven, sometimes you don’t see his personality, but he’s definitely come out a lot more in his confidence of who he is,” said coach

Valencia’s Ben Seymour will move from defensive end, where he made 7.5 sacks in 2017, to linebacker this year. Signal photo by Cory Rubin

18 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Larry Muir. “I think he’s done so well and has so much success here that he can’t help but have confidence in knowing who he is.”

Seymour was born in Nebraska, then moved to Valencia with his family when he was 4 years old due to a change in his father’s employment.

He remembers playing for Warrior Football and going to watch Valencia varsity games as a kid, even if he was just hanging out with his Warrior teammates in the back corner of the stadium.

“I just love the sport and I love like, the people and I love like, how you get so close to the group of guys and you’re all working for one goal,” Seymour said of why football became his sport of choice. “It’s really cool how football connects people with your friends and stuff.”

When he joined the varsity team, Seymour made an intangible impact on the Vikings program and an even harder physical impact on opposing players as a key member of the D-line.

In his junior campaign at defensive end, Seymour logged 21 tackles for a loss, according to MaxPreps.com, which ranked him second on the team. He was also second in terms of sacks with 7.5.

This year, he’s made the transition to linebacker in preparation for college play.

“He’s the type of guy that if he has to do something, he’s going to work harder than anyone at it,” said linebacker Owen Hand, who has known Seymour since

Ben Seymour lifts the ball in celebration of a fumble recovery in 2017. Signal file photo

Warrior days.

“So when he did move, he watched more film, he learned it better than anyone, so he worked really hard to try to make the transition because its totally different than D-end.”

Seymour always had the physical abilities to move to linebacker, but had to work on the mental aspect and developing his vision on the field. Hand is always nearby to keep him confident in his reads.

“It’s a totally different perspective,” Seymour said.

“There’s more space and more room to work with at linebacker than there is at D-end.

At D-end you’re always on a guy, but at linebacker you kind of move, like, through the field.”

The senior already holds an offer from UC Davis, but more attention could await in his final year with the Vikings.

His dream is to return to his home state and play for Nebraska.

But for now, he’s ready to develop his game at his new position, building this year’s Viking

brotherhood and avenging Valencia’s loss in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 championship game last season.

“In the past he’s just kind of kept his mouth shut and been a really hard worker, but now

he’s more vocal, which is really good,” Hand said.

“Everyone’s been like, encouraging him to do that because we all know how hard he works, so if he says something, everyone is going to listen to him.” FP

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Aydyn Litz

Jacob Lopez

Carson Strickland

Ryan Valdez

CANYON 2017 Results Final record: 6-6 overall, 1-4 Foothill League (T-Fifth place) Moorpark 41 Canyon 0 Canyon 14 Burbank 6 Canyon 28 Oxnard 14 Canyon 35 Highland 0 Canyon 36 Simi Valley 17 *West Ranch 35 Canyon 14 *Hart 35 Canyon 18 *Golden Valley 38 Canyon 0 *Canyon 35 Saugus 31 *Valencia 59 Canyon 7 **Canyon 35 San Gorgonio 28 **Mira Costa 45 Canyon 28 *Foothill League game

** CIF-SS Div. Playoff game

By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

W

atching Canyon’s football practice, one thing is evident: Everyone is positive and confident that this season will be even better than the 2017 campaign.

Finishing with an overall record of 6-6 last season, the Cowboys snuck into the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 playoffs as an at-large bid, thanks to a ruling that declared Oxnard ineligible for the postseason,

20 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

2018 Schedule

Projected Starters

Aug. 24

San Fernando>

7 p.m.

Aug. 31

at Burroughs

7 p.m.

Sept. 7

at Palmdale

7 p.m.

Aydyn Litz

QB

Sept. 14

at Simi Valley

7 p.m.

Jake Acquaviva

RB

Sept. 21

Royal>

7 p.m.

Sept. 28

Valencia>*

7 p.m.

Carson Strickland* WR Shawn Gallagher* WR

Oct. 5

West Ranch>*

7 p.m.

Oct. 12

at Hart+*

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 Golden Valley >*

7 p.m.

Oct. 26

7 p.m.

at Saugus+*

^at Valencia High >at Canyon High * Foothill League game +at COC Game times subject to change.

where they met and defeated the defending Division 7 champions San Gorgonio.

“I think one of the things that we want to gain experience in is competing against the best around,” said Cowboys coach Rich Gutierrez.

“Obviously, when you compete in the Foothill League anyone that you play is hoping to prepare themselves for those competitive games. Those are the type of teams that we like to compete against, only because we know that

we are going to get some dynamite coaching and teams are going to play at 150 percent.”

Moving some players into key positions that needed to be filled, Rodriguez had to bring some kids up from the junior varsity team and made a big change at quarterback.

Throwing for 1,341 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions, and running for an additional 732 yards and 11 touchSee CANYON, page 42

OFFENSE

Andrew Romero

WR

Nico Shields

WR

Justin Willingham OL OL Jacob Lopez* Max Graham

OL

Matt Pineda

OL

Justin Swanson

OL

DEFENSE

Antonio Amador

DL

Jacob Lopez*

DL

Freddy Estrada

DL

Jacob Arsiniega

DL

Blake Mahaffey

ILB

Ryan Valdes

ILB

Shawn Gallagher* OLB Darrin Warren

OLB

Kenny Cunningham CB Henry Vera*

CB

Carson Strickland* FS

* Returning All-SCV player

The Basics HEAD COACH: Rich

2018 Roster

Gutierrez

Eighth season (career record at Canyon: 42-35-1) Base Offense: Spread Base Defense: 4-2-5 Returning starters: Offense - 7 Defense - 6 Top returner on offense: WR Shawn Gallagher - Threw for 1,341, six touchdowns and six interceptions, and ran for 732 yards and 11 touchdowns as a quarterback last year Top returner on defense: DB Henry Vera - Was first on the team in tackles (45) and interceptions (5) in 2017 Potential NCAA Division I Players: C Max Graham Key Losses: OL/DL Luis Vargas, RB/DB Anthony Gutierrez, WR/DB Roland Hardson, OL/DL Richard Bueno, RB/LB Noah Dilley Top Returners: RB/LB Shawn

Carson Strickland

Gallagher, OL/DL Jacob Lopez , OL/ DL Max Graham , WR/DB Carson Strickland, RB/LB Ryan Valdes, WR/DB Henry Vera Top Newcomers: RB/LB Darren Warren, QB Aydyn Litz

The Numbers

3

Offensive positions Shawn Gallagher could line up at in 2018

15

Interceptions that Canyon had in 2017, two more than the next school

4

games they won in a row after dropping their first game of the year in 2017

25

rushing TDs the Cowboys scored in 2017

#

NAME

POSITION

YEAR

2

James Mendibles

WR/DB

SO

3

Caleb Magno

RB/DB

SR

4

Henry Vera

WR/DB

SR

5

Carson Strickland

WR/DB

SR

6

Aiden Corcoran

OL/DL

JR

7

Shawn Gallagher

RB/LB

SR

8

Nico Shields

WR/DB

SR

9

Darrin Warren

RB/LB

SO

10

Nathanial Valdez

WR/DB

SO

11

Ryan Valdes

RB/LB

SR

12

Aydyn Litz

QB

JR

15

Andrew Romero

WR/DB

SR

16

Tommy Kidd

WR/DB

JR

20

Jake Acquaviva

RB/DB

SR

21

Ryan Guluzza

K

SR

22

Conner Romero

WR/DB

JR

23

Conner Lee

WR/LB

SO

24

Evan Cox

RB/LB

JR

25

Kenny Cunningham

WR/DB

SR

26

Jasen Abramovitch

RB/LB

JR

27

Kevin Ariza

RB/LB

JR

29

Angel Mota

RB/LB

JR

30

Matthew Botros

WR/DB

SO

32

Dedrick Knox

RB/LB

JR

42

Freddy Estrada

OL/DL

SR

44

Antonio Amador

RB/LB

SR

51

Justin Swanson

OL/LB

SR

52

Jacob Lopez

OL/DL

SR

54

Milton Aguilar

OL/DL

SR

55

Blake Mahaffey

RB/LB

JR

57

Matthew Pineda

OL/DL

JR

61

Max Graham

OL/DL

SR

64

Adrian Moran

OL/DL

SR

66

Cameron Acquaviva

OL/DL

JR

68

Jacob Arsiniega

OL/DL

JR

72

Justin Willingham

OL/DL

JR

73

Jake Shaver

OL/DL

SR

75

Diego Montoya

OL/DL

JR

77

Eric Shannon

OL/DL

SR

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Weston Eget

Mason James

Joseph Tempesta

Brandon Wyre

WEST RANCH 2017 Results Final record: 5-4 overall, 1-4 Foothill League (T-Fifth place) West Ranch 55

Simi Valley 7

West Ranch 39

St. Genivieve 12

West Ranch 48 Thousand Oaks 28 West Ranch 48

Oak Park 21

*West Ranch 35

Canyon 14

2018 Schedule Aug. 17

at Nordhoff

7 p.m.

Aug. 23

Burroughs^

7 p.m.

Aug. 31 St. Genevieve’s^

7 p.m.

Sept. 7

at Royal

7 p.m.

Sept. 14

Oak Park^

7 p.m.

Sept. 28 Golden Valley^*

7 p.m.

West Ranch 7

Oct. 5

at Canyon>*

7 p.m.

West Ranch 6

Oct. 12

Saugus*

7 p.m.

*Valencia 64

West Ranch 13

Oct. 19

at Hart+*

7 p.m.

*Golden Valley 34

West Ranch 12

Oct. 26

at Valencia^*

7:30 p.m.

*Saugus 11 *Hart 35

*Foothill League game

By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

S

tarting off the 2017 season with a 48-point victory over Simi Valley, the West Ranch Wildcats continued to win the next four games to begin the year.

That five-game streak came to a sudden halt in their second Foothill League game when they dropped a tough 11-7 game against Saugus and never recovered, losing the remaining three games to finish the sea-

22 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

^at Valencia High >at Canyon High * Foothill League game +at COC Game times subject to change.

son 5-4 overall.

This year’s Wildcats will seek to begin the season on a similar winning streak, and will have some help thanks to returning starters and identical twins Ryan and Jovan Camacho.

With the departure of LaRon Huff to graduation, Ryan will be the starting running back. He finished last season second on the team with 556 yards rushing on 72 carries and four touchdowns.

Jovan was right behind his brother in terms

of rushing, carrying the ball 16 times for 189 yards and one touchdown. He primarily did his work out wide at the receiver position, leading the team in receptions with 40 for 590 yards and five touchdowns.

“The good thing with the Camachos is that they can play pretty much any position on offense and that’s what we have used them for in the past couple years,” said West Ranch head coach Chris See WR, page 43

Projected Starters OFFENSE

Weston Eget Ryan Camacho* Jason Pobanz Jovan Camacho* Mason James Brandon Wyre Matthew Krogh Brenden Cho Henry Samuelson Ethan Eichten John Collier

DEFENSE

QB RB WR WR WR WR G G C T T

JC Cotti Eugene Kim Dylan Clark

DL DL DL

Joseph Tempesta Austin Schanks Zachary Van Bennekum Bryce Buchanan Mason James Jeremiah Guzman Ryan Camacho* Jovan Camacho*

LB LB LB LB S S DB DB

* Returning All-SCV player

The Basics

2018 Roster #

NAME

POS.

YEAR

#

NAME

POS.

2

Ryan Camacho

RB/DB

SR

29

Matthew Striplin

WR/DB JR

3

Brandon Wyre

WR/DB JR

32

Gio Colocho

LB

SR

4

Jovan Camacho

R/DB

SR

33

Cameron Farr

LS

SR

5

Dominick Martinez

RB/DB

JR

34

Reiger Burgin

RB/DB

JR

6

Nicholas Kohl

K/WR

SO

38

Carlos Alcaraz

DB

JR

7

Jason Pobanz

WR

SR

39

Isaac Negrete

LB

SR

8

Weston Eget

QB

SR

41

Rory White

RB/LB

JR

9

Joseph Tempesta

LB

SR

50

Eugene Kim

DL

SR

10

Jackson Reyes

RB/DB

JR

51

John Collier

OL

JR

11

Jeremiah Guzman

DB

SR

54

Ethan Eichten

DL/OL

SR

13

Austin Schanks

LB/QB

SR

55

Brenden Cho

DL/OL

SR

16

Zachary Van Bennekum

LB/R

JR

56

Nathan Jerzykowski

DL/OL

JR

18

Eric Abrahamian

WR

JR

65

Connor Leahy

DL

SR

20

Ian Wright

DL

JR

67

Henry Samuelson

OL

SO

21

Mason James

DB/R

SR

70

Sebastian Walker

OL/DL

SR

22

Nico Lindgren

RB/DB

SR

73

Dylan Clark

OL/DL

JR

24

Bryce Buchanan

LB

JR

75

Matthew Krogh

OL/DL

SO

26

Dylan Rogers

K

JR

84

Dylan Huff

DL

SR

27

Shane Cambria

DB

SR

90

JC Cotti

DL/OL

JR

Weston Eget

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Number of consecutive games they won to begin the 2017 season

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Base offense: Spread Base defense: 3-4 Returning starters: Offense - 9; Defense - 8 Top returner on offense: QB Weston Eget Top returner on defense: DB Ryan Camacho Potential NCAA Division I players: QB Weston Eget, DB Ryan Camacho, WR Jovan Camacho Key losses: LB Jake Killingworth, RB LaRon Huff, OL/DL Dylan Joscak Top returners: QB Weston Eget, WR/ DB Jovan Camacho, RB/DB Ryan Camacho, OL Ethan Eichten, OL/DL Brenden Cho, LB Zachary Van Bennekum, LB Joseph Tempesta, WR/DB Mason James, OL/DL John Collier, WR/DB Brandon Wyre Top newcomers: LB Bryce Buchanon, WR Jason Pobantz

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3

West Ranch jumped three divisions, moving from Division 9 to Division 6 for the 2018 season

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2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 25

Carson Campuzano

Jacob Estanol

Kyle Fields

Rick Roberts

TRINITY CLASSICAL 2017 Results Final record: 3-7 overall, 1-2 Prep League (Third place) Silver Valley 58

Trinity 18

Century 20

Trinity 14

Trinity 12

St. Bernard 6

Trinity 36 Southlands C. 0 SCCS 27 Santa Clara 42

Trinity 18 Trinity 7

Carpinteria 44

Trinity 12

Polytechnic 54

Trinity 6

Rio Hondo Prep 40 Firebaugh 44 *Prep League game

Trinity 14 Trinity 0

** CIF-SS Div. Playoff game

By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

P

utting out a roster of 26 players, Trinity Classical Academy’s 2018 football team is its largest, in terms of number of players, and it expects to add some more players when the school year begins. ”This year we have the most players we have ever had,” said Trinity coach Les Robinson. “So this year we will be able to sub our players. We will be a lot fresher and

26 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

2018 Schedule Aug. 18 Desert Christian+ 7:30 p.m.

Projected Starters

Aug. 24

Rivera+

7 p.m.

Aug. 31

at Fillmore+

7:30 p.m.

Rick Roberts

QB

Sept. 14

SCCS+

7 p.m.

Jacob Estanol

RB

AJ Horning

WR

OFFENSE

Sept. 20 at St. Pius-St. Matthias

7 p.m.

Sept. 28

McAuliffe+

7 p.m.

Carson Campuzano WR WR Peyton Frazier

at Firebaugh*

7 p.m.

Kyle Fields

WR

7 p.m.

Aidan Duhm

OL

Andrew Dever

OL

Sergio Reyes

OL

Edgar Romero

OL

Dylan Southwick

OL

Oct. 5

Oct. 12 Fairmont Prep+* Oct. 20

Ribet+*

Oct. 26 at Capistrano V.* +at Fillmore High

our minds will be fresher.

Hopefully the injury bug won’t bother us because we’ve really conditioned tough this offseason.

“So we are anxious and excited about the season. We have a lot better chemistry and we learned a whole lot from last year.”

Finishing the 2017 season with an overall record of 3-7, the Knights began the season playing the runner-up in Division 13 Silver Valley. Things did not get easier for the Knights as they ended up

7:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

* Academy League game

scheduling six state finalists out of the 10 games.

Admitting that last year’s schedule was rough, Robinson took it as a learning experience to gauge where the players were at to begin the year.

Losing four-year starter Ryan DeMarois, who is now at Minot State, the Knights will look to replace his toughness, scoring prowess and leadership on the field.

Stepping into that role will be a trio of senior reSee TRINITY, page 41

DEFENSE

Andrew Dever

DE

Aidan Duhm

DE

Edgar Romero

NG

Carson Campuzano LB

Lucas Mendoza

LB

Jacob Estanol

LB

Kyle Fields

LB

Greg Salazar

CB

Joey Haro

CB

AJ Horning

S

Phineas Yi

S

The Basics

2018 Roster #

NAME

POSITION

YEAR

2

Phineas Yi

QB/DB

SR

HEAD COACH: Les

4

Carson Campuzano

WR/LB

SR

6

Rick Roberts

QB/LB

JR

9

Lucas Mendoza

WR/LB

FR

10

Peyton Frazier

WR/DB

JR

15

Zachary Ball

QB/DB

SO

18

Gary Rowe

QB/DB

JR

20

Aiden Martinelli

WR/DB

JR

21

Kyle Fields

WR/LB

JR

22

Joey Haro

WR/DB

SO

24

AJ Horning

WR/DB

FR

25

Johnny LaFrance

RB/DB

SO

28

Gregory Salazar

WR/DB

JR

30

Cooper Duhm

RB/DB

FR

48

Jacob Estanol

RB/LB

SR

55

Zackary Meadows

OL/DL

SO

60

Dylan Southwick

OL/DL

FR

62

Ethan Craw

OL/DL

SR

66

Edgar Romero

OL/DL

SO

70

Robin Li

OL/DL

JR

77

Nickolas Clem

OL/DL

SO

80

Sergio Reyes

WR/DB

SO

82

Aidan Duhm

OL/DL

SO

85

Chet Chen

WR/DB

SR

Andrew Dever

OL/DL

SR

Lucas Sotelo

RB/DB

SO

Robinson

Fifth season (career record at Trinity: 20-19) Base offense: Spread Base defense: Multiple Returning starters: Offense - 4 Defense - 6 Top returner on offense: Jacob Estanol — RB Top returner on defense: Carson Campuzano — LB Key losses: WR/DB Ryan Demarois, DL/OL Hobbs Christopher,TE/QB/LB Tyler Lee,

RB/OL/DL Oscar Hernandez Top returners: RB/LB Jacob Estanol, QB Rick Roberts, WR/LB Kyle Fields, QB/S Phineas Yi, WR/ RB/LB, Carson Campuzano, TE/ LB Andrew Dever, WR/DB Greg Salazar, DB Jonny La France, RB/ LB Edgar Romero Top newcomers: QB Gary Rowe Jr., WR/S A J Horning, WR/LB Lucas Mendoza, WR/S Peyton Frazier, OL Dylan Southwick

The Numbers

25

Sacks by the Knights in 2017

4

Quarterbacks that the Knights have on their roster in 2018

13

Receiving TDs the Knights finished the year with in 2017

24

Number of total touchdowns the Knights scored in 2017

Classical, Christian Education

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College Credit and Advanced Placement Classes · Dual 22 College Credit courses, 67 units of college credit

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Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Brown, Stanford, Duke, Wake Forest, Johns Hopkins, USC, UCLA, Virginia, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, US Air Force Academy, US Naval Academy, US Military Academy Athletics Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Cross Country, Golf, Track, Baseball, Softball, Swimming, Cheer

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2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 27

Ethan Frields

Kade Kalinske

Blake Kirshner

Lucas Pettee

SCCS CARDINALS 2017 Results Final record: 11-1 overall, 5-0 San Joaquin League (First place) SCCS 36 St. Bernard 12 SCCS 26 S. Pasadena 14 *SCCS 26 The Webb Schools 23 SCCS 27 Trinity 18 *SCCS 22 Saddleback V.C. 19 SCCS 56 Vasquez 20 *SCCS 42 Capistrano V.C. 0 *SCCS 56 Fairmont Prep 20 *SCCS 62 Southlands C. 6 **SCCS 48 Hamilton 17 **Santa 35 SCCS 14 Clara *San Joaquin League game ** CIF-SS Div. Playoff game

By Dan Lovi Signal Staff Writer

F

or Santa Clarita Christian School, the first week of the 2018 football season will bring back some unpleasant memories.

SCCS will face Santa Clara in its opening game, the only team that defeated it last season.

“It all starts with Week 1 against Santa Clara,” Cardinals quarterback Blake Kirshner said.

“They knocked us off last year in the playoffs, so Week 1 is

28 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

2018 Schedule

Projected Starters

Aug. 17

at Santa Clara

7 p.m.

Aug. 24

at St. Bernard

7 p.m.

Sept. 1

Northgate+

7 p.m.

Blake Kirshner

QB

Sept. 6

at Morningside

7 p.m.

Lucas Pettee

RB

Sept. 14 at Trinity Classical 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Rancho Christian 7 p.m.

OFFENSE

Ethan Schwesinger WR Carson Schwesinger WR Kade Kalinske

WR

Wil Jackson

WR

Nate Whipp

OL

Oct. 20 Rio Hondo Prep>* 6 p.m.

Niko Bondarczuk

OL

Oct. 26

Jacob Holt

OL

Paul Valuzet

OL

Josh Boelter

OL

Oct. 6

Temple City^

7 p.m.

Oct. 13 Poly (Pasadena)+* 7 p.m.

Vasquez*

7 p.m.

^at Valencia High >at Oaks Christian +at COC * San Joaquin League game Game times subject to change.

a pretty big week for us.”

Last season, the Cardinals had no problem putting points up on the board, averaging 38.1 points per game on their way to an 11-1 record.

Against Santa Clara in the second round of the Division 13 playoffs, they scored only 14 points.

“I think we can go all the way now,” said tight end and middle linebacker Ethan Schwesinger. “If we can beat Santa Clara, then it’s full speed ahead.”

Kirshner, who threw for 3,905 yards and 48 touch-

downs last season, struggled in his team’s only loss. He was 16-for-35 for 215 yards and didn’t throw a touchdown in the 35-14 defeat. It was the only game all season in which he didn’t record a passing touchdown. In fact, Kirshner had thrown at least two touchdowns in his previous 11 games.

The senior quarterback considers last year’s season-ending loss a fluke, and doesn’t believe his team needs to change its See SCCS, page 45

DEFENSE

Matt Jones

DL

Hayden Grizzle

DL

Austin Sandusky DL Niko Bondarczuk DL Tyler Ellerbrock

LB

Dylan Rowsey

LB

Ethan Frields

LB

Reagan Noll

DB

TJ Evans

DB

Wiley Kennedy

DB

John Keane

DB

The Basics HEAD COACH: Mark

First season

Base offense: Spread Base defense: 4-3 Returning starters: Offense - 6 Defense - 2 Top returner on offense: Blake Kirshner, QB Top returner on defense: Ethan Frields, LB Key losses: WR Blaike Orth, WR Caden Brenner, DL Tommy Shields, OL Noah Nnabuo Top returners: LB Ethan Frields, QB Blake Kirshner, Top newcomers: OL/DL Hayden Grizzle, OL/DL Niko Bondarczuk, WR/ CB Wil Jackson

2018 Roster

Bates

Blake Kirshner

# 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

NAME Reagan Noll Seth Eberlein John Keane Luke Webber Keegan Perez Blake Kirshner Austin Yu Wyatt Kennedy Manny Elhilu Ethan Schwesinger TJ Evans

POSITION WR/CB WR/FS WR/CB WR/FS WR/CB QB WR/CB SS/WR/FS WR/SS TE/MLB/SS TE/OLB

YEAR JR FR SR FR FR SR FR JR JR SR JR

13

Tyler Ellerbrock

TE/OLB

SR

14 18 19 25 32

Kade Kalinske Wil Jackson Carson Schwesinger Lucas Pettee Ryan Gray

WR/CB WR/CB WR/MLB/SS RB/OLB FS/WR/CB

SR FR SO JR JR

45

Evan Hackett

OLB/DE

FR

51 52 53 55 56 57 58 60 62 74 75 77 82

Niko Bondarczuk Dylan Rowsey Joshua Boelter Matthew Jones Alex Afetian Paul Veluzat Tommy Patton Nate Whipp Seth Ballenger Hayden Grizzle Jacob Holt Austin Sandusky Ethan Frields

G/DE G/MLB T/DE G/DE T/DT G/DT G/OLB T/MLB G/NG T/DT G/C/NG T/DE OLB/MLB/TE

SO SO SR JR JR SR FR SR FR FR SR SR SR

The Numbers

48

The number of touchdowns QB Blake Kirshner threw last season

12

The division SCCS is in after moving up from last year

6

Games Ethan Schwesinger has played in the past two seasons due to two ACL injuries

2

The number of freshmen starting for the Cardinals

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PROFILE — GOLDEN VALLEY’S DERRESE MORGANFIELD II

STRUCTURAL SUPPORT Grizzlies linebacker hopes to leave team with sense of family

By Diego Marquez Signal Staff Writer

G

olden Valley’s middle linebacker Derrese Morganfield II wasn’t always the powerful linebacker that he is now.

Picking up a football at the age of 10 years old, Morganfield didn’t quite make an impact when he

initially started playing due to some weight issues as a kid.

“I was a little overweight,” Morganfield said. “I was just kind of weak, you know? I was fat with skinny arms. Then I was like, ‘I want to get in shape for football.’”

Mirroring his idol, NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, Morganfield has always

tried to step things up a notch or two and bring the intensity to whatever he does.

“I was like, ‘I like this dude. I like how he’s banging people. I want to do that too with the same intensity,’” Morganfield said. “So I started working out. I started grinding. I started running up hills, doing pushups, sit-

ups and pull-ups as much as I could.”

Then at the age of 12, Morganfield finally got the opportunity that he had been waiting for for the past two years, the weight room.

“When I turned 12 years old, it was over,” Morganfield said. “I started racking up weights, working out every day

Golden Valley’s Derrese Morganfield II accrued 109 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and a caused fumble in 2017. Signal photo by Cory Rubin.

30 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

and just drinking a bunch of protein.”

Heading into his senior season, Morganfield measures in at 6 feet, 210 pounds of pure power and intensity.

It’s safe to say he has filled out.

Last year Morganfield helped the Grizzlies make it to the program’s first-ever CIF-Southern Section title game, tallying 109 total tackles (68 solo), 5.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and one caused fumble as a junior.

Using last year as motivation, Morganfield wants to make history again. But before he goes off to college he wants to make sure that his Golden Valley teammates understand one thing: family.

“It hurt that we lost,

When I turned 12 years old, it was over.”

— Grizzlies linebacker Derrese Morganfield II but it felt great that we were there,” Morganfield said. “What I’m trying to build is a family. I don’t want to have individuals. I don’t want to have side groups. I don’t want to have any of that. I want everybody to come together and be one happy family.”

Loving the physicality of the game, Morganfield has always had a passion for the defensive side of the ball. Morganfield describes himself as a “warrior”, but is realis-

tic about his future goals and endeavors.

“To be honest I just want to get to college,” Morganfield said. “If they have football or not, it doesn’t really matter to me. I just want to focus on being an architect.”

Excelling in math during his sophomore year, Morganfield took a liking to geometry.

“I was ahead in my mathematics so they put me in geometry,” Morganfield said. “I remember we had this project where we had make a blueprint for a house.

Well, my classmates were kind of screw-ups so I just did it by myself.”

Falling in love with the design and building aspect of the project, Morganfield figure he had a knack for it and since has not stopped thinking

about his other options outside of the numbers on the field.

Understandably, Morganfield has been researching possible engineering programs that he might attend with the likes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UCLA, Washington University, California Institute of Technology and Stanford leading the way and not giving up the possibility of playing football while obtaining a degree in architecture in mind.

“I’m trying to design buildings,” Morganfield said. “Skyscrapers, mansions, houses, bridges and even maybe a football stadium.” FP

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PROFILE — WEST RANCH’S JOVAN & RYAN CAMACHO

DOUBLE DEVELOPMENT Wildcats’ twins have big expectations for their 2018 season

By Dan Lovi Signal Staff Writer

S

ports is in their blood.

It’s not a twin thing. It’s a Camacho thing.

For Ryan and Jovan, sports is something their grandfather and parents Robert and Anna Camacho instilled in them from an early age.

“Our family has been really big on sports our whole lives,” Ryan said.

“My grandpa was an athlete, my dad was an athlete, and my mom was an athlete, so sports is really big for our family.”

Their grandfather was a baseball player and their mom played softball. Their dad was a dual-sport athlete, focusing on football while also

playing baseball.

Ryan wears the No. 2 in honor of his uncle and father, who used to coach at San Fernando High School. Jovan wears the No. 4, the number his mother wore.

The Camacho twins grew up in the San Fernando Valley and moved to Stevenson Ranch before high school so they could attend West Ranch.

Like their father, Ryan and Jovan have excelled at both football and baseball, starring for West Ranch on the gridiron and the baseball diamond.

Neither brother has a favorite, instead preferring to concentrate on the sport they’re playing at the moment. You could say both sports are their favorites.

“I want to play both

Jovan, left, and Ryan Camacho grew up in a family of athletes, with their parents and grandfather all playing sports. Signal photo by Cory Rubin.

32 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

The brothers also play video games together, usually in the sports genre. Signal photo by Cory Rubin.

sports. I like them equally,” Ryan said. “Everyone’s asked me what my favorite sport is and I’ve never answered that question. It’s what I’m playing at the time.”

“Since I’ve been little, I never tried to float one way or the other,” Jovan added. “In college, if I’m able to get the opportunity for one sport then I will, but if I can play both then I definitely would want to.”

While both players shined for the Wildcats’ baseball team last year, they showed vast improvement on the football field.

Ryan, who plays running back and defensive back, had 556 rushing yards on 72 carries, adding four touchdowns last season.

He also shined in the secondary, recording 30 tackles and five interceptions.

Jovan, who starts alongside his brother at corner and plays wide receiver, recorded 590 yards on 40 catches to go along with five touchdowns. He added 42 tackles and two interceptions.

Both Ryan and Jovan showed tremendous strides last year, but they still believe they can refine their games and de-

velop into even better players.

“There’s some dropped balls from last season that I know I could have had,” Jovan said. “I need to make the great plays I know that I can make at the times we need them.”

“This year I’m really trying to work on getting more yards per carry,” Ryan said. “Last year I’d break off big runs, but a lot of my other runs weren’t big. I’m trying to get at least 5 yards per carry.”

While growing up as twins wasn’t always easy — sharing rooms and a car isn’t very feasible, not to mention the countless cases of mistaken identity — they’ve made each other better players by a lifelong competition.

“For sports, it made us more competitive,” Ryan said. “I want to compete against him. He wants to compete against me.

We’re always trying to be better than the other.”

While the Camacho brothers share a unique athletic rivalry, like most siblings, they compete with each other in most facets of life.

“I like to whip my broth-

er in video games,” Jovan said. “‘Madden,’ ‘MLB: The Show’, mostly sports games, ever since we were little.”

“I’m the better looking twin, not him,” Ryan said, laughing.

For the next few months, the sibling rivalry will be on hold, as the Camachos

try to lead West Ranch to its first ever playoff game.

After going 5-4 last season, the Wildcats moved up three divisions and now reside in the CIFSouthern Section’s Division 6.

“I think we have a good chance to make the playoffs. We can have a good run and go deep into the playoffs,” Jovan said.

“I think we make it to the championship game for Division 6,” Ryan said, one-upping his brother. “I think our team will be really good this year.”

Apparently Ryan is always trying to show up Jovan, because that’s what older brothers do.

Even if he’s only older by 15 seconds. FP

2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 33

It definitely feels more like we don’t have a lot of time.”

-Valencia linebacker Owen Hand

START

Continued from 16 The new schedule also is similar to that of CIF sections in other parts of California.

Although there’s the benefit of getting eager players on the field, there are a few drawbacks to the alteration. For one, teams have one fewer week to prepare.

“It definitely feels more like we don’t have a lot of time,” said Valencia linebacker Owen Hand. “Like, it’s going to happen quick.

So our practices have to be more focused and more intense, everything.”

Golden Valley offensive line coaches Geo Fields and Moosa McClean concurred, saying it seemed like young players were cramming at times to learn plays. Nevertheless, their confidence in head coach Dan Kelley’s system didn’t waver.

“We should be all right,”

WATCH

Continued from 17

Bishop Diego at Golden Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 14

This will be a rematch of last season’s CIF-Southern Section Division 6 championship game, in which Golden Valley lost to Bishop Diego 37-6.

Grizzlies quarterback Zack Chevalier will look to rebound from last year’s disastrous performance, in which he went 14-for-24 for 148 passing yards, threw four interceptions and no touchdowns.

Bishop Diego graduated its quarterback and

34 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

said Fields in early August. “I like to have as much time as we need for our first game. Our first game is in two weeks. We should be ready.”

Academic eligibility is complicated by the earlier start date, as Valencia coach Larry Muir sees it.

Summer classes end closer to the first game, causing a rush to decide who is academically cleared to practice and play.

Heat also becomes a factor with the mid-August season kickoff, since teams are forced to hold more summertime practices. Temperatures surpassed 100 degrees six times in July, according to accuweather.com, and three times in August.

Regardless of the start date, however, Foothill League football coaches have no choice but to adapt.

“It’s OK, I guess,” said Muir. “It is what it is.

There’s nothing we can do about it.”FP running back from last season, giving the Grizzlies’ experienced defensive line an opportunity to impact the game.

A better offensive performance coupled with a dominant defense could lead the Grizzlies to a victory in this battle.

Golden Valley at West Ranch, 7 p.m., Sept. 28

From 2006 to 2014, West Ranch dominated Golden Valley, compiling a 9-0 record against the Grizzlies. The last three seasons, the Wildcats have been on the losing end, being outscored 118-40, including a shutout in 2015.

DROP

Continued from 16 In 2017, Golden Valley and Canyon football both had 37 players on their varsity roster and Valencia had 66. Ahead of the 2018 season, the Grizzlies and Cowboys list an identical 40-man varsity roster, while the Vikings varsity roster boasts the most kids (85) almost doubling the next school, Saugus with 47.

Golden Valley Athletic Director Carmelo Flores has seen both sides, as he has served in some capacity as a football coach and a parent of an athlete.

“I think overall: There are any reasons as to why high school numbers are dropping due to the climate of health issues, especially football. There’s obviously parents that are worried about that and I think The teams usually play each other toward the end of the schedule, but this year they will open Foothill League play against one another.

Both coming off their bye week, this game will set the tone for the rest of the season for the Grizzlies and Wildcats. If either team wants to loosen Valencia’s grip on the Foothill League, a victory here would be a great jumpstart.

Bonus: SCCS at Santa Clara, 7 p.m., Aug. 17

Santa Clarita Christian School ran through its opponents last season on its way to an 11-1 re-

at some point in time some athletes nowadays get burned out by the time they get to high school.”

There is also a growing concern that parents and kids alike want to limit the number of sports that they participate in, whether it be due to health concerns or the fact that they would rather have their child focus on one sport.

“We are doing the best to educate coaches, players and parents alike,” Flores said.

“From equipment to the way you teach tackling. “...Football is one of the most popular sports, and even though there has been evidence in a decrease in numbers, I feel that there is a deep tradition in the SCV with football powerhouses like Hart and now Valencia. It’s alway been competitive and a whole experience under the Friday night lights.”FP cord. The single blemish, a 35-14 second round playoff loss in the Division 13 playoffs, to Santa Clara.

Cardinals quarterback Blake Kirshner had his worst game of the season, going 16-for-35 for 215 yards, an interception and no touchdowns.

He threw for multiple touchdowns in every other game that season.

SCCS will open its football season with payback on its mind.

“It all starts with Week 1 against Santa Clara,” Kirshner said. “Try to beat them because they knocked us off last year in the playoffs.”FP

WEEKENDS The following is a list of current four-year college football players and NFL players who either played high school or college football in the Santa Clarita Valley.

COLLEGE

Rhett Almond, Brigham Young, senior, (Hart) Darius Anthony, Whittier College, sophomore, (Golden Valley) Thomas Bambrick, Simon Fraser University, freshman, (Hart) Amir Bishop, University of La Verne, sophomore, (Saugus) Tyler Bjorklund, Colorado State University, senior, (Valencia, COC) Gary Bojorquez, University of La Verne, sophomore, (Saugus) Bobby Brown II, San Jose State, sophomore, (COC) Marquise Brown, University of Oklahoma, junior, (COC) Israel Cabrera, San Diego State, junior, (Canyon) Liam Cabrera, San Diego State, junior (Canyon) Alec Chadwick, Houston Baptist,

senior, (Valencia, COC) Jacob Chobanian, Chapman University, senior, (Hart) Caleb Clarke, Brown University, junior, (Golden Valley) Egidio DellaRipa, Vanderbilt, RS senior, (West Ranch, COC) Ryan DeMarois, Minot State, freshman, (Trinity) Zion Dunson, Western State Colorado University, freshman, (Valencia) Miles Fallin, University of Kansas, sophomore, (Canyon) Wes Fitzpatrick, College of Idaho, senior, (Hart, COC) Linwood Foy, Louisville, senior, (COC) Dorian Gerald, Arkansas, junior, (COC) Desean Holmes, Florida Atlantic University, freshman, (COC) Trent Irwin, Stanford, senior, (Hart) Noel Iwuchukwu, Arkansas

State, junior, (COC) Tyler Kalinski, Lewis & Clark, sophomore, (SCCS) Andrew Karatepeyan, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, senior, (COC) Parker Kernek, Sacramento State, freshman, (Valencia) Jaelin Kinney, Claremont McKenna, sophomore, (Saugus) Davis Koppenhaver, Duke, RS senior, (Hart) Kerner Mark, Coe College, junior, (Saugus) RB Marlow III, Bowling Green State University, junior (COC) Jesus Mota, Central Missouri, RS junior, (COC) Jacob Moss, Morehead State, RS freshman, (SCCS) Noah Nnabuo, Delaware State University, freshman, (SCCS) Jared Pane, Linfield College, sophomore, (Saugus) Colby Pursell, University of Colorado, RS freshman, (Hart) Travis Reiner, Indiana State, RS sophomore, (COC) Jake Sammut, University of Texas at El Paso, senior, (COC)

thank you

FO R VOTI N G U S B E S T SA N DW I C H E S 1 1 Y E A R S I N A ROW !

JT Shrout, University of Tennessee, freshman, (Hart) AJ Stanley, Southern Utah University, sophomore, (Hart) Sione Taufahema, University of Arizona, RS junior, (COC) Brady White, University of Memphis, RS junior, (Hart) Jay Jay Wilson, Arizona State, senior, (Valencia) Connor Wingenroth, Colgate, senior, (Hart)

NFL

Karim Barton, Buffalo Bills, (COC) Leon Jacobs, Jacksonville Jaguars, (Golden Valley) Matt Moore, Free Agent, (Hart) Domata Peko, Broncos, (COC) Jason Pierre-Paul, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (COC) Mychal Rivera, Free Agent, (COC) Tedric Thompson, Seattle Seahawks, (Valencia) Shane Vereen, New Orleans Saints, (Valencia) Tim White, Baltimore Ravens, (Hart, COC)

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Visit: jerseymikes.com 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 35

SAUGUS

Continued from 12

years and I learned a lot from him, but it’s time to make my own legacy.”

Gallagher will have big shoes to fill as Eldridge amassed 1,109 passing yards, 328 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns last season. Gallagher, meanwhile, has only thrown one pass since joining the varsity team last year.

His one pass did go for a touchdown however, so technically, Gallagher is batting a thousand heading into this season.

Though it’s unlikely Gallagher remains perfect for long, Tripp isn’t worried about a disconnect with his new quarterback. In fact, this season will reunite the two players who spent time together playing as freshmen.

“I’ve been playing football with Cole for many years,” Tripp said.

“He was my quarterback in my freshman year so I am familiar with him. It’s not too much of a transition, just have to get back into the swing of things.”

The one big difference for Tripp and his fellow senior linemen Thomas Barrero, Robert Ferialdi, Gaetano Ferrera and Jacob Villanueva, will be their protection packages. Eldridge was known to break the pocket, rushing 104 times last season, second most on the team behind only running back Quinn Sheaffer.

While Gallagher can use his legs if he has to, he considers himself to be more of a traditional pocket passer. This means he will be relying even more heavily on his offensive line.

36 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Wherever they put me, I’ll play that position and do my best.”

-Saugus slot receiver Devin Thompson “There’s a huge difference when you’re in the pocket, as the line you have to contain,” Tripp said. “When the quarterback is on the run, the defensive line starts taking off so we have to go out and chase them and look for anyone to hit. So it’s nice when your quarterback is in the pocket. It’s easier for the line and you know that he trusts you.”

While Gallagher will be tasked with running the offense, a new running back will be getting the bulk of the carries this year.

Reid Huseman, who had 35 carries for 102 yards last year, takes over for Sheaffer, who carried the ball 235 times for 1,334 yards and six touchdowns. Sheaffer also logged eight games with at least 100 yards rushing last season.

Saugus head coach Jason Bornn promoted three running backs to the varsity roster this year, but Huseman will have the first crack at being the team’s bell cow.

“Reid as the returning varsity player with the most experience at the position will absolutely be in the driver’s seat to carry a bulk of the load,” Bornn said. “But we got three other guys that can do just as well and provide a different style of runner.”

Those other guys include juniors Cameron Warr and Joshua Bond, and sophomore Julian Bornn (the coach’s son), who will compete with

Huseman for carries.

While last season’s leading receiver in yards and touchdowns, Keith Brooker, graduated, slot receiver Devin Thompson actually led the team with 29 receptions, good for 346 yards and five touchdowns.

Thompson will look to increase that number as he returns as the team’s starting slot receiver. He will also be featured in the backfield in different offensive packages and on defense as the starting safety. Last year he led the team with four interceptions and led the Foothill League with 41 tackles at his position.

“I’m kind of a utility athlete,” Thompson said.

“Wherever they put me, I’ll play that position and do my best. This year I’m working a little bit out of the slot, a little bit of running back and my main position is safety, but I’ll play anywhere.”

Wide receiver Nick Thanaet, who was third on the team with 23 receptions for 201 yards last year, returns to the lineup opposite seniors James Sumpter and Matthew Ballentine. Sumpter had 11 receptions for 67 yards while Ballentine had just three receptions for 23 yards last season.

Though Ballentine is expected to step up at the offensive end, he, like Thompson, is another player who will be featured on both sides of the ball. Ballentine had two interceptions and a fumble recovery last year and

SAUGUS

Notable Records Rushing yards in a game: 387- Ryan Zirbel (2007) Rushing yards in a season: 2,281 - Ryan Zirbel (2007) Rushing yards in a career: 5,234 - Ryan Zirbel (200609) Touchdowns in a season: 36 - Desi Rodriguez (2008) Receiving yards in a game: 256 - Nathan Steele (1999) Passing yards in a game: 380 - David Parker (1999) Passing yards in a season: 3,234 - David Parker (1999) Passing yards in a career: 5,451 - David Parker (199899) Passing TDS in a season: 42 - David Parker (1999)

will look to increase those numbers this year.

Saugus’ four leading tacklers all graduated, leaving inside linebacker Myles Garrett as the main defensive anchor.

As a junior last year, Garrett recorded 44 total tackles and had a fumble recovery. He’ll take over for Jimmy Stirwalt, who was last season’s leading tackler for the Centurions.

Saugus will look to rebound from a season in which it finished 6-7, including a 2-3 record in Foothill league play. It did make the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs last year, winning their first two games before falling to Bishop Diego 45-27 in the semifinals.

They may not have made it to the final, but the Centurions playoff run allowed for Saugus to move up not one, but two spots to Division 4.

Moving up divisions for the first time in three years, Saugus is ready to show that their new faces have what it takes.FP

HART

Continued from 10 been competing for the starting job as well.

Senior Ethan Blair, who backed up Ben Rosen last season, will get first crack at the starting role, but he will have to fend off junior Brayden York, who transferred from Valencia last year.

Indians head coach Mike Herrington could utilize both backs in a committee role to replace the hole left by Ben Rosen, who carried the ball 189 times for 604 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

At the wideout position, Hart’s leading receivers last season DJ Palmer and Da’Von Jones are gone. The duo combined for 1,539 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. As a team, the Indians accumulated 3,026 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns. Clearly, there is a huge void to fill.

Enter seniors Michael Colangelo and Jacob Montes.

Last season, Colangelo saw most of his action on the defensive side of the ball, recording 38 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Though he didn’t play much on offense — he had 13 receptions for 146 yards — Colangelo had the opportunity to study Palmer and Jones.

“I learned a lot from them last year,” Colangelo said. “I’m just trying to go out there, use my speed because that’s the biggest weapon I have, and just do my thing out there and make plays.”

While he will still start on defense at cornerback, Colangelo is ex-

I mean the whole D-Line is a unit. One person is not going to cut it, so we all have to step up and we all have to do what CJ (McMullen) did.”

-Hart defensive end Jacob Jaramillo pected to take a huge leap on the offensive side of the ball.

As for Montes, he has less of a learning curve at the wide receiver position. He served as the team’s third wideout last season, recording 32 catches for 427 yards and a touchdown.

Inversely, he has a lot of growing to do in his new role as the team’s starting linebacker after switching over from cornerback.

“It was a little rough at first making the switch from the DB position,” Montes said. “But I’m getting it and I’ll be good by the time the season comes around.”

Senior Jack McBride will line up next to Montes at linebacker, along with junior Leighton McCarthy, who transferred from Bishop Alemany.

The newest addition to Hart’s defense seems to have fit in seamlessly.

“I fit in really well. I just really like it.” McCarthy said. “We are putting in the work and doing everything we can to be the best we can be.”

“It’s like he’s (McCarthy) been here all four years because the chemistry is there and everything,” Montes added.

While the triple M’s will defend the middle of the field, Jaramillo, York, junior Freddy Alvarenga

and sophomore Dylan Vradenberg will anchor the defensive frontline.

While it will be difficult to replace CJ McMullen, who had 82 tackles and 24 sacks last season, Jaramillo knows the team will succeed if they work together.

“I mean the whole D-Line is a unit,” Jaramillo said. “One person is not going to cut it, so we all have to step up and we all have to do what CJ did.”

Hart will look to improve on its 8-4 finish from last season, including a 4-1 record in league play. The team advanced to the second round of the Division 3 playoffs, before getting knocked out by Rancho Verde.

If the Indians want to reach the top of the Foothill League, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2007, they know who they must get through first.

HART

Notable Records Rushing yards in a game: 293 - Connor Wingenroth (2013) Rushing yards in a season: 2,249 - Delano Howell (2007) Rushing yards in a career: 4,537 - Delano Howell (2004-07) Touchdowns in a season: 41 - Ted Iacenda (1994) Touchdowns in a career: 99 - Ted Iacenda (1993-95) Receiving yards in a game: 270 - Trent Irwin (2014) Receiving yards in a season: 1,812 - Trent Irwin (2014) Receiving yards in a career: 5,106 - Trent Irwin (2011-14) Passing yards in a game: 540 - Brady White (2014) Passing yards in a season: 4,841 - Kyle Boller (1998) Passing yards in a career: 10,504 - Brady White (2012-14) Passing TDS in a season: 59 - Kyle Boller (1998)

“I know we are going to be battling against Valencia, which is going to be a great game this season,” McCarthy said. “I look forward to that and can’t wait to play them.”FP

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2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 37

VIKINGS

Continued from 8

Kohler Shockley, who started at safety for seven of 14 games last season will be taking on an additional role at receiver this season to compensate for the loss.

“We don’t have as much depth as we had last year at receiver and with Mykael gone, I felt like I needed to step up,” Shockley said. “So I’ve worked harder this season, so I try to be better on and off the field.”

Joining Shockley at receiver will be Mitchell Torres, Cade Erickson and Hunter Koch. They’ll be catching passes from starting quarterback Davis Cop. In eight games last season, Cop completed seven out of seven passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns while backing up Connor Downs.

He rushed for an additional 18 yards on five carries.

Although he’s proven versatile in the past, Cop is unsure of what his playing style will be this season. “(I’m) finding what I do well that fits with the offense, just to make the team more successful and working with these guys in these next few weeks in the season are going to be huge finding out what that is and how we jell together as a team and as an offense,” he said.

Wilson is returning as the starting running back, but will have plenty of support from the likes of Jake Santos and Nick Pham. Luring Paialii will also contribute, although he’ll see more time at linebacker this season.

38 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Santos rushed for 241 yards and three touchdowns last year, while Paialii served primarily as a goal-line running back and racked up 151 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pham was recently promoted from the JV ranks.

“He’s getting there,” Wilson said of Pham.

“I’m teaching him all the plays. I’m teaching him the techniques you need to read a hold, when to bounce out. It’s just a lot of stuff we need to work on, but we’re looking forward to our first game.”

There is only one returning starter on the offensive line: senior Tanner Miller. Valencia still has size at the line, however, and the group has proven they can open up some wide gaps in practices.

Defensively, Ben Seymour has moved from defensive end, a position he earned All-CIF honors with, to linebacker.

“There’s a lot more

space, a lot more opportunities to get the ball,” said Seymour, who logged 23 tackles and 7.5 sacks last season.

“Just like seeing where the ball was and seeing the whole play instead of just my guy,” he added.

“From D-end, I just had to look my guy and find the ball on the inside, but now I have to scan the whole field and just read the whole play.”

Wilson and Kohler, both safeties, will be leaders in the secondary, but expect to see some big performances from Santos, Diego Garcia and Josh Doyle, a transfer from Bishop Alemany.

“We have some young guys who have stepped up and have been working hard at practice that seem to be impressing everybody,” said Shockley.

Valencia opens up Foothill League play against Canyon on Sept.

28 at Harry Welch Stadium at 7 p.m.FP

Valencia’s Ben Seymour celebrates a tackle against Heritage in 2017.

Signal photo by Cory Pitkavish.

VALENCIA Notable Records

Rushing yards in a game: 420 - Steven Manfro (2010) Rushing yards in a season: 2,553 - Steven Manfro (2010) Rushing yards in a career: 6,704 - Manuel White (1996-99) Touchdowns in a game: 7 Manuel White (1999) Touchdowns in a season: 41 - Steven Manfro (2010) Touchdowns in a career: 75 - Steven Manfro (2009-10) Receptions in a game: 11 Nick Hale (2007) Receiving yards in a game: 234 - Nick Jones (2013) Passing yards in a game: 477 - Sean Murphy (2012) Passing yards in a season: 4,069 - Michael Herrick (2004) Passing yards in a career: 11,022 - Michael Herrick (2004) Passing TDs in a season: 38 - Sean Murphy (2012)

THE ALL-SCV

FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Since 1977, The Signal has awarded the All-Santa Clarita Valley Football Player of the Year award to the area’s best player that season.

1977 – Chris Adams, Canyon 1978 – Scott Hansen, Saugus 1979 – Joey Charles, Hart, and Steve Shane, Canyon 1980 – Mike Lucas, Canyon 1981 – Dean Herrington, Hart 1982 – Tim Morrison, Canyon 1983 – Rick Burton, Canyon 1984 – David Sipes, Canyon 1985 – Randy Austin, Canyon 1986 – Jim Bonds, Hart 1987 – Darren Renfro, Hart 1988 – Brian Allen, Hart 1989 – Howard Blackwell, Hart 1990 – Tim DeGroote, Hart

1991 – Ryan Connors, Hart 1992 – Deriek Charles, Hart 1993 – Sorren Halladay, Hart 1994 – Ted Iacenda, Hart 1995 – Ted Iacenda, Hart 1996 – Cody Joyce, Hart 1997 – Manuel White, Valencia 1998 – Kyle Boller, Hart 1999 – Manuel White, Valencia, and Pat Norton, Hart 2000 – Colin McNeil, Canyon, and Kyle Matter, Hart 2001 – Matt Moore, Hart 2002 – Cody Kase, Hart 2003 – Kevin Ciccone, Hart 2004 – Michael Herrick, Valencia

Mykael Wright, 2017 All-SCV Football Player of the Year, catches a ball in the air against Great Oak. The receiver and defensive back intends to transfer to Narbonne of the CIF Los Angeles City Section this season.

Signal photo by Christian Monterrosa.

2005 – J.J. DiLuigi, Canyon 2006 – J.J. DiLuigi, Canyon 2007 – Delano Howell, Hart 2008 – Desi Rodriguez, Saugus 2009 – Steven Manfro, Valencia 2010 – Steven Manfro, Valencia 2011 – Ryan Gorman, Valencia

2012 – Sean Murphy, Valencia 2013 – Connor Wingenroth, Hart 2014 – Trent Irwin, Hart 2015 – Cole Parkinson, Valencia 2016 – Aaron Thomas, Valencia 2017 – Mykael Wright, Valencia

Go to a game “There’s something about the feel of Friday night football”

- Garrie Calhoun

HartDistrict.org

2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 39

GOLDEN

GOLDEN VALLEY

Continued from 14

vie Harris, Jalin Lewis and CJ Ravenell – have graduated and left holes to fill.

Texas commit DeGabriel Floyd also transferred out of GV and into Westlake.

One of the most experienced returners is quarterback Zack Chevalier, who completed 145 of 246 passes for 1,956 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He joined the team last summer after Village Christian was forced to cancel its 2017 season.

“Last year was a great year for me because we had a great team and it was kind of a mix of a learning year and an experience type year … but coming in now, it’s a lot more easy to have confidence and be prepared.”

Kelley noted that Chevalier has improved in nearly every aspect as a quarterback, whether in accuracy, arm strength or football IQ. He’ll have a few options at receiver this season, but his primary target will likely be Johnathan Kaelin, a 6-foot-3 threat who made 17 catches for 174 yards last season.

Sophomore Carlos Meza and senior Breydon Simmons will be lining up at receiver, too.

Joining the group is freshman Antonio Abrego, who recorded one minute, 57.02 seconds for third place in the 800-meter race at the 2018 CIF-SS track and field finals in spring.

“He’s fit in pretty good,” said Kaelin of Abrego.

“Very fast. Like, just runs pretty much deep routes for them because he can pretty much just burn all the corners.”

40 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Notable Records

Golden Valley’s quarterback Zack Chevalier winds up for a pass in 2017. He completed 246 passes last season. Signal photo by Katharine Lotze.

Coming in now, it’s a lot more easy to have confidence and be prepared.”

-Golden Valley quarterback Zack Chevalier Filling the void left by Turner at running back will be junior Tyler Walker. Although his frame is a little lankier than that of his predecessor, Walker makes up for it with his speed.

Walker joined the track team in the spring and will also continue his role at corner for the Grizzlies, where he logged 26 tackles and one interception in his sophomore campaign.

“He’s not 200 pounds, but he’s been playing that cornerback position last year. He had to be physical,” Kelley said. “Him and Antonio combined run conditioning and I swear they can do it all night.”

Walker’s cousin, Darnell Musgrove, has been a welcome addition to the defensive and offensive lines, playing nose

guard and some offensive guard, after transferring in from Antelope Valley.

“He’s been a great addition to our defense,” said junior Lendale Cervantes, who made the transition from right guard to left tackle. “He’s able to eat up those double teams and get to the backfield pretty fast and I love what he’s brought to the defensive line.”

Musgrove and Cervantes both add size to a defensive line that will be just as formidable as last season’s. Blake Cruz and Joseph Salazar are upcoming players who will bolster the D-line and see time on the O-line as well.

Also returning to the defense is last season’s leading tackler Derrese Morganfield II, who logged 109 takedowns as a junior. The linebacker

Rushing yards in a game: 345 - Earl Johnson (2011) Rushing yards in a season: 1,412 - KJ Maduike (2016) Rushing touchdowns in a season: 13 - KJ Maduike (2016) Receiving yards in a season: 1,122 - Jalin Lewis (2016) Receiving touchdowns in a season: 11 - Jalin Lewis (2016) Passing yards in a game: 362 - Najee Coleman (2007) Passing yards in a season: 2,168 - Josh Valano (2016) Passing TDs in a game: 5 Najee Coleman (2007) Passing TDs in a season: 19 - Najee Coleman (2007) Most points scored in a game: 49 vs. West Ranch (2016) Longest play from scrimmage: 97 yards - Earl Johnson rush (2011)

was second on the team in terms of sacks with 5.5.

“He’s stepped up as a leader once DeGabriel left and everyone left,” Cervantes said. “Derrese was really like, our sunshine. … He was our ray of light. He’s a great defensive player, a great leader and I give all respect to him.”

Golden Valley opens up Foothill League play against West Ranch on Sept. 28. The Grizzlies don’t plan on stopping, either, until they get to the title game once again.

“I really can’t doubt my team and if other people want to doubt our team, then all I have to say to them is come to the game and see what happens,” Walker said. “I believe we will go back to the championship this year, no doubt about it.”FP

TRINITY

Continued from 26

turning starters: Carson Campuzano, Phineas Yi and Jacob Estanol.

“Losing Ryan was huge.

He did everything for this team,” Campuzano said.

“We have just been trying to come together as one and play more together than last year and just be more talkative and try to lead on and off the field so that everyone knows that they are important on every single play.”

Last year Campuzano primarily played wide receiver, finishing the season with 42 receptions for 427 yards and two touchdowns. Campuzano also doubled as a linebacker, recording 86 total tackles, 43 solo, finishing first on the team.

Yi, who plays free safe-

ty and quarterback, is in a bit of a quarterback competition, thanks to emerging junior Rick Roberts and Golden Valley transfer Gary Rowe Jr. A starter for the past two seasons, Yi will look to improve on last year’s numbers where he threw for 804 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions to end the year with a QB rating of 79.3. Yi is confident that the team will pick up where they left off, thanks to the high level of competition in practice.

“We started off kind of iffy, in my opinion,” Yi said. “But then recently we’ve been coming together as a team so we have been looking like the best that I’ve seen in a while.”

Rick Roberts, who backed up Yi at quarterback last season, is gunning for the starting job

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season to lead the rushing attack for the Knights. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound back carried the ball 51 times for 276 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Knights.

The fact that the Knights have three capable quarterbacks in Yi, Roberts and Rowe Jr., a explosive wideout in Campuzano along with a big bruising back like Estanol, they feel that they will be a very dynamic and tough team to matchup against.

“We are going to be very unpredictable, Robinson said. “Everybody knows that we pretty much threw our way into the end zone, but this year, if we need to, we will be able to pound it.”FP

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that he has been fighting for since last year. He finished the season throwing for 366 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.

“I’ve been working on a lot of agility drills and a lot of speed work,” Roberts said. “Last year I didn’t really have the ability to run the ball or be athletic and I’ve added that to my game. Not only can I pass from the pocket, I can roll out and I can make plays with my feet. It’s a big thing.”

Add to the mix Gary Rowe Jr., who played sparingly at quarterback for the Grizzlies last year. Robinson will have a tough decision to make as to who will be named the starting quarterback ahead of the first game.

Last year’s leading rusher, running back Jacob Estanol, returns for his senior

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2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 41

CANYON

Continued from 20

downs carrying the ball, last year’s starting quarterback Shawn Gallagher was as potent, if not the most potent offensive weapon that the Cowboys had.

That is why it might be a surprise for most that Gallagher would opt to switch to a new position, wide receiver.

“It was a personal choice for Shawn,” Gutierrez said. “It was something that he was looking to mix it up a bit. He has been a quarterback his whole life, obviously a dynamite one, being that he was all-CIF. I just want what’s best for him and that’s what we are here for. As a coaching staff and as a program, I want to give the kids the best experience that they can have.”

Replacing Gallagher at quarterback will be last year’s junior varsity quarterback and baseball player, Aydyn Litz.

Helping Litz transition into the starting quarterback spot, Gallagher has specifically pointed out things that he should look for in the defense presnap as well as helping to get him familiarized with the varsity playbook.

Returning starting center Max Graham is confident in the decision to implement Gallagher at receiver and plug Litz in as his replacement.

“We have a great offensive coordinator,” Graham said. “He definitely knows what he’s doing and if he wants a certain player to play a certain position, it’s for a reason and I have full faith in our offensive coordinator and what he’s doing.”

42 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Now we only have a lot more experience and that’s a big difference.”

-Canyon wide receiver Carson Strickland

Graham anchors a formidable offensive line that will feature two other returning starters: Justin Swanson and Jacob Lopez.

Graham is currently being looked at by multiple Division 1 schools, with San Jose State and Cal Poly showing interest.

“It’s nice, it’s nice,” Graham said. “It feels good that you are getting looked at for the hard work that you’re putting in but at the same time you’re still focused on your season because you’re not at the college level yet so you have to kind of play the dice and roll with whatever’s coming at you.”

With the departure of last year’s second leading rusher Taylor Tepesano, three running backs will be in contention for the starting spot: as Ryan Valdes, Jake Acquaviva and junior varsity call-up Darrin Warren.

“With Darren you can probably tell how quick he is,” said starting wide receiver Carson Strickland. “And Ryan is a big kid so we definitely have that power and the speed, which is what we need because with the type of offense we run, we need two backs.

Strickland will provide steady hands and precise route running after finishing with 23 receptions, 302 yards and two touchdowns last year in his junior season. The rest of the receiving corps will

be comprised of junior Conner Romero and senior Nico Shields.

“The biggest difference with this year’s team is that we had like two seniors last year, or it felt like we did,” Strickland said. “Now we only have a lot more experience and that’s a big difference.”

Strickland will play both sides of the ball, lining up at free safety, along with Gallagher, Warren and Valdes, who will make up the linebacking corps along with Blake Mahaffey. Rounding out the secondary, Kenny Cunningham and Henry Vera will line up out wide at the cornerback position.

Vera finished the year leading the Cowboys with five interceptions and was last year’s third leading tackler finishing with 45 total tackles.

Comprised of three seniors and a junior, the Cowboys defensive line averages 224 pounds and features Antonio Amador, Jacob Lopez, Freddy Estrada and Jacob Arsiniega.

Leading by example, this group of seniors is positive that they will end with even better results than last year by ushering in a new culture of camaraderie and passion.

“What the difference is and what I’ve always dealt with, is people telling me what to do,” Lopez said. “Instead, what

CANYON

Notable Records Rushing yards in a game: 333 - Jeff McKinley (1996) Rushing yards in a season: 2,159 - J.J. DiLuigi (2006) Rushing yards in a career: 4,037 - Ed Williams (199193) Touchdowns in a game: 6 J.J. DiLuigi (2005) Touchdowns in a season: 43 - J.J. DiLuigi (2005) Career touchdowns: 83 J.J. DiLuigi (2004-06) Receiving yards in a game: 301 - Chris Rivas (2008) Receiving yards in a season: 1,628 - Drew Wolitarsky (2011) Receiving yards in career: 5,148 - Drew Wolitarsky (2009-12) Passing yards in a game: 425 - Miles Fallin (2014) Passing yards in a season: 3,448 - Nate Longshore (2003) Passing yards in a career: 8,178 - Jonathan Jerozal (2009-11)

we are doing, we don’t talk too much. We always show them, so that’s what we are doing. We are showing the kids out here instead of telling and yelling at them.”

Gutierrez is just as confident, noting that he saw a change in last year’s team toward the end of the season.

“Last year’s team changed the culture of what they wanted to do and they believed in it.

I think that end run that we have kind of showcased the desire that they had and I think the team camaraderie that this year’s seniors have, they decided to take it upon themselves and have that leadership to want to continue to build on it. They have taken on that desire and it’s fun and it’s great.”FP

WR

Continued from 22 Varner. “So I’m really not concerned about how they will perform but rather which player we want to put out there because they are so easily interchangeable.”

With returning quarterback Weston Eget, who took over for Colton Mitchell after he got injured in the fourth game of last season against Oak Park, the Wildcats offense will look primed and ready to punish defenses through the air and on the ground.

The brother of 2016 quarterback Wyatt Eget, Weston will look to follow his brother’s footsteps and uphold the family pedigree by being named the Day 1 starter at quarterback for the Wildcats.

The younger Eget transformed his body from the end of last season to now, growing about 4 inches (6-foot-3) and putting on some extra muscle in the weight room, now weighing in at about 195 pounds.

Eget finished last year by completing 51 percent of his passes, resulting in 990 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions in his first season at the varsity level.

The senior has drawn attention from schools like Arizona State, Oregon State, UCLA, San Diego State, Oklahoma State, Berkeley, Fresno State, Utah State, Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington. He already holds offers from San Jose State and Sacramento State.

With Kuan Glasgow transferring out of West Ranch, Eget will have his pick of wide receivers: Jason Pobanz, Mason

We have all played safety and corner our whole lives and we aren’t afraid of anybody so like size doesn’t matter to us.”

-West Ranch defensive back Brandon Wyre James, Brandon Wyre and the Camacho brothers.

James is the only other player besides the Camacho brothers with any varsity experience, playing for West Ranch and catching 15 balls for 200 yards and two touchdowns last season.

“I think it’s great because he’s such a good kid,” said Varner about Eget and the chemistry with his receivers. “He will be the first one to take blame for an errant throw and he’s very encouraging when a kid drops it.

He doesn’t get on him and blame him, so I think it’s really easy for anyone that’s not a huge ego guy to come in and just really like playing for him. He’s a great kid.”

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Joseph Tempesta will anchor the Wildcats defense, moving over into the middle from the outside. Junior Zachary Van Bennekum will join Tempesta at linebacker after having a breakout sophomore season. The duo combined for 108 total tackles with each recording a sack in last year’s campaign.

“This is (Tempesta’s) third year starting for me, so he’s got the most experience,” Varner said. “We moved him to the inside, from outside backer, because he’s gotten a little bigger and hits like a truck.”

But the linebacking corps isn’t getting the

most attention. The secondary is.

With the return of the Camacho brothers and Brandon Wyre, all of whom were starters on last year’s squad, and adding safeties Mason James and Jeremiah Guzman into the mix, the Wildcats send out a formidable set of defensive backs that will give opposing quarterbacks headaches.

“Experience,” Wyre said. “We have all played safety and corner our whole lives and we aren’t afraid of anybody so like size doesn’t matter to us. We know we can make plays and we trust in our abilities.”

Returning explosive players on both sides of the ball, the Wildcats are confident and eager that they will be able to finish out the season better than the last.

“My expectation’s been the same since I got here,” Varner said. “I want to make the playoffs and win a playoff game so that’s still the goal this year. I

WEST RANCH

Notable Records Rushing yards in a game: 289 - Jake Rice vs. Canyon (2016) Rushing yards in a season: 1,246 - Jeff Coprich (2011) Rushing yards in a career: 1,939 - Gerrit Mouw (201112) Touchdowns in a game: 4 - Jake Rice vs. Canyon (2016) Touchdowns in a season: 24 - Jeff Coprich (2010) Receptions in a game: 12 Zachary Heinz (2014) Receiving yards in a game: 265 - Adam VargaThompson (2015 vs.

Pasadena) Passing yards in a game: 412 - Jackson Clark (2014 vs. Knight) Passing yards in a season: 2,096 - Connor Eichten (2010) Passing yards in a career: 3,428 - Connor Eichten (2009-11) Passing TDs in a season: 24 - Connor Eichten (2010)

would like to win it outright and not leave it in the hands of a committee like the last few years.

“Let’s finish Top 3 in league and get that spot.

That’s our goal.”FP

2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 43

THE COVERS We once again published six covers — one for each Foothill League school — with our annual Santa Clarita Valley High School Football Preview. The covers were distributed around the Santa Clarita Valley based on proximity to the given school. This year’s cover guys are: Canyon’s Shawn Gallagher, Golden Valley’s Derrese Morganfield II, Hart’s Michael Colangelo, Saugus’ Devin Thompson, Valencia’s Ben Seymour and West Ranch’s Ryan and Jovan Camacho. All photos were taken by Signal photographer Cory Rubin.

SANTACLARITA CLARITA VALLEY 20182018 SANTA VALLEY SCHOOLFOOTBALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW HIGHHIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW

THIS IS CANYON

The Cowboys’ SHAWN GALLAGHER

SANTACLARITA CLARITA VALLEY 20182018 SANTA VALLEY SCHOOLFOOTBALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW HIGHHIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW

THIS IS SAUGUS

The Centurions’ DEVIN THOMPSON

SANTACLARITA CLARITA VALLEY 20182018 SANTA VALLEY SCHOOLFOOTBALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW HIGHHIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW

THIS IS

GOLDEN VALLEY

The Grizzlies’ DERRESE MORGANFIELD II

SANTACLARITA CLARITA VALLEY 20182018 SANTA VALLEY SCHOOLFOOTBALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW HIGHHIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW

THIS IS HART

The Indians’ MICHAEL COLANGELO

SANTACLARITA CLARITA VALLEY 20182018 SANTA VALLEY SCHOOLFOOTBALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW HIGHHIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW

SANTACLARITA CLARITA VALLEY 20182018 SANTA VALLEY SCHOOLFOOTBALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW HIGHHIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW

VALENCIA

WEST RANCH

THIS IS

The Vikings’ BEN SEYMOUR

THIS IS

The Wildcats’ RYAN & JOVAN CAMACHO

The Signal wishes all SCV schools a GREAT SEASON!

44 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

SCCS

Continued from 28 style of play in order to be successful.

“I’m just going to keep working hard because if we just stick to the game plan, everything will fall into place,” Kirshner said.

“We don’t have to do anything special, just hit the open guys.”

While the Cardinals won’t need to make any critical on-field adjustments, they did go through a coaching change over the summer.

Head coach Mark Bates replaces Chazz Anderson, who took a job teaching at Oaks Christian. Bates also took over the job as SCCS’s athletic director.

For some players like wide receiver Kade Kalinske, the adjustment has been a challenge. A coaching change is never easy, especially after coming off such a successful season.

“It was kind of hard to adjust at first, but we came together and said we have to stick together and fight through it,” Kalinske said. “I think we’re doing good, creating unity and creating a family.”

Watching the Cardinals play and practice, the familiarity they have with one another, the way each player roots for the other, there is a definite family vibe in the air.

While the team looks and feels like a family, there is actual shared blood running through the Cardinals.

Ethan Schwesinger and his younger brother Carson are two of Kirshner’s top targets.

Ethan missed the entire 2016 season and half of the 2017 campaign after suffering two ACL

We have very high expectations.”

-SCCS wide receiver Kade Kalinske tears. He was still third on the team in yards (664) last year and recorded six touchdowns, despite playing in only six games.

“I’m excited to have Ethan back,” Kirshner said. “It was rough without him, but now he’s back and fully into practice and hitting, I’m just excited.”

Carson had 44 receptions for 604 yards, adding nine touchdowns in 12 games last year. Ethan is looking forward to lining up next to his brother, along with all the other weapons the Cardinals have at their disposal.

“My brother Carson — I’m excited to work with him. He had a really good season last year,” the older Schwesinger said.

“Kade is really quick, John Keane is our speedster, and Wil, our freshman, he’s going to do well, too.”

Wil Jackson, who plays wide receiver and cornerback, is one of two freshmen expected to start for SCCS this year. Defensive lineman Hayden Grizzle is the other.

Kalinske, who served as the Cardinals’ slot receiver last year, will be featured all over the field this season.

“I played slot last year, but I’m going to play more wide this year and play corner,” Kalinske said. “So I’ll be on the field all over the place. I want to do what’s best for the team, whatever that looks like. I want to lead the team and make everyone better when I’m out there.”

Junior running back Lu-

cas Pettee returns to helm the backfield after leading the team in rushing yards last season with 991 on 122 carries. He also added 10 touchdowns.

The Cardinals’ spread offense focuses on fourand five-wide receiver sets, but Kirshner is hoping to get his running back more involved this year.

“We’re going to work in a lot more running plays,” Kirshner said. “While we’re going to stick to what we do best, which is a passing offense, the more balanced you are, the better, so the running game is going to be a bigger part of our game.”

On the defensive side of the ball, SCCS graduated its first and third leading tacklers from last season, Tommy Shields and Noah Nnabuo, respectively. The two players combined for 199 tackles, roughly 22 percent of the entire team’s tackles.

Senior linebacker Ethan Frields, who was second on the team last season with 111 tackles, returns to lead the Cardinals’ defensive corps. He will line up alongside senior Tyler Ellerbrock and soph-

omore Dylan Rowsey in SCCS’s 4-3 defensive scheme.

The starting defensive line will be interesting to follow, as each player is in a different grade. Joining freshman Grizzle on the line is senior Austin Sandusky, junior Matthew Jones and sophomore Niko Bondarczuk.

Bondarczuk is also the only player slated to start on both sides of the ball.

He will be the only sophomore on an offensive line featuring four seniors: Nate Whipp, Jacob Holt, Paul Veluzat and Joshua Boelter.

While it’s hard to improve on an 11-1 season, the Cardinals firmly believe they can go undefeated this season. They also moved up to Division 12 this year, a result of last season’s success.

“We have very high expectations,” Kalinske said. “We’re really focused on beating them (Santa Clara) Week 1 and just working hard to beat everyone after and hopefully go undefeated.”

The highly anticipated rematch between SCCS and Santa Clara will take place on Aug. 17, with the Cardinals hitting the road to start the season.FP

KEYS • REMOTE • SMART KEYS PROGRAMMING 661-313-0588 • 18928 SOLEDAD CANYON RD. WWW.AUTOMOTIVEKEYSC.COM 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 45

THE DIVISIONS The CIF-Southern Section’s competitive equity system affected the Foothill League in a big way this season.

Nearly every team moved up one or more division. Valencia heads to Division 1 after reaching the Division 2 title game last year, while Golden Valley is in Division 4 after playing in the Division 6 title game. Saugus and West Ranch jumped up, while Hart and Canyon stayed put.

Valencia Division 1 (18 schools) 1. Mater Dei 2. St. John Bosco 3. Mission Viejo 4. Lutheran(Orange) 5. Santa Margarita 6. Chaminade

7. Centennial(Corona) 8. JSerra Catholic 9. Bishop Amat 10. Serra 11. Servite 12. Rancho Cuca.

13. Murrieta Valley 14. Oaks Christian 15. San Clemente 16. Vista Murrieta 17. Poly(Long Beach) 18. Valencia

Hart Division 3 (19 schools) 37. Hart 38. Cajon 39. Downey 40. Paraclete 41. Charter Oak 42. Newbury Park 43. Roosevelt, E

44. Murrieta Mesa 45. El Toro 46. Moorpark 47. Capistrano Valley 48. Santiago/Corona 49. Damien 50. Lompoc

51. Paloma Valley 52. Citrus Hill 53. Sierra Canyon 54. La Mirada 55. Etiwanda

Saugus & Golden Valley

Division 4 (19 schools) 56. Villa Park 57. Crespi 58. Paramount 59. Yucaipa 60. Corona del mar 61. Bishop Diego 62. Grace Brethren

63. Oak Hills 64. Saugus 65. Golden Valley 66. El Modena 67. Chino Hills 68. Chaparral 69. Camarillo

70. St. Bonaventure 71. Rio Mesa 72. Redondo Union 73. King, M.L. 74. Yorba Linda

Canyon & West Ranch

Division 6 (19 schools) 97. Gahr 98. Canyon 99. Mira Costa 100. St. Margarets 101. Valley Christian 102. Oxnard 103. Quartz Hill 104. Fullerton

105. Serrano 106. South Hills 107. Valley View 108. Pacifica 109. Mayfair 110. Wilson (LB) 111. West Ranch 112. Huntington Beach

113. Silverado 114. Cypress 115. Tustin 116. Ayala, Ruben 117. Palmdale 118. Canyon (Anaheim)

SCCS Division 12 (46 schools) 259. Nogales 260. Artesia 261. Linfield Christian 262. Cabrillo 263. Pacific 264. Rio Hondo Prep 265. Campbell Hall 266. Diamond Bar 267. Santa Monica 268. Bellflower 269. Esperanza 270. Walnut 271. Xavier Prep 272. West Valley 273. Torrance 274. Banning

275. Rowland 276. San Marcos 277. Baldwin Park 278. Ramona 279. Rancho Alamitos 280. Viewpoint 281. Temple City 282. Arrowhead Chr. 283. Northwood 284. Fontana 285. Pioneer 286. Hawthorne 287. Bell Gardens 288. Laguna Beach 289. S. Pasadena 290. Indio

291. La Sierra 292. Montclair 293. Glenn 294. Saddleback Valley Christian 295. Tahquitz 296. Cantwell Sacred Heart 297. Mary Star 298. SCCS 299. Hoover 300. Carpinteria 301. Village Chr. 302. Lancaster 303. Portola 304. S. Torrance

Trinity Division 13 (81 schools) 305. Santa Ana Valley 306. Eastside 307. Cathedral City 308. Alhambra 309. Wilson/HH 310. La Canada 311. Bishop Montgomery 312. El Monte 313. Rosemead 314. Santa Clara 315. Azusa 316. Santiago (GG) 317. Webb 318. Calvary Murrieta 319. Carnigie 320. Glendale 321. Granite Hills 322. Rim of the World 323. Calvary Chapel 324. Garey 325. Littlerock 326. Savanna 327. Loara 328. Adelanto 329. Excelsior Charter 330. Verbum Dei 331. La Puente 332. California Military 333. Anaheim

334. Rialto 335. Desert Hot Springs 336. Cerritos 337. San Bernardino 338. Mountain View 339. Fillmore 340. Los Amigos 341. Indian Springs 342. St. Monica Catholic 343. Bloomington 344. Trinity Classical Academy 345. Century 346. Jurupa valley 347. Beverly Hills 348. Desert Mirage 349. Estancia 350. McAuliffe, Christa 351. Orange Vista 352. Duarte 353. Marshall 354. Magnolia 355. Saddleback 356. Riverside Prep 357. Workman 358. Vista Del Lago 359. Western Christian

360. Centennial (Compton) 361. Gabielino 362. Sierra Vista 363. San Gabriel 364. Bolsa Grande 365. Southlan ds Christian 366. St. Bernard 367. Ganesha 368. Malibu 369. Capistrano Vly Christian 370. Fairmont Prep 371. Santa Rosa Academy 372. Don Bosco Tech 373. Vasquez 374. Arroyo Valley 375. Gladstone 376. Bassett 377. Costa Mesa 378. Hamilton 379. Firebaugh 380. St. Pius X/St. Matthias Academy 381. Mark Keppel 382. Temecula prep 383. Sherman Indian 384. Nuview Bridge 385. Ribet Academy

Numbers indicate the assigned CIF ranking for playoff groupings, which is based on power points, playoff points, league rank and school rank from the previous season.

46 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PREDICTIONS Haley Sawyer

Diego Marquez

Signal Sports Editor

1

VALENCIA

The Vikings once again have talent at just about every position and quality coaching to go along with it. Don’t be surprised if they go undefeated in Foothill League play this year.

2

WEST RANCH

3

GOLDEN VALLEY

4

HART

Weston Eget has a lot of hype to live up to, but I think he can. Eget has a good amount of receivers to choose from and a ground game that can back him up. Key returners on defense help the Wildcats, too.

Better watch closely, because this team is going to be fast. Receivers Antonio Abrego and Johnathan Kaelin are speedy, and so is running back Tyler Walker.

Derrese Morganfield II will dominate on a strong, well-coached defense.

The Indians have two options at quarterback, but I don’t necessarily see that as a world-ending problem. However, there is inexperience at many positions that were left vacant after graduation.

5

CANYON

They may have a fresh-faced quarterback, but they also have an offensive line with some talented returners. I’m interested to see what Shawn Gallagher will do with his new positions, too.

6

SAUGUS

The Centurions know how to grind it out, but there are some really big shoes to fill at both quarterback and running back. There’s talent on the team, though, and if those players can rise to the occasion, Saugus could compete.

Dan Lovi

Signal Sports Writer

Signal Sports Writer

1

VALENCIA

Moving up to Division 1, the Vikings reload with a bevy of new talent as Jayvaun Wilson will look to lead Valencia to its 10th straight Foothill League title.

2

WEST RANCH

3

GOLDEN VALLEY

4

SAUGUS

The Wildcats look to senior quarterback Weston Eget, who takes over for Colton Mitchell, and will have Jovan and Ryan Camacho along with some other key offensive weapons to reload ahead of the 2018 season.

With second-year quarterback Zack Chevalier, the Grizzlies will return a proven play caller.

Jonathan Kaelin will headline the receiving corps with the speedy Tyler Walker at tailback.

Losing quarterback Nathan Eldridge and running back Quinn Sheaffer, the Centurions will have their hands full, but will be ready like every other Jason Bornn football team.

5

HART

The Indians will look for new leaders as they lost most of their starting roster on both offense and defense. Best believe Coach Herrington will have them prepared entering his 30th season at Hart.

6

CANYON

Reworking their roster, Canyon will be more exciting this year, with Shawn Gallagher playing multiple positions and with last year’s junior varsity quarterback Aydyn Litz being promoted to the starting job.

1

VALENCIA

Losing Mykael Wright is big, but the Vikings are too talented to let it affect their Foothill League standings.

They’ll top the league for the 10th straight year.

2

SAUGUS

3

WEST RANCH

4 5

GOLDEN VALLEY

Quarterback Cole Gallagher has a strong arm and he’s accurate. The starting offensive line consists of all seniors, which will give Gallagher plenty of time to find his talented receivers.

This team is booming with potential. From quarterback Weston Eget to the talented Camacho brothers to a slew of versatile running backs, the Wildcats are going to surprise people this season.

The experience of Zack Chevalier at quarterback and Derrese Morganfield II at linebacker will carry the Grizzlies this season.

CANYON

The starting quarterback in 2017, Shawn Gallagher moves to wide receiver this season, opening the door to newcomer Aydyn Litz. The Cowboys could tally a few victories in nonconference play, but might struggle in the Foothill League.

6

HART

The Indians have to replace too many talented players on both ends of the ball. Hart won several close games last season that might not go its way this year. There are two quarterbacks who could potentially start, and you know the old adage, if you have two quarterbacks you don’t have one.

2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 47

48 | 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW