PITMAN HIGH SCHOOL

Pitman High Pride

BY ANGELINA MARTIN

Under new head coach Eric Reza, the Pitman Pride are looking to bounce back this year from a shortened COVID season which saw them finish fourth in Central California Athletic League play last spring.

“These kids haven’t had a full, real season in almost two years, so I was hoping that the kids would bring new energy and excitement,” Reza said. “We’ve had a lot of long, hot practices but they’ve brought that and it’s been a nice atmosphere.”

The team has been hard at work this summer preparing for a full schedule of football which starts this week — the first time the Pride and other CCAL teams will play a full season since 2019. Despite the ever-present coronavirus pandemic, the team is ready to compete under the leadership of Reza, who took over the pro-

I feel like we’re ready. We’ve been putting in more work this year because we have more to look forward to.

— Joey Stout, Running back

gram following the resignation of Lance Weckerle in May.

Reza is new to the varsity head coaching position but not to Pitman High, having coached at the freshman and junior varsity levels since arriving in 2004. With a team of veteran assistant coaches around him, Reza hopes to lead the Pride to a bounce back season and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Fewer COVID restrictions and the certainty of actually having a season this year have allowed the Pride to properly prepare for competition, he said.

“Last season was very stressful, but this year we can go a little bit slower with our preparation and can hit more details,” Reza said. “This summer we were able to get in the weight room and on the field a little bit more, so I’m hoping that extra time and work pays off.”

It’s still a toss-up as to who will be under center this year, as Reza weighs his two quarterback options in senior Evan Kiely — who also plays kicker — and junior Drew Walker. Though both have little to no experience playing QB at the varsity level, Reza likes what he’s seen from both so far.

“Evan is very quick; he’s got those long legs and can move fast. He’s also a senior, so he has that leadership mentality,” Reza said. “Drew is like a surgeon. He’s very smart and understands everything. They both have their strengths and they both have things they need to work on.”

No matter who’s at QB, they’ll have plenty of offensive weapons to choose from like senior running back and receiver Joey Stout as well as senior receiver Dylan Freeman. Those two are also expected to make an impact on defense, along with senior lineman Colton Salsig.

Together, Reza expects the team to turn things around this season.

“It’s going to take a lot of discipline,” he said. “If we keep the mistakes down, I think we’re talented enough to be in every game.”

COVER PLAYERs Joey Stout Colton Salsig

Aug. 20 v. Central Valley Aug. 27 @ Lincoln Sept. 3 v. Patterson Sept. 10 @ Golden Valley Sept. 17 @ Edison (Stockton) Oct. 1 @ Turlock Oct. 8 v. Enochs Oct. 15 @ Gregori Oct. 22 v. Modesto Oct. 29 v. Downey

2020Record: 2-3 Head Coach: Eric Reza Points per game scored: 23.8 (119 total) Points per game 27.4 (137 total)

We’ve got to be in the right mindset, because that’s where it starts. If we don’t have the right mindset, then we can’t perform on Friday night. It starts at practice.

— Colton Salsig, Lineman

SEASON 9 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FROM THE FIELD TO YOUR SCREEN

WEEK 1 - 9-17 – DENAIR V RIPON CHRISTIAN WEEK 2 - 9-24 – HILMAR @ RIPON WEEK 3 - 10-1 – HARVEST BOWL: TURLOCK V PITMAN WEEK 4 - 10-8 – PITMAN V ENOCHS WEEK 5 - 10-15 – HILMAR V HUGHSON WEEK 6 - 10-22 – TBD WEEK 7 - 10-29 – TURLOCK @ GREGORI -PLAYOFFS-

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

1 Nathan Magallon 2 Franky Romero 3 Drew Walker 5 Christian Romero 6 Evan Kiely 7 Kai Bravo 9 William Dorantes 10 Dylan Freeman 11 Emmanuel Lopez 12 Cruzito Garcia 13 Anthony Manzo 14 Mario Torres 15 Jackson Hart 16 Jimmy Cruz 17 Ruben Marquez 18 Fermin Ramirez 20 Kunoia Rice 21 Jose Zamora, III 22 Juan Ramirez 23 Anthony Ventura 24 Joseph Stout 26 Jaime Romo 28 Nick Sturgill 29 Bo Dickie 31 Julian Rosales 32 Marc Ouse 33 Daniel Aguilar 34 Jeremy Garcia 35 Simon Dadisho 37 Kenny Jackson 42 Ben Plaa 44 Jack McBay 47 Luke Leiser 50 Connor Malech 51 Isaac Simoes 52 Alex Rodriguez 53 Colton Salsig 54 Jorge Perez 55 David Sandoval 61 Milo Rucker 66 Tyler Canella 67 Juan Zarate 68 Joseant Barrios 70 Aidden Ribeiro 74 Austin Miller 76 Alex Saavedra 77 Angel Lopez 78 Aaron Arroyo

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