New teammates still learning to play the field together
Chris Cameron’s voice was hoarse, as it is every year around
this time. And it will probably stay that way for the head coach of
the San Benito High School football team through November, the
month the fall season ends.
New teammates still learning to play the field together
Chris Cameron’s voice was hoarse, as it is every year around this time. And it will probably stay that way for the head coach of the San Benito High School football team through November, the month the fall season ends.
Since Aug. 6, the day official football practices were first allowed, Cameron has been on the field coaching technique and fundamentals, and fine-tuning things to have his varsity roster in place for the season opener on Fri., Aug. 31, the night the Balers host Milpitas High.
“Sometimes we look decent. Other times we look pathetic,” Cameron said. “We have a lot of inconsistency right now. We’ll have to see as time goes by. Right now, we’re a real work in progress.”
A year ago the Balers finished the season with a record of 8-3 – thanks to a several all-league seniors that filled out the roster. That squad entered the Central Coast Section playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Large School Division for the first time in school history before suffering a shocking 21-14 loss at home to Piedmont Hills in opening round action.
This year the Balers will be forced to take to the field without several key defensive players that were lost to graduation, including all-league linebackers Nate Mendoza and last year’s Defensive MVP of the Tri County Athletic League Johnny Sanchez as well as defensive lineman Brett Pirtle.
“At linebacker we could start three sophomores,” Cameron said. “They are all good kids and they work hard and learn well, but it’s hard to replace those guys we lost.”
On offense the Balers will also be without star running back Tim Lango, who rushed last year for more than 1,000 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in the process and the team’s top wide receiver, defensive back and place kicker Dru Blake.
“I’m sure that when all is said and done we’ll still be competitive this year,” said Cameron, who is recognized as one of the top coaches in the Section. “Our coaches will bring out the best in our kids, and we’ll get things going.”
On Friday night, the Balers will be at Gilroy High competing in a four-way scrimmage with Gilroy, North Salinas and San Jose’s Lincoln High School. It’s a good way for Cameron and his staff to gauge where his team is at, and to make final roster decisions and cuts.
“We’ll get 45 snaps on both sides of the ball against those teams,” Cameron said. “It will show me a lot.”
Although a number of standout players are no longer with the team, Cameron points out that there are still a number of players who should play major roles on the field for the 2007 team.
One of those players is senior Zach Canez, who is expected to see the bulk of his time at both the cornerback and safety positions.
“He’s just a heads-up player with real good instinct for football,” Cameron said. “He had a lot of interceptions last year (six, led team) and plays those positions well.”
Although he is currently nursing a sore knee after an accident on the sand dunes of Pismo Beach this summer, Ricky Sanchez is expected to play a major role in the Balers secondary this season and will give the Balers a boost in physical toughness.
“He’s the same kind of player as Canez with another dimension – he speaks with his pads,” Cameron said.
Defensive tackles Sam Doty, the league’s Sophomore of the Year last year, and senior Kevin Burley look to play an integral role in stopping the run and getting to the opposition’s quarterback.
On offense, the Balers have solace in knowing that quarterback Ronnie Fhurong is back at the helm. A year ago the Baler senior threw for almost 1,000 yards. Abel Jacquez will also be returning to the Baler backfield. Last season Jacquez rushed for nearly 400 yards and scored four touchdowns.
“I’m still not sure about the tight end position yet and the fullback spot,” Cameron said. “I will know a lot more after this weekend.”
What Cameron does know is that Zach Johnson will fill the center spot and John Goldstein and Nick Vallejo will play the guard positions.
“Our goal is still the same this year: To win the TCAL,” Cameron said. “We look to improve every week too. You’ve got to take success one step at a time. You can’t look past anybody. You’ve got to improve in all phases of the game so that when you play Palma in week 7 or a Gilroy in week 10 those games mean something. That’s how we approach every season.”
