Valley Christian, the No. 17th-ranked football team in the state
of California and the No. 1-ranked team in the Central Coast
Section, will make its first-ever appearance at Andy Hardin Field
this Friday at 7 p.m. The San Jose-based private school, which
plays in the West Catholic Athletic League, went 12-1 last year and
capped it off with a CCS Division I championship. Three players off
that team went to Division I schools – Ryan Abbott (San Jose
State), Tyler Mariucci (Cal Poly-San Luis) and Erik Ames
(Nevada-Reno).
Valley Christian, the No. 17th-ranked football team in the state of California and the No. 1-ranked team in the Central Coast Section, will make its first-ever appearance at Andy Hardin Field this Friday at 7 p.m. The San Jose-based private school, which plays in the West Catholic Athletic League, went 12-1 last year and capped it off with a CCS Division I championship. Three players off that team went to Division I schools – Ryan Abbott (San Jose State), Tyler Mariucci (Cal Poly-San Luis) and Erik Ames (Nevada-Reno).
While 2002 was one to remember for the Warriors and one to forget for San Benito, which went 4-5-1, head coach Mike Machado feels this year’s team has plenty of talent left in the proverbial tank. Leading the way is senior defensive end Jeff Schweiger (6-4, 245), who is on everybody’s wish list. According to Machado, Schweiger has narrowed is choices to USC, Notre Dame, Miami (Florida), Oklahoma, Michigan and Ohio State.
“He’s in a no lose situation,” said Machado of Schweiger. “He’s a big, physical athlete.”
Schweiger has company on the defensive line. Defensive end Jameson Lyman is 6-5, 280 and has the attention of most Pac-10 schools. Matt Castelo, who gained 126 yards in the Warriors’ 38-0 victory over the Balers to start the season last year, is a returning all-CCS linebacker and may pack the pigskin, if needed.
Offensively, Kevin Jurovich moves from wide receiver to quarterback. Fullback James Toombs, who had 54 yards in that same game, is one of the Warriors’ featured backs. Gianni Pattis, who tallied the first TD of the game, is injured and will sit out Friday night’s game. Jurovich and company will operate behind one of the biggest offensive lines the Balers will face all year. Three of the Warriors’ linemen weigh 275, 280 and 300 pounds, respectively. Two of them are juniors and another is a sophomore.
“They’re inexperienced, but they’re good athletes,” said Machado of his massive linemen. “We’ll see how fast they progress.”
Machado said his Warriors aren’t resting on last year’s laurels and won’t be too cocky coming in.
“We’re not thinking about last year,” he said. “We’re the team taking the bus ride down to Hollister. We aware that the community has a lot of enthusiasm for their team. Hollister is a good football program and we’re preparing to play a football game.”
Haybaler head coach Chris Cameron, whose Balers are the decided underdog, feels his Balers can pull it off.
“We can beat them,” he said. “We know we’re running into a club with super, solid football players. But, if we don’t turn the ball over and keep moving the football, we can win. What’s important is the way we take the field. Valley Christian is going to come in here expecting to own the field. We can’t let that happen. We have to take the field hungry.”
The battle between the trenches will be key.
“We have to come off the ball and be physical,” said Baler offensive line coach Steve Zenk. “We have to play our game. If we don’t come out and play at the start of the game, then we’ll lose.”
The Balers have already selected their four captains for the season – offensive tackle Phil Leonard, nosetackle Mike Lango, wideout/safety Chris Uribe and offensive guard Ty Doty.
“This team is definitely high-spirited,” said Doty. “We’ve been preparing for Valley Christian for the past two weeks. This is a good game to get game experience for our new guys.”
“We need to execute offensively and defensively,” said Lango. “I’ll be going against a big lineman who comes off the ball well. I need to get to him and get rid of him.”
Some Balers know that they’ll be outsized.
“We have to play smarter than them,” said running back Francisco Aviles, who might have to block the likes of Schweiger on occasion. “If I get knocked down, I’ll get right up and go at them again.”
That’s the spirit, Balers.
