For years, the saying in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League football has been that the road to the title runs through Felton, an homage to the success the San Lorenzo Valley Cougars have achieved over many years under longtime head coach Doug Morris.
With Scotts Valley High coming off a 10-2 season and its third-straight SCCAL title, however, it’s a pretty safe bet that games against the Falcons are the ones circled on local competitors’ calendars this year.
“We talk about the target on our backs every day,” says Louie Walters, the school’s athletic director and the only football coach the 10-year-old campus has ever known. “Everybody always used to play their best game against SLV, but now it’s us.”
As befitting a program that boasted lopsided winning records on its freshman, JV and varsity teams last year, Walters and his Falcons are aiming for a fourth consecutive championship in 2009.
But first, they have to get through a grueling preseason lineup Walters packed with contests against state champion-quality teams. Perennial California powerhouse Valley Christian is on the schedule, along with 2,000-student Leland High of San Jose.
But at practice this past week, players and coaches were focused on the game immediately in front of them — an Aug. 28 rematch of the 2008 opener in Texas against the Alice Coyotes, ranked No. 4 last year in that entire prep football-crazed state.
“Playing before 10,000 people when only 100 of them are rooting for you — that’s an experience you never forget,” says senior offensive tackle Lewis LaHood.
The high-flying Falcons football program is hoping the entire season proves equally memorable.
Walters’ cause for optimism stems from the Falcons’ fleetness, especially at the offensive skill positions — quarterback Blake Jurich, halfback Jake Bergman and receivers Aldin Barrett and Ryan Estrada, who all return from last year’s team.
At 6 foot, 4 inches, the 220-pound Jurich is the Falcons’ fastest man and is already catching the eye of Division I football recruiters.
At the recent Nike combine of 800 area prep players, Jurich finished with top honors, recording a 37-inch vertical leap and a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. He’s one of several Falcons who became faster this year — Jurich’s 2008 best in the 40 was 4.8 seconds — largely thanks to grueling off-season workouts and running on the school’s track team this year.
“We finally have some speed,” Walters says. “For years, we played smashmouth. This year, we’re not very big, but we’re fast.”
Jurich — one of five Falcon team captains along with LaHood, Barrett, Bergman and Luke Pollok — is at least as much of a threat to throw as he is to run.
Last year, he racked up 18 touchdowns against only four interceptions in amassing 1,469 yards through the air, and at practice this past week, he was consistently throwing strikes deep downfield.
“Blake could easily be the best quarterback to ever come out of Santa Cruz County,” Walters says of his quiet senior. Jurich himself seems prepared for the attention that accompanies such lofty expectations.
“I think I’m ready,” he says, highlighting the aerial attack he will lead. “I like having a lot of receivers to pick from. It’s going to be very hard to cover them because of their speed.”
Walters says flankers Estrada and Barrett are both super-fast “playmakers,” giving the Falcons a luxury they didn’t have in previous seasons.
“We’ve always had a Joey Bright or a Matt Miller to throw to,” he said of the team’s top receivers in previous years. “This is the first time we’ve had two (receiver) threats on the same team.”
In the backfield, there are high expectations for speedy running back Bergman.
Asked if he’ll be disappointed if the 5-foot, 10-inch, 185-pound senior doesn’t follow Tony Lopez, Zack Trap and Kyle Hardwick to become the fifth straight Falcon to win the SCCAL rushing title, Walters doesn’t hesitate — “Yes.”
Bergman will be joined in the backfield by fullback Pollok. Halfbacks Julio Vandierendonck, Eric Rohrkemper and Nick Mannina and fullbacks Drake Smith, Dylan Lane and Nick White will back them up.
With all this offensive skill position speed and Jurich’s arm, the Falcons plan to run a spread offense close to half of the time, so Stephen Doub, Nick Clarke, Zach Davis, Blake Ward and Gerrod Murai will all see playing time with Barrett and Estrada.
On the offensive line, Walters calls 270-pound starting tackle LaHood, his “anchor.” Tackle Ryan Stempien is the other cemented O-line starter, with other slots up for grabs between Tyler Moore, Alex Hall, Jeff McClure, Tyler Botkin, David Nice, Jake Elder, Tre Braquet, Tyler Dorso, Jeremy Kinstler, Stephen Davies, Joe Maldonado and sophomore Patrick Flebbe.
Stephan Galewski, the JV team’s MVP last year, will be the starting tight end with Chris Bolanos and David Johnston providing backup.
A hard-hitting, pressure-style defense that’s not afraid to take risks has always been a hallmark of Falcon football. But although eight defensive starters are returning, coaches acknowledge the potent offense might overshadow the defense.
The high point defensively is the secondary, which is strong and deep.
Receivers Barrett and Estrada will be the cornerbacks, with Bergman at strong safety and Galewski likely to start at free safety. They’ll be backed up by Doub, Davis, Rohrkemper and back-up quarterback Alex Howard.
Pollok, Mannina and Bolanos are the projected linebackers, with Braquet and Drake Smith battling for the remaining slot. Dorso and Lane will also see plenty of time at linebacker.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Metter, who like Walters has held that position since the school’s first season, plans to run a wider variety of defensive fronts this year than in previous seasons.
LaHood, Hall, Stempien and Moore will see the most playing time on the D-line, with Nice, Davies, McClure, Flebbe and Jimmy Koopman providing backup.
Special teams coach Scott Ham is hopeful he’ll once again find a golden foot or two from among the school’s soccer players to follow in the recent footsteps of league-leading Falcon kickers Philip Bliss, Jordan Pini and Eric Brager.
Alex Boostani and Gary McMonagle are both eyeing placekicking duties this season while Galewski, the JV team’s punter last year, looks to perform the same for the varsity in 2009.
All told, the Falcons are high on their prospects for an unprecedented fourth straight SCCAL crown this year, but taking nothing for granted.
“Personally, I’d prefer to be the underdog, but now we’re the top dog,” Bolanos said at practice earlier this week. “We’re ready for it.”
