For those inclined to be superstitious, Scotts Valley’s fumble on their first snap from center in their first game of the season last Saturday against Los Banos was an ill – but accurate – omen of the day to come as the Falcons were beaten 34-7.
Little respite is expected this week as Scotts Valley squares off against 1,800-student Arlington Heights High School from football-crazed Fort Worth, Tex. on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Cabrillo College.
What was a battle of tough defenses the first half turned into a one-sided affair in the second, as the Tigers scored 34 points in 20 minutes of football behind a punishing running game and long kick returns.
The Falcons did move the ball in the fourth quarter with quarterback Jake Lobo connecting on several accurate passes to Tim Wagner, Jordan Tuck, David Snider, Ethan Emmanuelson and Kyle Giguiere.
Wagner eventually put the Falcons on the board on an 8-yard swing pass from Lobo, who finished the day with 14 completions in 32 attempts for 140 yards.
Following the game, Head Coach Louie Walters and his assistants encouraged the team to stay upbeat and learn from their mistakes.
“We play tough teams for a reason,” Walters said of his longtime habit of loading Scotts Valley’s early schedule with talented opponents from larger schools. “Playing good teams is a challenge that makes us better.”
On defense, Emmanuelson, Ethan Harris and Connor Van Valer all recorded sacks for Scotts Valley and Dawson Danner recovered a fumble.
Falcon Offense 2014
This season isn’t likely to feature a dominant running back as Scotts Valley has enjoyed in the recent past in the form of Ari Wargon, Jake Rehnberg, Collin Corbella and Kyle Hardwick.
But returning all-league quarterback Lobo should more than take up the slack, with Walters foreseeing an offense operating 50-50 between passing and running thanks to Lobo’s strong and accurate arm, with Nick Reyes in the backup role.
“Jake’s a linebacker playing quarterback,” Walters says of his three-year varsity QB. “He is tough, fast and very smart.”
Jonathan Velez will see most of the time behind Lobo as fullback, while Snider, Troy Menna and Tristian Leonetti will handle halfback as a committee for now.
Each has different strengths, Walters says – Menna is good between the tackles, Snyder’s a slasher and Leonetti has quick feet – and playing time will be driven by the situation and who’s hot.
Scotts Valley regularly runs a two-tight-end offense when their talent pool allows, and Walters expects to see lots of double tight end sets this year. Matt Murray and Emmanuelson will shoulder those duties until joined by 6’ 6” junior tight end Tanner Spence, who is recovering from knee surgery and could be back in time for the team’s first league game against San Lorenzo Valley on Oct. 18.
The team’s depth at tight end was responsible for the decision to move last year’s all-league tight end Dalton Locke to wide receiver for 2014. He’ll be offset by a combination of the MVP from last year’s 8-2 JV team, Wagner, along with Danner, Giguiere, Tuck and Logan and Collin Sorensen.
Conner Engler anchors the offensive line at center, while Chris Wright, Van Valer and Orllie Herrera will fill the two tackle slots, and Tyler Stone, Harris and Bradley Mead split time at guard.
