The Friday Night Lights of high school football are here. To get you ready, Noozhawk Sports is posting previews of the five South Coast-area teams that play 11-man football.
From our stops at the training camps of Dos Pueblos, San Marcos, Bishop Diego, Santa Barbara High and Carpinteria, it looks like this is going to be a good year for football all around on the South Coast.
First-year Santa Barbara coach Nate Mendoza takes over a team that is loaded with returning players off a Channel League championship squad; Bishop Diego has another big front line, another powerful running back and some talented underclassmen; and San Marcos, Dos Pueblos and Carpinteria will be much improved with returning starters and promising newcomers.
We start our football previews with Dos Pueblos.
As Dos Pueblos football enters its third year under coach AJ Pateras, improvements in areas such as leadership, commitment and accountability are raising the program’s profile.
“We’re trying to stay consistent out here and trying to get better,” senior middle linebacker Roman Alonzo said of moving the program in a positive direction. “That’s all we want to do. We want to compete, show (opponents) who we are and what we can bring to the field for the upcoming season and even more.”
Hired in June 2021, Pateras has been patient in establishing his process after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
This year’s senior group has been with him since he started, and he said he’s excited to see it go out on a high note.
The Chargers went 3-7 and 1-7 in a realigned and tougher Channel League last season. They were 2-8 and 0-5 in 2021.
“When I started talking about the message of how to be and how to do things, they’ve been fully bought in the whole time,” he said of the 18 seniors. “And now you’re starting to see these younger guys, who haven’t seen anything different, and they have that leadership that’s kind of hammering it home.
“So now, when we start stuff, whether it be a drill, or a morning workout or an afternoon workout, or a meeting, it’s addressed by the players before they come in or before they start; it’s not addressed by a coach. That has been a big change.”
He noted that confidence and maturity in the team leaders are going to take the program in the right direction.
“We’re excited about where this program is going. We got a new league coming up in about 12 months, and we feel like we’re returning a lot football players that are going to get a lot of time at all levels this year. So, we’re excited about that progression.”
In the re-leaguing alignment that starts in fall 2024, Dos Pueblos moves into a yet-to-be-named circuit that should be a better fit competitively for football. It will include San Marcos, Agoura, Fillmore, Hueneme and Santa Paula.
This year’s Chargers squad will be led offensively by senior quarterback Ryan Marsh, a three-year starter.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Marsh was a Channel League honorable mention pick last season. Playing against tough competition, he completed 51% of his passes for 1,020 yards and five touchdowns.
“His growth each year has been consistent, and we are expecting him to have an impact on our team, both on the field and off the field,” Pateras said.
Marsh will be working behind a big line, anchored by senior center and 2022 honorable mention choice Juan Carlos Contreras (5-10, 265 pounds) and senior guard Emiliano Rodriguez (6-0, 270). Rodriguez played all 10 games last season.
“Those two are physically imposing and the strongest guys in the program,” Pateras said.
A big plus for Marsh and the Chargers is the improved athleticism at the receiver positions.
“We’re a lot more athletic on the outside, which gives more options to push the ball down field. We’re excited about that,” Pateras said.
“We’ve had the luxury to have some big guys upfront and have been able to run the ball. We just didn’t have that next-level speed. Now, we’ve got kids who are playing seven other sports, so you’re starting to see this athleticism come in.
“That’s a big change in what the team looks like. They’re just more athletic across the board.”
Senior wide receiver Daniel Johnston (5-9, 155) is expected to be a primary target for Marsh. Despite an injury when making an interception against Oxnard in the fifth league game last season, he still made a strong enough impression among the league’s coaches to earn honorable mention accolades as a junior.
“At that time, he was establishing himself as a key player on the field as a junior,” Pateras said. “He had a great off-season. He’s healthy, and he brings the swagger and confidence that radiates to his teammates. DJ will be an impact player on both sides of the ball.”
Adding to the athleticism at receiver are senior Nate Warren (6-3, 160), sophomore Micah Barnhart (5-10, 166), sophomore Ivan Velez (5-9, 155) and junior Joel Felix (6-0, 180).
“We like what we have. We’re going to be more dynamic this year,” Pateras said.
Seniors Nathaniel Huerta (5-11, 175) and Matthew Welch (6-0, 180) and juniors Danny Vidaure (5-9, 185) and Kaleb Williams (5-7, 165) will share the load running the football.
“They’re all tough, physical runners,” Pateras said.
On the defensive side of the ball, juniors Evan Yelles (6-0, 220) and Diego Rubio (6-1, 310) give the Chargers size, strength and experience in the trenches, as both saw action on the varsity as sophomores.
Alonzo will handle the middle linebacker spot. Junior Andy Newendorp figures to be in the mix at linebacker.
Pateras said the Chargers aren’t deep in the secondary but the group of Johnston, Welch, Diego Lopez and Velez are talented.
DP will have an untested kicker as all-leaguer Greg Tripathi graduated.
“We got to start finishing (drives with touchdowns). That’s a big emphasis this year,” Pateras said.
Pateras said a big plus this year is unity, as teammates have been able to spend a lot of time together outside of football.
“They’re loose, and they’re friends,” he said. “COVID took away that time where kids can build friendships because you couldn’t be around kids. It feels like these guys are now hanging out more on their own, and you’re starting to see that friendship and that trust build, which is huge.
“You have to have that when you’re playing football, or really anything, but especially football.”
Alonzo concurred.
“We like to get together outside of school, outside of practice and just be together as one, as an actual team — be bonded as brothers here and there.
“And even on the field, we keep each other in check and make sure we’re doing the right things day by day and show that we’re all in, we’re all in it to win it. That’s all we want to do is just compete.”
Dos Pueblos Football Schedule
Friday, Aug. 18 Burbank
Friday, Aug. 25 @ Nordhoff
Friday, Sept. 1 @ Buena#
Friday, Sept. 15 Ventura#
Friday, Sept. 22 @ Pacifica#
Friday, Sept. 29 Channel Islands#
Friday, Oct. 6 @ Oxnard#
Friday, Oct. 13 @ San Marcos#
Friday, Oct. 20 Santa Barbara#
Friday, Oct. 27 Rio Mesa#
#Channel League games