The Reporter: Vacaville Christian toughens up schedule to build up for playoffs
By Matt Miller/Assistant Sports Editor
The difficult end to Vacaville Christian High School’s terrific football season still gnaws at head coach Chris Smith.
Vacaville Christian won 11 straight games in 2006 to reach the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII championship game. The Falcons were then stunned by Calvary Temple of Modesto 27-14.
Vacaville Christian Falcons
Head coach: Chris Smith (Seventh year) 2006 Record: 11-1
Sept. 7 at Hilo (Hawaii) 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Point Arena TBA
Sept. 21 at Rio Vista 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 Calvary Temple 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 Brookside Christian 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 Valley Christian* 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 North HIlls Chr.* 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 Foresthill* 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Bradshaw Chr.* 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9 at Sierra Christian* TBA
* - Sacramento Metro Athletic League
“That was a bitter pill to swallow,” Smith said. “We had a mental letdown that cost us the game. We felt we should have won that game. But during the season we never faced adversity and we never had to play from behind.”
So the solution for 2007? Smith has beefed up the Falcons’ nonleague schedule considerably.
The Falcons open Friday night on the big island of Hawaii at Hilo High, a school Smith says has a student population similar to Vanden. Also on the docket are Point Arena (Sept. 15), Rio Vista (Sept. 21), Calvary Temple (Sept. 28) and Brookside Christian (Oct. 5). The five-game Sacramento Metro Athletic League season follows.
“We’ve upgraded our preseason so we can get ready for the playoffs,” Smith said. “This will be a great challenge for us. We’ll find out a lot about our football team.”
If the Falcons can survive, they could be good - very good. Though they have only five starters back on offense and five on defense, many of the newcomers to the starting lineup have experience.
The most experienced of the bunch is quarterback Ben Ojeda, a rare four-year varsity starter. Ojeda rarely ran the ball in the Falcons’ Double-Wing offense, but he did complete 55 of 91 passes for 1,075 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“Ben really sets the tone,” longtime assistant coach Bruce Pielstick said. “We can do so many more things with him. We ought to be able to throw the ball more under his leadership.”
Vacaville Christian’s top rusher, Noah Word, graduated, and the Falcons will be without his 1,779 yards and 29 touchdowns. Wingbacks Brandon Hood and Daniel Pilcher will carry the load, along with fullback Kwuan Strong. Hood had 657 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, and Pilcher added 360 yards and eight touchdowns. Strong had 624 yards and nine touchdowns.
Junior returner Trevor Moheit had 34 carries for 340 yards and three touchdowns last year, so he also should help in the backfield.
“Any time you lose a player like Noah it is hard,” Smith said. “But it’s been hard to lose all the running backs we’ve had. I think we have a scheme that allows running backs to be successful.”
The Double-Wing offense puts two wingbacks at a 45-degree angle near the line with a fullback behind the quarterback.
That means there usually is one wide receiver and one tight end. The Falcons have returning starters there in wide receiver Michael Mapili and tight end Shane Moore.
Mapili had 17 catches last year for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Moore hauled in five passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns.
Anthony Negrete is a transfer from Freedom High in Oakley, and should see work at receiver as a junior. Taylor Boe is 6-foot-6 and returns as a receiver.
Vacaville Christian has beefed up its offensive lineman. Last year the Falcons had three players at 180 pounds or less up front.
Left tackle is still a sticking point, with junior Aaron Waller (6-4, 237 pounds) and junior Andrew Strah (5-10, 255) fighting for the position. Left guard Matthew Barthelmess (6-1, 234) saw action as a sophomore, center Jeff Valdez (5-10, 305) saw some playing time, right guard Eric Bonn (6-1, 208) started last year and senior Hugh Kidd (6-1, 277) is a newcomer at right tackle.
“Our offensive line is bigger and I think they have the basic concepts down,” Smith said. “We just don’t know what we have until we get in front of someone else.”
The Falcons’ flex defense features some new faces up front. Barthelmess returns at left defensive end. Right defensive end Brian Goodson (6-1, 173) is a senior newcomer. Kidd returns but did not start last year at nose guard. Junior Kelly Russo (6-2, 215) plays defensive tackle.
The Falcons are strong in the middle of the defense. Flex linebacker Moore is back, along with left outside linebacker Pilcher and middle linebacker Strong. Negrete joins the group at right outside linebacker.
Boe returns at free safety. Ojeda will also anchor the left cornerback position on the opposite side of the field from junior right cornerback Kyle Allen.
The defensive line has depth with Waller, Moheit, Eric Bonn and Jeff Valdez vying to push the starters.
Kyle Welch punted last year and he’ll add place-kicking duties to his resume.
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