Sobrato's Tim Cavanaugh runs the ball during an offensive drill at practice at Sobrato High School this week. The Bulldogs opened fall camp with 29 varsity players.
Sobrato's Steven Sorce took snaps with the first-team offense this week. Erick Levell, who started at quarterback last year, is still recovering from offseason knee surgery.
Sobrato quarterback Steve Sorce hands off to Tim Cavanaugh.
The question now is, who's going to step up at running back?
Sobrato's quarterback situation took a backseat this week when the Bulldogs opened fall camp without heralded senior Tony Zizzo, the team's leading rusher in 2007. According to Sobrato coaching staff, Zizzo left the program last weekend - transferring to a school that was undisclosed by sources close to the player.
Zizzo earned first-team all-Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division honors last year after amassing 932 yards rushing, 133 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. He declined to comment.
Although tough to ignore, Zizzo's absence took little energy away from two-a-day practices this week at sun-baked Sobrato High School.
"We're moving on - that's all you can do," first-year Bulldogs coach Nick Borello said. "It wasn't the best news to hear right before the start of full-contact practices, but what can you do?"
And the beating goes on.
While Steven Sorce took snaps with the first-team offense and the injured Erick Levell - last year's starting quarterback - looked on, Sobrato's new fly offense switched to a running-back-by-committee approach, with Tim Cavanaugh at the helm.
"We want Tim to make himself the guy," Borello said. "But we also expect big things out of our other backs."
Cavanaugh, a 5-foot-10 170-pound senior, averaged 4.23 yards a carry in 2007 despite limited playing time. He'll step in for Zizzo in the two-back set, trading carries with Mike O'Connell and wideout/sweeper Ralph Jackson.
"I'm excited just to play," Cavanaugh said. "It's great to be back in pads. We're looking better out here, but we still have a lot to work on. The offense, we're picking it up."
The Bulldogs ran the ball with authority against their starting defense and were much more crisp on the pass. Sorce had ample time to throw.
"I'd say we're right where we expected to be in mid-summer," Borello said. "And that's a good thing. Our offense is not quite perfect, but it's getting there.
"The kids were pumped to be out here and hitting again. The offense isn't theoretical to them anymore. They can see it working."
Borello wasn't ready to name his starting quarterback yet but has plenty of time to think it over. Levell is nursing a surgically repaired anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee and expects to miss the first two weeks of the season - including the Sept. 5 El Toro Bowl against rival Live Oak.
"I don't even want to think about playing until I'm back at 100 percent," said Levell, a second-team all-league junior in 2007. "I'm fine with Steve starting. If he's healthy and the guy that's going to put us in the best position to win games, he's the right one to start."
Sorce looked sharp in the pocket opening day, especially when throwing short slants. He hooked up with wideout Alex Meldrum on a 20-yard fade and later found Cavanaugh on a hot route over the middle while O'Connell picked up a blitzing linebacker.
"Nice pick-up, way to read!" Borello said.
Judging from jersey counts, Sobrato will need each of its players to give their best in camp. The Bulldogs dressed 29 varsity players this week.
"It's an elite group," assistant coach Art Testani said. "It's not that many, yea, but when you have 29 guys who are always wanting to participate, how can you complain? We've sold them on being the best and knowing they're not far from starting at any time."
That attitude has paid off surprisingly well for Sobrato's conditioning.
"It wasn't as hard as I thought it would, getting out here in pads under the sun," Sorce said. "We're just focused on chemistry right now. We don't have a huge team, so we need the leaders to step up and set examples. The loss of Zizzo hurt, but we have to move on as a team."
The defense felt the same way. Zizzo played an integral part in the offense and was just as instrumental on the other side of the ball at middle linebacker. His absence leaves more on the shoulders of three-year starter Nick Hagiperos and potential starting linebackers Ali Aryanpour and Justin Evans, who recently transferred from Del Mar.
"We need our defense to stop their offense," Cavanaugh said, referring to Live Oak. "We're going to miss having Tony out there. I was surprised he left. I just hope he made the right decision. I wish him the best of luck."
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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