First year of varsity football begins for Cougars
GILROY — They have been waiting a year. Now the Christopher High Cougars are ready to pounce.
Their prey; the six other teams in the Monterey Bay League. Whether or not the attacks will be triumphant remains to be seen, but the groundwork for the method in which they will be executed has already been laid.
“I think they felt like they had some success last year,” head coach Tim Pierleoni said.”Maybe they are a little naive right now, but you are talking about kids who are really confident. They are really good kids that don’t quit.”
With just 24 varsity players on the roster, there is no room for quitting.
A foundation structured under the watchful and experienced eye of Pierleoni, the Christopher High football team has quickly grown from a bunch of junior varsity players, padded up for their first action as a team a year ago, to a quietly confident unit, gnawing at the bit to take on varsity-level opponents.
“We are ready to go,” junior defensive lineman Brad Sigl said. “We are kind of fired up in the aspect that we are going to be the underdogs and everyone thinks that this is an easy win on the schedules. We are fired up to prove everyone wrong.”
The pieces are in place at the skill positions; an upside for a young program that didn’t have to worry about losing any starters to graduation.
Jorge Ramos, a predominantly downhill runner that has the ability to cut it outside for a big gainer, will carry the brunt of the load at running back. Giving starting quarterback Brandon Pickens two reliable resources flanked wide are Marcus Harrell and Bryant Cid.
Harrell, who may see time lined up in the backfield as well as under center in a wildcat formation, is a true deep, down field threat, while Cid, who may also throw a pass or two, is a solid possession receiver.
“As a team we are just trying to take one game at a time,” Harrell said. “Overall the goal is to make the playoffs. We have the talent to be a little more discipline.
“Every practice (coach Pierleoni) as been preparing us to be mentally prepared for the games. He tells us this isn’t JV anymore.”
An area of discussion through the summer and into fall practice has been the offensive line and finding the right group to lead the way.
“Offensive line wise, we are extremely young and inexperienced and that’s a really important part of your team,” Pierleoni said. “We are trying to get some continuity on the line right now. I would say its are most challenging thing right now. It’s going to have to be there Friday night.”
Even with all the positives on the offensive side of the ball, the players are raving about their defense.
“We just have to get after it,” junior outside linebacker Travis Franco said. “We all have heart that’s for sure.”
Like a strong pitching rotation helps a club win a few more games, the Cougars defense could be the crutch at times that keeps the team on the winning side of the standings.
“I think we are semifast on defense and we run a scheme that not too many people are familiar with, which helps,” Pierleoni said. “It’s the old saying, you are going to win ball games on the defensive side. For a young team, we are going to have to hold our own on defense.”
Christopher hosts Sobrato to open the regular season Friday.
“I think everybody is going to be a little nervous, but I think we are going to show up and play right,” defensive end Dillon Babb said, who was excited to add, “get your popcorn ready,” paying ohmage to Terrell Owens.
