One of three Santa Teresa Division teams with first-year
coaches, Branham has reason to anticipate a turnaround in 2011
under Nick Gardiner
Branham Bruins
2010 record: 1-9 overall, 1-6 league (tied for seventh)
One of three Santa Teresa Division teams with first-year coaches, Branham has reason to anticipate a turnaround in 2011 under Nick Gardiner.
The Bruins return Darnell Sankey, an athletic tight end/linebacker who made first-team all-league as a junior, and junior running back/defensive back Darren Brown, a second-team all-league honoree in 2010.
Gunderson Grizzlies
2010 record: 4-6 overall, 2-5 league (sixth)
Nick Melchor (running back/outside linebacker) earned the Grizzlies’ captaincy in 2010 as a sophomore and was named the league’s most outstanding player for his class.
He will lead first-year coach Steve Papin’s squad alongside fellow returning all-league honorees Cody Kielty, a senior fullback/outside linebacker; and juniors Francisco Rodriguez (quarterback/safety) and Aaron Catacutan (wingback/outside linebacker).
Hill Falcons
2010 record: 0-10 overall, 0-7 Mount Hamilton Division (eighth)
The Falcons hope to challenge for a second Santa Teresa Division title in three years behind four returning starters on offense and defense.
Senior running back/wideout Cedric Graves leads the charge for coach Jake Redmond’s team after earning second-team all-Mount Hamilton Division acclaim in 2010.
Leigh Longhorns
2010 record: 1-8 overall, 1-6 Mount Hamilton Division (seventh)
First-year coach Kyle Padia takes over a Longhorns team that was outmatched in the Blossom Valley Athletic League A division a year ago but managed to produce second-team all-league honorees in Jammar Lee (offensive line/defensive line) and Gabe Davis (quarterback), who are both back for 2011.
Leigh also features junior running back/cornerback Lavon Donald and sophomore offensive/defensive lineman Charlie Nelson.
Lincoln Lions
2010 record: 7-3 overall, 6-1 league (tied for first)
Lincoln graduated all but two starters on offense and five on defense from its 2010 squad that shared the Santa Teresa Division title with Independence and Willow Glen — both now in the Mount Hamilton Division.
Coached by Kevin Collins, the Lions return a pair of second-team all-league outside linebackers in Justin Grant and Raymond Prado, who will double at running back and wide receiver, respectively.
Senior fullback/defensive tackle Leo Torres is primed for a big season.
Mount Pleasant Cardinals
2010 record: 8-4 overall, 6-1 West Valley Division (tied for first), reached CCS Division II first round
Coming off back-to-back West Valley Division titles, coach Frank Lopez Jr.’s Cardinals are led by 2010 first-team all-leaguers Thai Truong (running back/defensive back), Drake Oyao (wide receiver/defensive back), Sam Anzaluda (fullback/inside linebacker) and Omar Gonzalez (running back/inside linebacker).
Cory Lucchesi (tight end/outside linebacker) should also have a big season for Mount Pleasant, which returns four starters on offense and five on defense.
Westmont Warriors
2010 record: 5-5 overall, 3-4 league (fifth)
The Warriors feature a talented offensive backfield led by senior running back Ian Harvel, who made second-team all-league in 2010 with 542 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns and 396 receiving yards and four scores.
Coached by Eric Buran, Westmont also returns its leading tackler from 2010 in senior Trevor Ross (running back/linebacker).
