SHS ballcarriers have fit in well with Rick Dukes’ wing T
MORGAN HILL — When Rick Dukes was calling plays for San Benito in the early aughts, the Haybalers’ offense trampled opponents using one of the most archaic and versatile formations in football.
If the Haybalers had a veteran front five and could produce a physical quarterback-fullback tandem by fall, they were going to win games.
Hence, Dukes saw a match made in heaven when he brought the wing T to Sobrato this offseason. The Bulldogs had all the right tools — and more, starting with four returning offensive linemen and a 6-foot-1, 190-pound quarterback who likes wearing No. 30.
Track-star Ralph Jackson’s move to fullback was icing on the cake, as Dukes alluded to while recalling his days at San Benito.
“We were physical up front, and we had great athletes in the backfield,” the Bulldogs’ first-year offensive coordinator said. “Our fullback carried the ball most. We’d have 1,000-yard rushers at fullback every season. When you have that kind of talent there, you can get by with some weaker backs.
“Here, that’s not the case. We have good running backs everywhere.”
West Valley Division teams had a grand time getting to know them this fall. The Bulldogs’ four-pronged backfield includes the speedy workhorse, Jackson, who is inching toward 1,000 rushing yards; sophomore halfback Obi Mbonu, a one-man highlight reel; senior wingback Marcus Patrick, who also plays inside linebacker; and senior halfback Drew Johnson, a 5-foot-5 greaseman.
“They’ve all been a real big part of this team,” the Bulldogs’ dual-threat senior QB Patrick Bacciarelli said before Wednesday night’s practice at Britton Middle School. “We love running the ball, and we’re all pretty good at it. I like keeping it, but I’m fine handing off, too.”
Through the wing T, each running back has been a force to be recknoned with like the Bulldogs (8-2 overall), who will play their second postseason game at 7 p.m. today against Wilcox in Santa Clara.
“It’s all about speed,” Johnson said. “The wing T requires being fast at every position. Coach Dukes knows what he’s doing. It’s working great for us.”
In short, the Bulldogs have run the wing T like they grew up in the Midwest.
“There’s a lot of guys that can play on this offense, and every one of them can get the ball, or should get the ball,” Sobrato coach Nick Borello said.
Bacciarelli’s versatility, Patrick’s good hands and the pulling ability of guards Ray Guerrero and Mandeep Bains have allowed Dukes to incorporate potent play-action passes and option runs with Mbonu. Those were deadly in Sobrato’s Week 3 win over rival Live Oak, 27-6, which set the tone for the Bulldogs’ season. Bacciarelli threw for his usual 100-plus yards in that game, including three long fade passes to 6-foot wideout Chris Bradley, a three-sport standout.
“Our run establishes everything else. When we run the ball well, we can do other things, too,” said Jackson, a senior.
“You throw in some receivers like the ones we have … that makes it rough, too,” Dukes said. “Because if they want to come up and attack the run, they have to single up on a guy like Chris Badley — good luck. And if you want to double (Bradley), now you’re trying to stop our run with nine guys.”
Again, good luck.
Running the ball has been a catalyst in each of the Bulldogs’ wins this year, but Sobrato also looked good in its one league loss, 21-14, to West Valley champion Mount Pleasant. The Bulldogs had the edge in rushing yards during the run-first showdown but lost traction in the second half.
Sobrato still earned a No. 7 seed in the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs, winning its remaining four games by an aggregate score of 178-14.
That margin is as much a credit to Sobrato’s tenacious defense, to which the running backs also contribute.
“We’ve been important, but everyone has done their part this year,” Mbonu said.
The Bulldogs need to continue that trend to have any shot of beating No. 2 Wilcox (6-3-1), the No. 12th-ranked team in the county according to the San Jose Mercury News. The Chargers boast arguably the best defense Sobrato has faced.
“I think it’s going to be an extremely good matchup: our offense versus their defense,” said Borello, now in his second year as head coach. “There are lots of mismatches between their offense and our defense, so we need to have a good scheme and execute well.”
Having been great all season, the Bulldogs’ backfield will have to play at a different level today.
“They’ve had a great season,” Dukes said. “If we can score some points, that’ll be the most impressive part.”
