Junior fullback among nine all-Santa Teresa honorees from Sobrato
With Jerry Jacob running the ball and throwing to Steven Villarreal, and Obi Mbonu and Drew Glines rushing for almost 2,000 yards collectively behind a sturdy front five, Sobrato’s offense was tough to stop this year in Santa Teresa Division play.
Just ask the coaches.
Last week, they named Villarreal, Mbonu and Glines to the first-team all-league list as well as tackle Gustavo Ramirez and guard Skyler King.
A year after earning Sophomore of the Year honors for the West Valley Division, Mbonu won Sophomore of the Year after rushing for more than 1,200 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns. The powerful 5-foot-8, 195-pound fullback almost doubled the team’s previous single-season rushing record set by Ralph Jackson a year ago.
“For his talent, he fit right where we expected him,” said third-year Bulldogs coach Nick Borello, whose team finished 6-4 overall and 4-3 in league. “He did the kind of things … we thought he’d do — that’s a great season.
“Our offense ran the ball extremely well. That’s why we had so many all-league awards.”
Glines challenged Jackson’s record as well. The sophomore eclipsed 600 rushing yards at the tailback position in Sobrato’s wing-T offense.
Talent fed off talent, as the Bulldogs’ offensive line produced four all-league honorees. Junior guards Connor Porzio and Jacob Sanchez were named to the second team, joining their dual-threat quarterback, Jacob.
“The O-line did some good things,” Borello said. “At the same time, there’s still a lot of improvement to be made. Our pass protection is something we want to work on for next year.”
Defensive tackle Simon Schmidt and safety Conor Havstad also made second-team for Sobrato, which placed fourth in league behind three-way champions Independence, Willow Glen and Lincoln and ahead of Westmont.
Schmidt and Ramirez are the team’s only two all-league honorees who will graduate this summer. The Bulldogs are on pace to return 26 varsity veterans for 2011.
“If the team doesn’t miraculously fall apart this offseason, we should be pretty good next year,” Borello said. “It all depends on how hard the guys work this offseason.”
