A whole new ball game for Petaluma’s Trojans

<p>The typical advance report on a football team on any level requires a look at last season's record, an analysis of how many players are returning from that team, speculation about talented new players and a review of the coach, his history and tendencies. </p><p>But this is far from a typical year for the Petaluma High football team.</p><p>Write in NA (not applicable) to all of the above criteria, and that pretty well sums up the 2010 Trojans. </p><p>Last season's record was definitely impressive — 12-1, the Sonoma County League championship and 12 straight wins. The Trojans ran through their regular season undefeated, and never experienced a loss until the North Coast Section semifinals, when they collided with an extraordinarily talented Eureka team that went on to claim the NCS Division II championship. </p><p>However, those remarkable accomplishments do not apply to this year's team because the Trojans return not one (as in zero) full-time starters from a year ago. </p><p>Even the coach is new. Steve Ellison, who guided the Petaluma football program for 33 years, retired at the end of last season. He has been replaced by Rick Krist. </p><p>Krist is no stranger to Petaluma High or Trojan football. He is head of the physical education department at the school and served as an assistant under Ellison for 17 years.</p><p>While there is little experience on his first Petaluma team, there is no lack of bodies or enthusiasm. The Trojans have 47 players on the varsity, and a big turnout for the junior varsity and freshmen teams as well. Most worked hard during the off season both conditioning and in passing leagues. </p><p>“We're not trying to compare ourselves to last year's team,” Krist said. “These guys really want to prove to themselves that they can compete on their own.</p><p>“In many ways it is a typical Petaluma High team. They are going to fight hard right to the whistle. They are going to play with a lot of heart. I have a feeling they will be in every game.”</p><p>One advantage for the Trojans in a season where there is so much turnover is that the players pushing up to the varsity are very familiar with the Petaluma system on both offense and defense.</p><p>Rather than break up into varsity and junior varsity groups during pre-season practice, everyone works together, learning the Trojan offense, defense and way of doing things.</p><p>That has not changed under Krist, who continues that practice procedure, as well as retaining the basic Petaluma system, including the triple-option offense that was the Trojans' trademark under Ellison.</p><p>“We haven't changed anything,” Krist said. “Spencer (new quarterback Spencer Neve) has a good arm, but in no way can we live and die with the pass. We want to run the triple option, just like we always have, but we also want to be balanced between the pass and the run.”</p><p>Although Petaluma has a large contingent of players, the core of the team will be composed of players who will have to play both ways, meaning that the Trojans will have to be in good physical shape. </p><p>“Our off-season conditioning helped us a lot,” Krist said. “We are going to have to keep conditioning all year. We want the guys to be able to play the whole game.”</p><p>With last year's entire offensive line graduated, Petaluma's 2010 offensive front will be anchored by center James Hall. Jack Perez and Brandon Hagerla are in line to start at guards, with Ezana Kemmer, Shaughnacey Maley and Luis Gonzalez sharing time at tackles. </p><p>Two of the school's top athletes, Anthony Sequiera and Roman Jennings, will be the tight ends, although Jennings has a leg injury and may not be available early in the season.</p><p>Petaluma has several quality wide receivers, although Adam Nizibian, Tyler Tuck and Chase Levo, a transfer from Novato, are likely to see the majority of the playing time at the outset. </p><p>Neve, who backed up Mike Russell last season, will be the starting quarterback, and will be asked to do much for the Trojans.</p><p>A catcher on the baseball team, he has a strong enough arm to provide a solid passing attack, but his biggest responsibility will be to administer the Trojans' timing-sensitive triple option, including carrying the ball himself if that is what the defense dictates. </p><p>Stephen McElroy, who started at times last season when Petaluma used a two-back set, is expected to be the primary running weapon this season, although Krist has also been impressed with Casey Rodd, who played mostly on defense last year.</p><p>There is a strong competition at fullback between varsity veterans Patrick Hodges and James Molinari and Damien Silver, coming up from the junior varsity. Hodges and Molinari both saw playing time with the varsity last season, while Silver has looked good in practice, according to the coach.</p><p>The defense will feature many of the same players.</p><p>Maley will anchor things at nose guard, with Sequiera, Jennings and Hall working at end on the front line. All have size, strength and athletic ability.</p><p>The inside linebackers will be Perez, Hodges and Kemmer, with Levo, Rodd and Neve playing on the outside. </p><p>The starting corners appear to be Tuck and McElroy, with Nizibian at safety.</p><p>A strong point for the Trojans will be the kickers. Willie Wagner and Patrick Rabbitt form their own group. Both are outstanding soccer players, Wagner for a club team and Rabbitt for the Petaluma High varsity. Wagner will handle the place kicking, while Rabbitt will do the punting. </p><p>Krist and his coaching staff are waiting for others to step up to provide needed depth, and expect to find some who can help as the season progresses. But for now, “We have a lot of guys who are going to play two ways and they have to be in good shape,” the coach said. </p><p>After viewing films, Krist and his staff have a better idea of what to expect from Santa Rosa in the Trojans' opening game Friday, Sept. 3. Plus, he knows new Santa Rosa coach Les Richardson from his stint as defensive coordinator at Rancho Cotate.</p><p>“He always put together some pretty strong defensive packages,” said Krist. “He will give us several looks on offense.”</p><p>“On offense he will use I backs and run the veer. He has two pretty good quarterbacks. One throws well, and the other runs well. We know Santa Rosa will be a good, well-coached team.</p><p>Last season, the Panthers were 2-8, but, they, like the Trojans, know it is a new season and right now both teams are 0-0.</p>