PREP FOOTBALL 2016: Young Trojans ready for a challenging season

A large number of Petaluma High School football players will be exploring the world of varsity football for the first time this fall.|

A large number of Petaluma High School football players will be exploring the world of varsity football for the first time this fall, and it will be a challenge.

The good news: “We’re excited for the challenge,” says head coach Rick Krist.

Petaluma lost 21 starters from last season’s exciting 8-4 team, and a good many of those graduated seniors will be replaced by players from a talented junior class. They are players who will be tested early as Petaluma opens the season Friday night at Windsor against a muscular Jaguar team that was 7-5 last season, and follows up with pre-Sonoma County League games against Rodriguez from Fairfield and Kennedy from Fremont.

As if that isn’t tough enough, the Trojans start SCL play against defending league champion Analy.

“There will be bumps in the road,” Krist acknowledges. “When those bumps come along, we have to be prepared to use them as learning tools.”

The coach says the Trojans already have shown that they will be quick learners. “They’re willing,” he says of his players. “The kids are really working hard. We’ve already gotten immensely better.”

Petaluma will again be basically a triple-option team with a few wrinkles tossed into the mix. That offense was devastating last season, largely because the Trojans had two 1,000-plus- yard rushers in quarterback Brendan White and fullback Lucas Dentoni, and they could have had a third had halfback Luke Wheless not missed three games with an injury.

To replace that much talent won’t be easy, but there are several quality athletes working to have their turn in the limelight.

Key to Petaluma’s option offense is always the quarterback, who not only must make instant “reads” of opposition defense, but is also expected to do much of the ball carrying himself.

As the season opener approaches, there are three athletes competing for the job. Justin Wolbert, Marcanthony Velazquez and Bradley Smith have all shown improvement over the course of pre-season practice. “They all bring something different,” Krist says. “I wish we could combine their sills into one.”

Smith missed all of last season recovering from a serious ATV accident and is striving to gain the experience needed at the difficult position. Krist says the big junior will be involved even if he doesn’t play quarterback.

“He could be at middle linebacker or some other position. He has to be on the field,” says Krist.

The running backs are built along the lines of smallish speedster Wheless, who gained 797 yards in 11 games for the Trojans last year. Sharing ball carrying time will be Justin Turner and Dominic Christobal. “They’re not big, but they are quick and they’re working hard,” says Krist. Junior Erick Diaz also is in line for running back playing time.

One of the few Trojan varsity veterans, Conner Richardson, is expected to get his share of carries, along with blocking assignments as a fullback replacement for Dentoni, the Trojans’ leading ground gainer last season with 1,456 yards. In a reserve roll behind Wheless and Dentoni last year, Richardson gained 208 yards and scored two touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

He is one of three players who likely will share fullback duties, with Jacob Rollistin and Dominic Ayers also expected to help at that position.

In reality, all the backs will be mixed and matched at halfback and fullback depending on formation and circumstance.

Petaluma has the makings of a good offensive line, led by Luke Haggard and Justen Santa. Both have good size. Haggard is 6-5, 220 pounds, while Santa is 6-2, 250 pounds, and both are very strong. Santa was the ?SCL discus champion last spring. “They are our anchors,” says Krist.

Other key linemen will be Nick Dooley, Jacob Cybuiski, sophomore Nick Siembieda and Daniel DeCarli.

The group has some big shoes to fill with five of last season’s offensive linemen receiving some sort of all-league notice.

Make that six when you count graduated tight end Robert Krist. Leading candidates to fill that spot are Robert Miller and Colin Stremlau. Krist says both are potentially outstanding players, but are still learning the position.

Petaluma is an acknowledged running team, but the Trojans also have the potential for a big-play passing game with several good athletes at wide receiver.

Outstanding basketball player Jimmy Flynn and baseball standout Kempton Brandis are both good athletes with speed. Krist says Justin Solorzano is the team’s best blocking wide receiver and Isiah Blomgren, in addition to being a kicker, is also a solid athlete with good receiving hands.

Once again, Petaluma will use its offense as a defensive weapon, relying on ball control to keep opposing offensive teams off the field. “Ball security will be important for us,” the coach says.

Not surprising, many of the key Trojans will play on both sides of the ball, and Krist and defensive coordinator John Crudo will alternate players, giving starters a rest whenever possible.

The strength of the Petaluma defense could well be defensive end, where two of its best players, Santa and Haggard, will be stationed. Santa led the team with 7.5 sacks last season.

There is a wide-open competition for the tackle spots with Dooley, Nick Siembieda, Xaiver Crysdale and True Overton all involved. “We’ll be trying a lot of guys,” Krist notes.

Varsity veterans Eric Coats and Rollistin are the likely starters at inside linebacker. Krist has been impressed with the 200-pound Coats. “He is much improved,” the coach says.

Mitchell Baker, Ayers, the 6-4, 285-pound Jack Crane and Miller will be the main players at outside linebacker.

Christobel and Flynn at the corners with Solorzano at free safety will be keys in the defensive backfield, with Richardson, Rollistin and Ayers all getting playing time.

Blomgren gives the Trojans a veteran kicker. He hit six of 10 field-goal attempts last season and scored 25 points with his leg. Santa averaged 30 yards a punt last year.

“I’m really satisfied with the way things have been going,” says Krist. “The key for us is to get better each week.”

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