PREP FOOTBALL 2016: New players and a new league for St. Vincent

The long and proud history of football at St. Vincent de Paul High School begins a challenging new chapter this season when the Mustangs move into the North Central League I for football only.

Abandoned by longtime local rivals who moved into eight-man play last season, veteran coach Gary Galloway and his inexperienced 2016 squad now are given an opportunity to compete with larger schools with solid football programs within the North Coast Section.

A few of the members of the NCL I have been regular pre-season rivals of the Mustangs in early September games, and some have connections with the old North Central League II South. Competition with Cloverdale and St. Helena this season will not be an entirely new experience for St. Vincent footballers. The difference will be that St. Vincent will now draw from the smallest talent pool in the nine-team conference.

Last season, Fort Bragg won the NCL I title with a 7-0 record, and went on to knock off small-school power St. Helena in a Division IV first-round meeting.

“We have 18 players on both varsity and junior varsity rosters this year, and it’s not likely that anybody else will be moved up when the season gets started,” explained Galloway at one of the early St. Vincent practices. The Mustangs got their first taste of outside competition last Friday night when they traveled to El Molino in Forestville for a multi-team scrimmage.

Galloway has been very encouraged with the football talent level of the Mustang ninth-grade class, but he plans to keep them together for what could be a strong junior varsity entry this season directed by second-year coach Art Walker, who also will be acting as the varsity defensive coordinator.

While numbers continue to be an issue, there are some quality performers returning from a Mustangs team that won two of its final four league games last season. All-purpose back and receiver Michael Davis comes back for his senior season after posting 980 all-purpose yards for St. Vincent.

Davis will be counted on to run the ball and occasionally act as a receiver this season from the pro-set attack restructured by Galloway and offensive coordinator Joe Murphy. Davis scored six touchdowns last season, including a 14-yard scoring reception in a 22-6 win over Emery.

Pro-style offensive sets are old hat for Galloway, who used that system for more than 20 years prior to recent seasons of using a more wide-open spread offense.

Extended time between each play also gives first year quarterback Will Davis an opportunity to better utilize plays sent into the game from the sideline while he is maturing at his new position.

Will Davis has solid potential after playing the full season in 2015 as the only freshman on the squad. “He thinks like a football player,” explained Galloway. “Football comes first to him, and that will be important in his development.”

Never one to avoid contact, Will Davis also is used as a linebacker on defense, where he made 35 stops last season.

Defensively, the Mustangs again will count on versatile Nick Murphy to plug in every spot where needed. Last year, he combined with Michael Davis for 118 tackles, and they both earned second-team all-league honors. Murphy can act as a down lineman or occasionally double as a backer. There won’t be too many plays when the two veteran seniors come off the field.

Murphy, at 6-3 and 210 pounds, has been used as a lineman and tight end on the offensive side of the football. He averaged 5.4 yards on 10 pass receptions last season.

Two-way performer Eric Riley will be counted on as a wide receiver and an outside defensive back. Riley, who picked off a pass in the defensive backfield against El Molino in the Friday scrimmage, made 22 tackles last season.

Walker worked with co-captain Riley and others on defensive angles against changing looks on offense at the scrimmage on Friday.

“Murphy and the rest of our linebackers played well as a unit,” noted Walker. “Aside from Murphy and Will Davis, there is very little experience there, but they did a good job. Brian Giron and Marcus Mathias played well on Friday.”

Juniors Giron and AJ Wright also are set for much more playing time after limited service in 2015 in their first season of varsity football. Jimmy Lamberdin (170 pounds), listed as a lineman on offense and defense last season, figures to get regular playing time when the bell rings.

The four-way scrimmage on Friday against El Molino, Ft. Bragg and Cloverdale was difficult to assess because there was no kicking game and some key performers were absent. Ryan Silva (215 pounds) should be ready to play for the Mustangs in early October and Tony Garcia-Bedoya is scheduled to return after the required 10 days of practice. Garcia-Bedoya showed promise last season with a 102-yard rushing performance against Emery, and alternated as a punt returner.

St. Vincent opens the season Saturday by hosting Elsie Allen of Santa Rosa in a non-league game at 2 p.m. Eight conference games follow in succession prior to a long regular-season-ending trip to Portola.

“If we experience success this season, it will be strictly a team effort,” said a hopeful Galloway. “There are a lot of kids with very little varsity experience.”

The realistic coach has always expressed interest in the stable North Central League I to develop long-term rivalries in the same geographic area.

A credible defensive effort against El Molino and Cloverdale in the scrimmage gives hope that the Mustangs and their loyal fans can lean in that direction in 2016.