BOBCATS SHARPEN THEIR CLAWS
‘The line is going to be key,’ says coach
Heading into the past season, McCurdy football coach Ron Gallegos was quite convinced his Bobcats would make their presence felt in their first season moving up into Class 3A.
He was right on the money as McCurdy not only reached the state playoffs, but also made it to the quarterfinals.
Now, Gallegos is looking for the Bobcats to take it a bit farther.
“To make it that far in the first year is an accomplishment in itself,” he said. “Now we’re trying to make it one step better.”
The Bobcats return virtually intact, although the team is working out a new quarterback in junior Ernesto Martinez.
“He was the backup last year, but he has experience,” Gallegos said. “He’s going to need it.”
On the bright side for Martinez, he’s got the luxury of a big line in front of him that should give him plenty of time to look for downfield receivers like junior Gabe Huerta and senior Raul Arroyo.
“If it all stays together the way we have it, the line is going to be key,” Gallegos said. “We’re going to have some beef on the line.”
The middle of the line boasts three players well north of 200 pounds in sophomore center Luis Griego (5 feet, 11inches, 330 pounds), four-year senior starter Ace Gabrentina (5-8, 230) and junior Vince Martinez (6-0, 260).
“That middle line is going to be key to open up some holes and give the quarterback some time to open up some passes,” Gallegos said.
Adding to the blocking furor will be converted center junior Brandon Lovato (5-8, 175), who is stepping into the role as fullback.
“He knows how to open up holes and how to block,” the coach said.
The new role is exciting, Lovato said.
“I’m just helping out my team in any way I can,” he said. “Rushing or blocking, anything I can do in the backfield to help out my team.”
Making the move into the backfield wasn’t that big of a deal considering the way the line is looking, Lovato said.
“Our line is looking really good,” he said. “We have a lot of new, big, key players coming out this year.” It also helps the team coming off the success of the past season, Lovato said.
“It boosted our confidence for this year that we could play up there with the big boys of 3A,” he said. “We believed that we could make it up there, moving up a class.” Lovato will team with junior halfback Joby Atencio (5-9, 160) in the backfield in what could be an explosive combination, Gallegos said. On the other side of the ball, with the big lineman and junior Jacob Martinez getting time at both defensive end, where he was all district, and outside linebacker, the team should be equally strong.
“He’s a standout outside linebacker,” Gallegos said.
The team’s kicking game also is strong as Griego has the leg strength to pin opponents deep on kickoffs. “We’re looking okay,” Gallegos said. “We’re going to hold our own. It took them a while to get into it this summer, but they’re back on it. We’ll continue getting better until we start playing.”