Narbonne motivated to improve
Gauchos finished with 2 wins, hope to build on that
It wasn't the regular season that anyone associated with the Narbonne football program wanted.
In the Gauchos' first full season under coach Malcolm Manuel, they lost their first game, their second, their third and eventually the losing streak reached eight consecutive.
The postseason offered a bit of reprieve as the Gauchos received the fourth seed in the L.A. City Section Division III playoffs and advanced to the semifinals. Their two wins in the playoffs were the only wins of the season for the Gauchos.
“For the guys that were here, getting that experience in the playoffs I think is going to help us a lot,” Manuel said. “It's also made guys come in with a chip on their shoulder.”
“The guys don't want to play in the DIII (playoffs) again. A lot of them appreciated the experience and be- ing able to play and get some wins (in the playoffs) and I think it turned the tide and helped us out.”
The Narbonne story is one where you have to look to the past before moving on to the present and future.
For many years, the Gauchos were the showcase team in the City Section, winning titles and sending players on to college under then-coach Manny Douglas. Then came an LAUSD investigation, which found academic misconduct at the school, and in 2019 the football team was hit with a two-year ban from the playoffs and the 2018 Open Division title was vacated.
Manuel was hired to replace Douglas in July 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic Narbonne played only one game that season. After last season, Manuel said he believes things are heading in the right direction.
“We have a lot more stability around the program, as far as our administration goes,” he said. “Our coaching staff is growing, our numbers are growing. To me, this offseason in general has been a big win for us. It's helped us a lot and helped me get more comfortable.”
Last season was the Gauchos' first step on the road back.
“I think it (last season's playoff run) was very important in the sense of keeping the guys here,” Manuel said. “Those guys, being able to see what it feels to win and now they want more. I feel like if we didn't make that run, it would have been skeptical as to how guys are returning because not a lot of people want to play on teams that don't win.”
This year's group, Manuel said, has a good foundation.
“We're good in the box on both sides of the ball,” he said. “On defense, our linebackers (Mark Iheanachor, Elvan Epenesa, Victor Carbajal, Jason Roberts) are all good. They're all pretty good size, they play well together and flow well together.”
Manuel said he is expecting a big season from senior quarterback Ryan Corley.
“He's had a really good offseason,” Manuel said. “His leadership and the way he's been able to develop, I think he's going to have a really good year and I'm excited for him.”
Narbonne's nonleague schedule will pose a challenge early. The Gauchos open Aug. 19 at home against Torrance, followed by road games at Paramount, South Torrance and Hawkins. They will conclude the nonleague portion of their schedule with home games against El Camino Real and Dominguez.
Once the schedule rolls into Marine League play, the Gauchos will face another test. Under Douglas, the Gauchos seldom, if ever, lost to a league opponent on the field. When they had to forfeit games from the 2018 and 2019 season, those games were turned to losses.
Last season, Narbonne went 0-4 in the Marine League, scoring just 19 points in those games.
“They're excited to play the teams that we did play last year because it's a revenge factor for them,” Manuel
said. “They want to prove that they belong, they want to prove that they can play with any team in the area.
“As a coach, you like to say, next game, next play and move on, but it's always in the back of your mind. For me, it's been something that's got me up in the morning, got me to school . ... We have to be good enough to beat this team and that team. With us losing and seeing how they acted, it was a celebration for a lot of teams. I'm excited to watch this group play. Since I've been here, this has been the most consistent group and a lot more serious.”