Area’s finest looking to make an impact
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series of the top Lodi area prep football players returning this season from Lodi, Tokay, Galt and Liberty Ranch. The second part will run next week.
On July 31, the wait is over. That is when the four Lodi area high school football teams and the rest of the high schools in the Sac-Joaquin Section will begin conditioning week. But preparation for the upcoming season started in January with weight training and conditioning.
Carried into late spring and the summer months is more weight training and conditioning, plus taking part in noncontact and non-padded football camps and 7-on-7 games and one day tournaments. All of those workouts, plus the time spent together on and off the field such helping out in the community, are looking to pay off this season.
The News-Sentinel sports staff is looking at the top area prep players returning to the gridiron this season. All of the local programs’ head coaches — Lodi’s Robert Sperling, Tokay’s Michael Holst, Galt’s Jermaine Allen and Liberty Ranch’s Anthony Linebaugh — submitted their lists of their top returning players. This is combined with the players’ statistics listed on MaxPreps’ Website and submitted by coaches, and how much they contributed for all, most or parts of the 2016 season.
All together, there are 17 players on the list that includes the top 10 players and seven honorable mentions. Here is Nos. 6-10, all seniors unless noted.
No. 10 — Andrew Bustamante, G/MLB, Galt
Bustamante helped the Warriors to a 5-5 overall record and 2-3 in the Sierra Valley Conference.
On offense, Bustamante helped create holes for recent graduate Zach Orman, who is the new all-time leading rusher for Galt High. Standing at 5foot-8 and 195-pounds, Bustamante is also listed on the Warriors’ roster as a quarterback. Last season, he played the signal-caller spot at times.
Bustamante was an all-SVC first team selection with good reason; from his middle linebacker spot he had 73 tackles, second most on the squad.
No. 9 — Tyler Wooldridge, OL/DL, Lodi
The 6-foot-1 and 260-pound Wooldridge is a three-year starter for the Flames. Last fall, he helped create running holes for recent graduate and running back Cole Carouba, who rushed for 1,263 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. One of the few bright spots for the Flames, who went 2-8 overall that included a 1-4 mark in the Tri-City Athletic League.
No. 8 — Thomas Thornburg, QB/FB/LB, Liberty Ranch
One of two Hawks in the News-Sentinel’s top 10 list, Thornburg was a big contributor for Liberty Ranch, which won a share of the SVC title with El Dorado and Cordova last fall at 4-1 each and finished with an 8-3 mark.
On offense, Thornburg, who will be one of the Hawks’ team captains this season, is capable of playing nine spots on the varsity level, according to Linebaugh. Thornburg is considered a “mart, fundamentally sound, strong” player returning for the Hawks, who lost 23 players to graduation.
No. 7 — Joseph Heryford, WR/DB, Tokay
Toward the end of last season, Heryford came on strong on for Tokay, which finished with a 2-3 record in the TCAL and 4-6 overall.
“Solid player on both sides of the ball,” said Tokay coach Michael Holst. “He has underrated speed, and is athletic
with the ball in his hands.”
As a wide receiver last fall, the 5’8 and 140pound Heryford had 11 receptions for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns. At his defensive back spot, he had 11 tackles. He’s been huge for the Tigers in 7-on-7 games from the defensive standpoint this summer.
“Competes for balls in the air,” said Holst of Heryford, who was the Tigers’ designated hitter on the school’s baseball team last spring. No. 6 — James McClain, OL/DL, Tokay McClain, according to Holst, can play all five spots on the offensive line of center, one of the two guard and tackle spots. “James does it all,” said Holst. On defense, McClain, at 5’11 and 270, can play nose guard. Last season, he had 20 tackles. He can also long snap for point after touchdowns/field goals and punts.
“He is an intelligent player, and when you combine that with his improved strength, size and physical demeanor, he’s going to be a stud up front for us,” Holst said.
McClain, like Heryford, is also a two-sport athlete. Last winter, McClain competed in the heavyweight division, and helped Tokay win the Tri-City Athletic League title. On the honorable mention list are: Lodi • Ezequiel Arias, OL/DL — The 5’9 and 255 Arias is one of three who has started on the varsity level since his sophomore year.
• Ben Bishop, OL/DL — Standing 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, the three-year starter should be a force again in the trenches.
• Cole Brooks, RB — Another senior who is a three-year starter, Brooks could get lots of carries this season.
• Kent Powell, OL, Lodi — A junior who started as a sophomore last year, Powell has sprouted to 6’3 and 330. Along with Bishop and Arias, Powell and company could give defenses headaches. Tokay • Chase Howell, QB, Tokay — A junior, Howell transferred to Tokay after calling the offense for Lodi most of last season as a sophomore, and played free safety. Because of the CIF transfer rule, Howell must sit out the Tigers’ first five games of the season — all non-league games. But he could contribute on one or both sides of the ball when Tokay begins TCAL action in early October. Galt • Giovanni Escalante, OT/DL — Escalante opened holes for Orman last season. Escalante has been moved to tight end and linebacker this season. He had 60 tackles last season.
• Izic Lopez, RB/LB, Galt — Lopez is expected to help with the Warriors’ offense, which will feature the I formation, but parts of the spread offense. In 10 games last season, Lopez had 58 tackles and two quarterback sacks.