Raising expectations
Kings, coming off much-improved season, open 2017 with hopes of contending for ‘city’ title
Kofa at Trevor G. Browne KOFA QUARTERBACK ZAC MILLER (RIGHT)
linebacker Esteban Ledezma. The 2016 all-region selection led the team with 99 total tackles, which was nearly twice as many as anyone else on the defense.
But there is one entire unit that falls under this category: the offensive line. Not only was every single starter on last year’s team a senior, even most of the backups were, too.
PLAYERS TO WATCH • David Castaneda, Senior RB/LB
Castaneda was one of the biggest breakout stars on the gridiron in Yuma County last year. As a junior, he ran for 891 yards and seven touchdowns. In five games, he eclipsed 100 yards, with his best games coming against in-town rivals Gila Ridge (173 yards) and Yuma High (178).
“I want to at least hit 1,000 yards this year at running back, and get at least 300 yards receiving,” Castaneda said.
In the five games of 100 or more yards rushing for Castaneda, the Kings won. They lost the other five.
• Zac Miller, senior QB
Miller will not start at quarterback in week one for an undisclosed reason, but once he gets back, he will be the guy under center for Kofa. Miller is entering his third year as a starter, and though he has never been relied upon heavily due to Kofa’s runfirst approach, he shone in the team’s biggest game of the season against Cibola last year. He threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns.
• Gabriel Castaneda, junior QB/S
In
Miller’s
stead, Gabriel Castaneda, David’s younger brother, will take the reigns at QB against Trevor G. Brown tonight. The younger Castaneda was mostly used on defense last year, but he has been one of the most impressive players for Franz during training camp.
“As far as stepping up and being a leader, honestly, (David Castaneda’s) younger brother, Gabriel, has done a huge job of that,” Franz said. “He’s going to be our week-one starting quarterback, and he’s taking control of the huddle. To see that out of a young guy who wasn’t planned to be our week-one starter, to do that was big for us.”
So while his stint as the starting QB may only last one week, his presence as a strong safety/outside linebacker on defense (40 tackles, one interception in 2016) will make him a threat on both sides of the ball.
OFFENSIVE LOWDOWN
Miller and David Castaneda are the ones who will be responsible for the majority of the passing and rushing yards the Kings will accrue this year, but their success will hinge on that of the offensive line.
There are two spots on the O-line sorted out, senior Derek Wolff and junior Jesus Barba will both be starting at tackle. As for the interior spots, that’s still up in the air. Franz wants to see a rotation and hopes their play in game action will help those spots sort themselves out.
“We’re shaping up,” Franz said. “We still have some work to do, but just watching film, where we