Barstow High School football is sizing up the enemy

BARSTOW • The Barstow High School football team is looking to win the battle of the bulge for its home town crowd today.

The Aztecs are hosting the Apple Valley Sun Devils in the first game of the 2010 season at 7 p.m. at Langworthy Field. Both teams are entering the season after advancing into the playoffs in 2009 and hoping for return trips.

The Sun Devils are usually known for large linemen, but they average around 215 pounds, a drop of 35 pounds per player, on the line this season. Barstow on the other hand have bulked up on the line, and appear to have the size advantage at that position. The Aztecs’ cornerstone on the line is Bobby Alvarez (6-foot-6-, 320 pounds). Alvarez started last season and has a strong group surrounding him including Brandon Waldon (6-foot-3, 260 pounds), Jonas Niusulu (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) and Cedric Ahching (5-foot-11, 220 pounds) among others.

“We’re happy with the way that our line is coming together,” Defensive coordinator Ray Silva said. “We think it’s one of our strengths this season. If we can get in there and start off getting some space to run we will. We’ll be satisfied with three to five yard rushes and first downs. We want to open it up with our passing game, but we’re still a smash-mouth football team. We’ll win it in a cloud of dust on the ground.”

Alvarez said the Aztecs need to make sure not to take the game too lightly.

“I think we have a pretty good chance to get on top in offense and defense,” Alvarez said. “I feel good, but we still need to take the game seriously.”

Apple Valley coach Frank Pulice has said his team plans to use a spread offense and line up three receivers to take advantage of the Sun Devils’ athleticism. The new offensive strategy also plays to the Sun Devils new receivers size. Receivers Cavion Flournoy (6-1, 160), Alec Fox (5-11, 185) and Tyler Baskett (6-1, 187) will start for Apple Valley.

Silva said he believes Barstow’s defensive backfield can handle the pressure from the Sun Devils receivers and still get pressure on quarterback Roman Novell from the linemen and linebackers.

“We have Dex (Yarber) as a three-year starter at cornerback, and we expect big things from him,” Silva said. “We also have some good guys back there in Steven Deverell and Jorge Benavidez.”