2008 Football Previews: Hawks try to take DSL again

NOTE: This is the fourth preview in our 17 days of football coverage. You can find more football content at www.hdvarsity.com

VICTORVILLE — The Silverado football team is anxious to move on, and who can blame them?

Last season ended with something of a black eye for the Hawks. They lost to Palm Springs on a controversial last-minute touchdown in the first round of the playoffs, and the game was followed by a sideline-clearing fight that resulting in several suspensions.

 “We’re way past that,” said junior James Lynn, an All-Area offensive lineman last season. “Our team’s a lot different. I expect more from us. We’re looking forward and just forgetting about it.”

After all, many of last year’s key players have graduated.

The two-time defending Desert Sky League champion Hawks come into the season with seven  returning starters — just two on defense — and have lost just about every contributor at the skill positions last year.

“Without a doubt, our strength is that we have a great group of kids,” Silverado head coach Carl Posey said. “I don’t know if that is going to equal a lot of wins. We lack size, we lack depth and we lack experience. But we really like the nucleus of kids we have. We have a lot of kids with a 3.0 grade point average or higher.”

But the Hawks have lost standouts such as DSL defensive and offensive players of the year Dominic Bonetpels and Walter Owens, as well as the versatile Kevin Lewis.

How Silverado does this season could depend heavily on returning starting quarterback Jemeryn Jenkins. As a sophomore, Jenkins, who started the final nine games for Silverado, passed for 900 yards on 63 of 163 passing with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 472 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries.

“Our nickname for him is Houdini,” Posey said. “He got out of a lot things last year when the protection wasn’t there. I think he’s a stronger runner than he was last year. He really hit the weight room hard all spring, so he’s  bigger, stronger, faster and has much more feel for the offense.”

This season, Silverado will spread the offense more with Jenkins working out of the shotgun. It’s something that Posey hopes will help in the postseason, where the Hawks have struggled with more physical and stronger teams.
“We need to find a way to neutralize that as best as we can,” Posey said. “Continuing to string out the defense is the way to go.”
Lynn (making the transition from offensive tackle to tight end) and senior wide receiver Maurice Brown are expected to be Jenkins’ biggest targets.

The Hawks’ most experienced starting unit will be their mostly undersized offensive line, with Juan Comaran (6-foot-2, 270 pounds), Michael Matlock (5-11, 207) and Michael Joromat (6-1, 215) all returning from last year.

Senior linebacker Bruce Stevens, a leader on defense, is one of two returning starters along with defensive lineman Rico Samuels. Stevens will anchor a defense that could start five sophomores, including middle linebacker Jimmy Musgrave.

Posey said that the coaching staff loves Stevens at running back but said it’s out of question to believe he can start off the season going both ways. He will likely rotate with junior Anthony Gilmore.

The lack of experience will be tested early and often. All six of Silverado’s nonleague opponents — Serra/Gardena, Serrano, Palm Desert, Quartz Hill, Chino Hills and Colton — reached the playoffs last season.

“We’re lacking in experience, but the first six games should prepare us for league,” Jenkins said.

In what could be a more competitive DSL, Silverado hopes to earn a third straight title.

“We have a tremendous upside if we can do our job as coaches,” Posey said. “But there are going to be a lot of what ifs. A lot of what ifs.”
 
C.J. Daft can be reached via e-mail at christiand@vvdailypress.com or at 951-6275.