2008 Football Previews: A fresh start for Cougars

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

APPLE VALLEY — All-Area linebacker Cordero Tucker doesn’t have an official jersey number yet. Neither does anyone else on the Granite Hills football team.

Whether they’re stars or third-stringers, all of the Cougars will have to earn a spot on new head coach Justin Price’s squad.

“I told these guys, ‘none of you have a reputation with me,’ ” Price said at a recent practice. “ ‘So if you want one, you’re going to have to earn it.’ ”

Price is more or less starting from scratch with a program that’s enjoyed very little success since its inception in 1999.

Price and senior players like Tucker had nothing but good things to say about semi-departed coach Joel Hurtt, who’s turned his attention to starting a family while he takes over Granite Hills’ freshman program this season.

But with the exception of one playoff appearance under Hurtt in 2006, there’s been little to celebrate for the Cougars over the years. The program didn’t win its first Desert Sky League game until 2004, former head coach Shawn Bell’s final season at the helm.
The Cougars aren’t following a tradition — they’re trying to start one.

Asked what he’s changed so far, Price said: “It’s hard to answer because I wasn’t here last year so I don’t know. All I know is (the players) know the mentality: hard work and commitment. That’s what’s asked of them every day; they bring it every day and that’s what we expect. I don’t know what it was before, but that’s the way it is now.”

Justin Price and his father Butch Price have come to the Granite Hills staff from Sultana, where both served as assistants. Both have Apple Valley ties; Justin played quarterback for Apple Valley High and graduated in 1997, and the elder Price coached Tucker’s father Mark at Apple Valley 25 years ago.

Butch Price has been a social studies and physical education teacher at Granite Hills since it opened, and both Prices coached under Bell during the program’s first three years.

One thing’s for sure: The new regime brings entirely new offensive and defensive schemes.
“Offensively we’re running a multiple-formation spread offense,” Justin Price said. “Defensively we’re running a 30 stack (a three-man front with five linebackers). I think it plays to our strengths.”

Price said the Cougars’ play-calling will be about 50-50 pass and run. The presumptive starter at quarterback is junior James Lovato. He’s expected to spread the ball around to a number of big receivers and small, slashing running backs. The depth chart battles at most of the skill positions are still wide open.

The DSL title race could be wide open as well. Defending champ Silverado has very few returning starters; Barstow has a new head coach; both Victor Valley and Burroughs are coming off losing seasons.

“(This season) is very important,” Tucker said. “It’s my senior year and I’m going to give it my all. It’s very important for every senior.”
Tucker and many of his teammates believe they can compete for a league title this season.
But first things first. Right now they’re trying to earn those jersey numbers. 

Kris Reilly is the sports editor of the Daily Press. He can be reached at kreilly@vvdailypress.com 951-6274.