August 24, 2007

Gearing up for 2007

Young Evergreen Valley football team looks to aim high in tough Santa Teresa Division

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

Evergreen Valley head football coach Leo Olmscheid hopes youth can translate into some wins in 2007.

Evergreen quarterback Derek Pauli returns for his senior season under center after getting his first starting experience at the position last season for the Cougars. Pauli is one of just a handful of seniors who are expected to start for the team this season. Photos by Dan Miranda

After losing several key seniors on both offense and defense from last year’s team, the 2007 version of the Evergreen Valley Cougars returns with just a small dose of experience and plenty of young, inexperienced talent on both sides. Still, Olmscheid said he likes what he’s seen so far from his squad.

“I think we’re coming along a lot better,” said Olmscheid. “I think we’re ahead of the game as far as where we were at last year. …We’re young, but we have a couple of guys who can step it up and play.”

Olmscheid is the first to admit that the Cougars, who finished up league play at 3-4 in 2006, will have their work cut out competing in the talented Santa Teresa Division, won last year by the Leland Chargers, who went undefeated at 7-0. In addition, Santa Teresa placed second at 6-1, followed by Gunderson at 4-3. The Cougars finished in a two-way tie for fourth with Silver Creek.

“I think our league’s very competitive,” Olmscheid said. “There’s a bunch of teams right in the thick of things. Leland, the defending champs, is going to be good again this year. Westmont will be good, Del Mar will be good, and Silver Creek will be there again this year too. There isn’t an easy game. We’re just hoping to compete in this league and if we stay healthy, we’ll hopefully come up on top. Obviously we want to win that league championship.”

All told, just two seniors are virtual locks for starting spots on offense in quarterback Derek Pauli and running back Eugene Wright. The rest of the offense will consist of underclassmen, led by returning starter Emmanuel Scott, a junior, on the offensive line, and junior offensive lineman Nick Pula, who played sparingly last season. As for the rest, the competition for starting spots at wide receiver consists mostly of a new crop of inexperienced juniors, as well as senior Justin Talo, who served as a backup last season. And while Olmscheid said he’s confident in his offense, he’s also a tad nervous, especially when it comes to the offensive line.

“Right now, yeah, it makes me nervous but then as we get better and better, hopefully these guys will stay together and we’ll have a good (offensive) line the following year too,” Olmscheid said.

Olmscheid said he’s looking to both Pauli and Wright to step up their games this year. Pauli, who is returning for his senior season after getting his first taste of starting at quarterback last year, said he’s starting feel more confident and comfortable about his role with the team.

“I’m starting to look more at (opposing) defenses instead of just memorizing the offensive plays,” said Pauli. “I’m just trying to look for what to break down and how to attack different defenses.”

Evergreen running back Eugene Wright will take over the position this season for departed 2006 senior Quinton Scott. Evergreen head coach Leo Olmscheid said the senior’s bruising north-south running style will fit in well with the rest of the offense.

That news is music to Olmscheid’s ears.

“I think he’s come a long way,” Olmscheid said of Pauli. “I think he’s matured since last year. …Last year was actually his first time playing quarterback, so really this is his sophomore year. I think he’s matured a lot more and gotten better. Is he where I want him yet? No, but hopefully he’ll get there.”

As for Wright, the senior running back will take over the position for the speedy Quinton Scott, a 2006 graduate. Olmscheid said he feels Wright’s running style – a more north to south, between the tackles style – should fit in well with the rest of the offense.

“The thing about Eugene is he always finishes falling forward,” Olmscheid said of Wright, who saw significant action backing up Scott last season. “I don’t remember any time where I’ve seen him get a loss (of yards), to get hit and fall back on his butt. He’s a tough, hard runner. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he has deceiving speed. Just enough to get it done.”

Wright noted that the difference in running styles has been an adjustment, albeit a small one, for the offensive line.
“My running style is basically north and south,” said Wright. “The linemen are used to the old running style of Quinton’s, but they’re getting used to my running style too. I think it’ll be alright.”

The defense, Olmscheid said, will also be young, with just three seniors – defensive end Gabe Rodriguez and linebackers Daniel Quilty and Jesse Carbajal – returning this season. Of those three, only Rodriguez returns as a 2006 starter. The rest of the defensive squad, Olmscheid said, will be made up of inexperienced, but talented, juniors, as well as a few sophomores. As is the case on offense, Olmscheid said he’s confident, but nervous, about his defense.

“Especially because I’m a defensive guy,” Olmscheid said. “I’ve been doing defense for 15 years. …I believe defense wins championships for you.”

The Cougars will begin the 2007 season with a non-league match-up at Piedmont Hills on Friday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m.