2008 Woodie Awards
Football team begins practicing
By: David Lopez
Issue date: 5/26/05 Section: Sports
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Despite setbacks, such as the recent trancript forgery and the loss of key players, the Warrior football team looks to improve on its 8-3 record a season ago.
"We have to work on our weaknesses," quarterback Don Poole said. "As a team, we just have to adjust the things we did wrong last year that cost us games."
EC hopes to rebound after an early exit in the first round of the playoffs last season, in which it lost to College of the Canyons, who went on to win the football national championship at the community college level I.
The Warriors finished last season with an overall 8-3 record, 3-2 record in the division, second in the Mission Conference and fifth overall in the state. Repeating such outstanding statistics might be difficult for the team since it lost key players on offense and defense.
The defense was affected the most with the departures of cornerbacks Steve Akarim and Clavens Charles; defensive ends Rick Talonoa and Delvondre Gardner; linebackers Kasey Sitchler and Keti Taufoou; as well as strong safety Reggie Doucet.
"I lost my boys," Nate Ness, free safety, said. "Last year I was the supporter and they were the big dawgs."
"I'm the big dawg now, so there's a lot on my shoulders and now I have to help carry the defense."
Last year, Ness led the Mission Conference with seven interceptions which tied him for seventh all-time in Mission Conference football, and tied him for the longest interception return (100-yards) in Mission Conference history.
The recruiting class has been looking good so far for the Warriors, as they are getting top prospects from high schools and colleges ranging from North Torrance High, Redondo High, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chaffey, and even two players from Detroit and Florida.
"On offense, we have some really fine players who are being looked at by almost all the Pacific-10 conference colleges," Featherstone said.
The offense has been receiving so much buzz lately that it even caught the attention of USC coaches Pete Carroll, coach Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator and Steve Sarkisian, quarterbacks coach, who visited the team during practice a few weeks ago.
"We have to work on our weaknesses," quarterback Don Poole said. "As a team, we just have to adjust the things we did wrong last year that cost us games."
EC hopes to rebound after an early exit in the first round of the playoffs last season, in which it lost to College of the Canyons, who went on to win the football national championship at the community college level I.
The Warriors finished last season with an overall 8-3 record, 3-2 record in the division, second in the Mission Conference and fifth overall in the state. Repeating such outstanding statistics might be difficult for the team since it lost key players on offense and defense.
The defense was affected the most with the departures of cornerbacks Steve Akarim and Clavens Charles; defensive ends Rick Talonoa and Delvondre Gardner; linebackers Kasey Sitchler and Keti Taufoou; as well as strong safety Reggie Doucet.
"I lost my boys," Nate Ness, free safety, said. "Last year I was the supporter and they were the big dawgs."
"I'm the big dawg now, so there's a lot on my shoulders and now I have to help carry the defense."
Last year, Ness led the Mission Conference with seven interceptions which tied him for seventh all-time in Mission Conference football, and tied him for the longest interception return (100-yards) in Mission Conference history.
The recruiting class has been looking good so far for the Warriors, as they are getting top prospects from high schools and colleges ranging from North Torrance High, Redondo High, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chaffey, and even two players from Detroit and Florida.
"On offense, we have some really fine players who are being looked at by almost all the Pacific-10 conference colleges," Featherstone said.
The offense has been receiving so much buzz lately that it even caught the attention of USC coaches Pete Carroll, coach Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator and Steve Sarkisian, quarterbacks coach, who visited the team during practice a few weeks ago.