Central California Conference preview

Buhach Colony

SET/STAGE: Falcon Field

2008: 2-8

DIRECTOR: Kevin Swartwood (third year)

OFFENSE: Fly

DEFENSE: 3-4

STARRING: OL Justin Carter (5-11, 230), RB Corey Chapman (5-8, 160), RB Jarrell Davis (5-6, 150), OL Erold De La Cruz (5-8, 190), TE Brandon Kelly (5-11, 190), DL Manuel Quiroz (5-10, 230), DB Daniel Bolser (6-1, 165).

EXIT STAGE LEFT: QB Kyle Davey, DB David Campbell, WR Hodari Peterson.

NEW CAST: RB/C Dallon Muse (5-11, 180), OL Matt Cochran (6-4, 360).

MUST-SEE: at Pitman, Week 5, Central California Conference opener. Buhach Colony dives straight into the teeth of its schedule and a victory over Pitman could carry them into games with Atwater, Merced and Turlock.

Merced

SET/STAGE: Stadium '76/Don Odishoo Field (Merced College)

2008: 11-2

DIRECTOR: Rob Scheidt

(14th year)

OFFENSE: Pro

DEFENSE: 4-3

STARRING: RB/DB Andrew Mendoza (6-0, 185), DE/TE Marques Barron (6-2, 245),

QB Arturro Marroquin (6-0, 185).

EXIT STAGE LEFT: DB/WR/KR/RB Bernard Bolden, DE Nathan Mayfield, RB Stephon Mathis,

QB Allen Huddleston, WR Eddie Beavers, TE Kenny Cooper.

NEW CAST: WR/DB Nick Zamora (6-0, 160), RB/LB Eric DeAnda (5-10, 195), OL/DL Joaquin DeAnda (6-0, 320).

MUST-SEE: at Los Banos, Oct. 9, and vs. Pitman, Nov. 13. Merced has won three straight league titles, but a fourth could hinge on these two games. Los Banos has played Merced tough in each of the last two seasons, and Pitman is always in the title discussion.

Atwater

SET: Falcon Field

LAST SEASON: 4-6

DIRECTOR: Bob Valladao (third year)

OFFENSE: Wing-Bone

DEFENSE: 4-3

STARRING: QB/S Nathan Sanchez (6-1, 175), WB/C Steven Odom (5-9, 170), TB/ILB Angel Molina (5-9, 190), TE Brian Sevilla (6-1, 220), ILB Jake Clevenger (6-1, 215), K John Guerrero (5-10, 150).

EXIT STAGE LEFT: TB/OLB Dexter Coward, TE/OLB Johnny Mobley, DE Elliott Williams, WR Juan Diaz, ILB Jason Diaz.

NEW CAST: WB/S Chris Osbourn (5-10, 165), TE/OLB Andrew Morgan (6-3, 195).

MUST-SEE: vs. Pitman.

EXTRA POINTS: When these coaches ask you to play with pain, you listen. QB coach Jarrod Pimentel has one kidney and JV coach Nelson Medeiros has one eye.

Los Banos

SET/STAGE: Loftin Stadium

2008: 6-5

DIRECTOR: Dennis Stubbs (third year)

OFFENSE: Pro

DEFENSE: 3-4

STARRING: QB Erik Martin (6-1, 195), RB Darron Brown (5-8, 180), WR Max Ornelas (6-0, 180), C Darrel Begonia (5-10, 225), DL Armond Henderson (6-2, 315), LB Marcus Arista (6-0, 215), LB Julio Iglesias (5-9, 180), DB Dylan Marques (5-9, 170).

EXIT STAGE LEFT: WR Rubal Sangha, OL Damon Bragner, DL Manuel Lira, DL Zach Deges, DB Jake Barcellos.

NEW CAST: FB Paul Jacob (5-10, 240), WR Gus Dicochea (5-9, 160), WR Gracian Arretche (6-0, 175), OLB Matt Nunes (6-0, 195).

MUST-SEE: vs. Merced, Oct. 9.

Golden Valley

SET/STAGE: Cougar Stadium, Stadium '76/Don Odishoo Field (Merced College)

LAST SEASON: 1-9

DIRECTOR: Jon Betschart

(third year)

OFFENSE: Spread Option

DEFFENSE: 4-3

STARRING: OLB Brandon Ramirez (6-1, 210), RB Edgar Sanchez (5-9, 175), RB Matt DeLora (5-9, 205), OL Nathan Terry (6-2, 225), Lance Terry (6-2, 225).

EXIT STRATEGY LEFT: RB Rey Rivas, WR Adrian Abarca, DB Victor Sanchez, OL Matt Raggio.

NEW CAST: WR/CB Robert Askew (6-0, 175), OL Alvaro Naranjo (6-3, 215), OL Chase McMillin (6-0, 240), QB/CB Jerry Martinez (5-10, 170)

MUST-SEE: vs. Merced, the Mayor's Cup, Week 7.

Pitman

SET/STAGE: Joe Debely Stadium

2008: 7-3

DIRECTOR: Brandon Harris

OFFENSE: Wing-T

DEFENSE: Multiple defenses

STARRING: QB Hayden Baldwin (6-2, 200), RB Markus Sanders (6-0, 225), DL Pablo Guerrero (6-0, 290), DL John Patterson (6-2, 265), OL Ethan Alvares (6-3, 230), LB Chase Torba (5-11, 210).

EXIT STAGE LEFT: QB Tyler Snodgrass, DE Andy Jennings, RB Jeremy Davis, OL Brant Rose, OL Brian Calderon, OL John Toledo, LB Rick Eckert, DB Grant Adams, DB Jake Cooksey.

NEW CAST: RB Jaime Lemus, RB Dominick Walker, LB John Carrera, WR Derrick Nidey.

MUST-SEE: vs. Paradise, tonight.

Turlock

SET/STAGE: Joe Debely Stadium

2008: 8-2

DIRECTOR: James Peterson (first year)

OFFENSE: Shotgun Fly Zone

DEFENSE: College 4-3

STARRING: QB Kevin Kramer, WR/DB Justin Esquivel, RB/DL Michael Cruz, OL/DL Sean Badiou, OL/LB Aaron Whitmore, WR/DB Drew Johnson.

EXIT STAGE LEFT: RB/DB Tharon Gallegos, OL/DL Mason Russell, RB/DB Derek Woods, LB Caleb Maldonado, DL Eddy Flores.

NEW CAST: RB/DB Ricky Fuentes, WR/LB Connor Pearson, TE/LB Tyler Cook, OL Chris Stewart-Mattison, DB Amos Meraz.

MUST-SEE: vs. Pitman, Harvest Bowl.