Golden Valley football looking to bounce back following season without a win
Jabari Phillips described the atmosphere this season at Golden Valley as a different energy. There was a different tempo in practice as the Cougars shuffled through plays.
Golden Valley coach Rick Martinez even admitted the coaching staff is a little more intense.
“We’re putting them through the grinder because we want to get them out of that COVID mentality and they’re running with it,” Martinez said. “They’re responding to it.”
Martinez refers to the COVID mentality as time when the players were stuck home during the pandemic and not being active. Many of them sat around for most of the day and played video games.
The Cougars are coming off a tough short spring season that saw them go 0-5. The players and coaches are determined to put that behind them this fall.
“The energy is wild, it’s amazing,” Phillips said. “We haven’t had that type of energy out here in a long time.”
During conditioning as the players were running 50-yard sprints across the field, Martinez challenged his running backs Phillps and junior Jahkylle Smith to pick up the pace.
“There are 30 carries out there,” Martinez barked. “You need to get your body in shape.”
Phillips will once again will be the key to the Cougars offense. The third-year starter is ready to shoulder the load and he’s ready to set an example for the younger players.
“I know a lot of the younger guys look up to me,” Phillips said. “I know the ropes and what it takes. If I work hard it teaches them to work hard. I can share with them everything I know.”
The coaching staff is pushing Phillips to have a big season.
“I think he’s found out we’re no longer in COVID time,” Martinez said. “He’s more disciplined, not that he was ever bad, but he can tell the coaches are more intense. We’re pushing him and he’s enjoying it. Kids want structure.”
Smith will also see a lot of time at running back. He was alternating running plays in practice with Phillips and saw significant action in the Cougars scrimmage against Los Banos.
“We put him in after Jabari had three big runs and Jahkylle did the same thing,” Martinez said. “He’s going to come in and give Jabari a breather. We’re going to let him play.”
One of the reasons the Cougars struggled this spring is because quarterback Eleazar Garza injured his collar bone. Garza is back healthy and coaches are excited what he brings to the offense.
Garza will have some weapons to throw to in Kawika Hernandez and Jonah White.
Martinez says he feels the Cougars defense will be a strength led by defensive end Jamarcus Phillips, who is Jabari’s twin brother. Raymond Cendejas and Josiah Martinez-Gonzalez will also help out at linebacker.
The Cougars can’t wait to get started with Friday’s season opener against Sunnyside.
“I’m super excited,” Jabari Phillips said. “We’re coming off an 0-5 season. We have 10 games to turn it around and prove to our fans what we’re all about.”
Schedule
Aug. 20 vs Sunnyside
Aug. 27 at Madera South
Sept. 3 vs Chowchilla
Sept. 10 vs Pitman
Sept. 17 vs Buhach Colony
Sept. 30 vs Central Valley
Oct. 8 at Atwater
Oct. 15 at Patterson
Oct. 22 vs El Capitan
Oct. 29 at Merced
This story was originally published August 19, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
