Chowchilla hoping a new league, key coaching addition will help Tribe rebound this season
With seven sophomores playing up on varsity and nine seniors playing football for the first time, the Chowchilla High School football team will be learning on the fly this season.
The Tribe are hoping a new league and a key coaching addition will help the team rebound from a tough 1-10 season last year.
“We’re trying to keep these guys healthy but we’re not going to baby them,” said Chowchilla coach Alex Pittz. “We have our own expectations and we’re trying to teach them the right things. We’re trying to make it as much sink or swim as possible.”
Pittz is ecstatic to add former Modesto Christian and Clovis West head coach Mike Parsons to the coaching staff. Parsons led Modesto Christian to a state championship on 2009 and brings his shotgun wing-t offense to the Tribe.
“It’s great having Mike out there,” Pittz said. “I can hand over the offensive side to him and I can focus on the defense. He’s a state championship head coach. I’m learning things from him as we go.”
Pittz says he can’t recall the last time having seven sophomores up playing varsity before but calls this sophomore class, “special.”
“They are very talented and very savvy,” Pittz added. “They know the game well. We’re going to have to put up with the growing pains because they are young.”
Dwayne Hemphill is one of those sophomores that will play a key role as the fullback in the Tribe offense. Frankie Fuentes, Benson Soares, Alejandro Molina and Davian Stephenson are other sophomores who will be counted on key roles.
Hemphill says it’s easier making the jump to varsity with six other sophomores.
“It helps,” he said. “It’s easier on me. I don’t have to worry as much about making a mistake because I see they’re going through the same thing. I think we’re adjusting pretty well from where we started.”
The Tribe will lean on seniors like Mason Bell, Thomas Crawford, Damon Calley, Logan Vandecar, Joey Garcia and Deven Godwin for leadership.
“I like how hard we’ve worked and how dedicated this group is,” Bell said. “We have a close group and we push each other hard.”
Chowchilla is switching from the North Sequoia League to the newly-formed Northwest Sequoia League with Yosemite, Parlier, Riverdale, Fowler, Minarets, Caruthers and Liberty.
“The Central Section consolidated a lot of leagues to ease on travel and make it easier to schedule games,” Pittz said. “I think it’s a good league for us. We’re at right about 1,010 kids. With a roster of 29 kids and us being so young I think the new league will help us.”
2022 Schedule
Aug. 19 at Kerman
Aug. 26 vs Fresno
Sept. 9 at Parlier
Sept. 16 vs Yosemite
Sept. 23 at Dos Palos
Sept. 30 at Riverdale
Oct. 7 at Fowler
Oct. 14 vs Minarets
Oct. 21 at Caruthers
Oct. 28 vs Liberty
