‘This is a hard-working group.’ Low numbers won’t discourage Chowchilla football program
Chowchilla High School football coach Alex Pittz is due to undergo knee replacement surgery on one leg after this season. He says there is no cartilage left in the knee and little cartilage left in his good knee.
There’s a second knee replacement surgery in the near future for Pittz, who played college football at Brown University decades ago.
The painful joints don’t prevent Pittz from still filling in at defensive end, outside linebacker or defensive back to give the starting offensive players a look.
“Once in a while I’ll grab a shield and knock around with the guys,” Pittz said.
Pittz is pressed into scout team duties because Chowchilla has a varsity roster of just 24 players with likely only 22 active for the first couple weeks of the season.
Pittz has dealt with thin rosters a number of times during his 12 seasons leading the Tribe program. He asks a lot from players in the program during the offseason, and players have to put in the time in the weight room to earn their way onto the field in the fall.
Players who go through the offseason workouts prove they are committed to the team, and Pittz likes this group.
“We have a couple first-time football players who are still figuring it out, but the core group were great in the offseason,” Pittz said. “You can see a big difference from January to now. They got after it in the weight room. We’ve got great leadership and buy-in from the players.”
The group of returnees includes four juniors who played varsity as sophomores last year in running back/linebacker Dwayne Hemphill, lineman Alejandro Molina, quarterback/defensive back Benson Soares and receiver/defensive back Davian Stephenson.
“This year I’m more confident in what I’m able to do,” Hemphill said. “I know a lot more about the game and what to expect. I think my biggest improvement is the mental part of the game. The thing last year was in my mind I didn’t have the confidence. This year I know I’ll do better.”
Hemphill, senior running back Andre Pulliam, Stephenson and Soares will all play big roles as the Tribe begin their second season in the shotgun wing-t offense led by offensive coordinator Mike Parsons, who joined the staff last year after head coaching stints at Clovis West and Modesto Christian.
The Central Section small school program is also looking for contributions on both sides of the ball from linemen Brendan Calley, Paddy Romine, Rashaun Belaski and Brody Absher.
“This is a hard-working group,” Pulliam said. “Everyone put in extra time in the weight room. There’s a brotherhood with this team. Everyone here loves each other.”
Obviously with low numbers, a big key is staying healthy.
“It’s taking care of the little things,” Pulliam said. “You have to eat right, get more sleep and take of your body, recovery-wise because you can’t take any plays off.”
Pittz says it’s great for a coach — especially one with bad knees — when you’ve got a group of players who have bought in.
“It makes my job a lot easier,” Pittz said. “You don’t have to worry about the day-to-day. You don’t have to worry about having everyone here or not or what the problem is going to be today.”
“These guys take care of themselves and they’re not only being leaders for themselves, but they are leading the JV team as well,” Pittz added. “That will help for the next couple of years.”
Chowchilla 2023 Schedule
Aug 18 — at Kerman
Aug 25 — at Fresno High
Sep 8 — vs Parlier
Sep 15 — at Yosemite
Sep 22 — vs Dos Palos
Sep 29 — vs Riverdale
Oct 6 — vs Fowler
Oct 13 — at Minarets
Oct 20 — vs Caruthers
Oct 27 — at Liberty Madera Ranch
