Bell-Jeff football taking ‘position by committee’ approach
The approach the Bellarmine-Jefferson High football team is taking this season came about because of necessity.
With the loss of some key players who transferred, the Guards, who will embark on their second season of eight-man football, lost the majority of their offensive output as well as the core of their defensive unit.
The most substantial loss was Paulius Kasteckas, an All-CIF Southern Section and All-Area selection who had 1,237 rushing yards to rank second on Bell-Jeff’s all-time single-season rushing list to go along with 12 touchdowns. In addition, Kasteckas had 87 tackles and seven sacks as a junior.
“It’s tough to lose a player like that,” said Bell-Jeff coach Fred Martinez, who also lost all-purpose standout Tomas Butkus and quarterback Rameon Witt, who both transferred. “I would say that Paulius probably accounted for 70% of our offense and 40% of our defense last year.
“What was great about him is that when we needed a big play, we just gave him the ball and he usually got it. He was one of those throw-back players and he could do a lot of things.”
Without any players of that caliber this season, Martinez has had to retool his team and reassess his approach.
“This season we are taking more of a position by committee approach,” said Martinez, who is in his fourth season. “We will have a lot of players playing multiple positions on offense as well as defense. It is just a matter of wherever you’re at, you just have to do your job.
“What has made it difficult is that we don’t really have a true quarterback. We will look to put a couple of guys at that spot and see who can step up.”
Bell-Jeff, which will likely field 16 players, will rely on a small group of key athletes to lead the way.
Likely taking snaps at quarterback will be seniors Canaan Williams and James Filmardirossian. The two will also likely see time at linebacker or in the secondary on defense.
“In all my years playing football for this team, I have gotten used to playing at different positions on offense and defense, so it’s not new to me,” Williams said. “I think a lot of the guys like to play a lot and I want to be out there as much as I can, on offense and defense and on special teams, because I’m really competitive.
“The key is that we all have to be ready because we have to know what to do on both sides of the ball. …But we have a hard-working team and these guys are committed to getting better.”
Anchoring the offensive and defensive lines will be senior David Guerrero.
Seeing time at running back will be senior Ronald Jurok, who will also be a linebacker, and senior Sean Mayer will be a running back and defensive back. Receivers who will also play in the secondary are senior Mark Barbusa and junior Chris Antee.
A newcomer who could make an impact is freshman Gary Corado, who will be at defensive end.
“We also have a few transfer players who have to be out for the sit-out period, but once they are eligible, they are really going to help us,” Martinez said.
The Guards are coming off a 2016 season in which they went 2-7 and qualified for the Division II eight-man playoffs, losing in the first round to Trona, 55-0.
Bell-Jeff opens it season Saturday with a nonleague game at La Verne Calvary Baptist. The Guards will play a seven-game schedule with one home game at Flintridge Prep and one at Burroughs.
“Looking at the team right now, we have come a really long way from where we were in the spring,” Filmardirossian said. “We are getting our positions down and everyone knows their job. It does help that some of us have played for a few years, so we have the experience.”
For the first time in four years, Bell-Jeff will be a member of a league, as it joins Westmark, Lighthouse Christian and Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian in the Omega League.
“I think Hillcrest Christian should be the top team in the league,” Martinez said. “But it will just be nice to be a part of a league where we can form some rivalries and the guys can earn some all-league recognition.”
Only the champion from the Omega League will earn an automatic berth into the Division II playoffs.
Twitter: @jefftsports
