Glendale High football ready to move beyond 2015
GLENDALE – If there’s a lesson that Glendale High second-year football Coach George Maiale has learned throughout his career, it’s to talk less about philosophy and strategy and more about actual results.
“I try to go week-by-week and just focus on winning football games,” said Maiale, who’s entering year No. 2 with the Nitros. “Early in my career I used to really care about how we won. I’d say, ‘This week we’re not allowing more than 100 yards rushing’ or ‘we’re going to score more than 20 points.’ You know what would happen?
“We’d keep teams under 100 yards and lose games and we’d score less than 20 points and win games. So, what’s the point of meeting goals if you lose and not meeting them if you win? Let’s just go week-by-week and be as best prepared as we can.”
Perhaps it’s that focus that keeps Maiale from flinching when the stats are read to him. His Nitros completed their worst season in five years, finishing 1-9 and winless (0-7) in the Pacific League for the first time since 2009. Glendale also suffered the crosstown indignation of surrendering the Victory Bell to Hoover via a 41-14 loss in the season finale.
All that negativity is in the past, contends Maiale, who adds that his team is ready to move on.
“The situation this year is much better than last year,” Maiale said. “The kids are buying in more and they’re much more prepared. The practices are running smoothly and it’s not like we’re learning a whole new system, which was the case last year.”
Glendale returns a slew of important players, including All-Pacific League honorable mention Carlos Ramos. The senior running back rushed for 521 yards and four touchdowns and will also play linebacker this year.
“Everybody wants to win CIF, but for us, we just first have to start with doing better than last year,” Ramos said. “We have a chance to exceed what people expect from us.”
Ramos will take snaps from returning quarterback Tyler Artavia, who split time last season.
With what appears to be an improved offensive line, Artavia expects to have more time to throw.
“My receivers run the routes and my line blocks,” Artavia said. “This year, I feel like I’m going to have more time to get the ball out of my hand. I think I’ve also improved as a thrower, so that helps.”
Senior Matt Torres will join Ramos in the backfield and is competing both ways as a linebacker and running back. Sophomore Cameron Hoffman and juniors Nate Huiza and Erik Torres will also take snaps in the backfield.
Matt Torres is also expected to line up some at receiver and help the ranks that includes juniors Luis Alvarez and Anthony Luna and seniors Josh Nolasco and Matt Benjanian.
As for that much-improved offensive line, Maiale has a pair of special players in senior Narvik Mousamoghaddam and Esduardo Bonilla.
“I think we’ve gained a lot of experience during practice and that’s going to help us during the season,” Mousamoghaddam said. “I thought we did pretty good in passing league and now we have to take that and make that a part of our season.”
On the defensive front, Bonilla will anchor the group, which is expected to have contributions from Jaasiel Santiago and Chris Kanonyekhteyar.
While Torres and Ramos will serve as the team’s top linebackers, the crew also has some steady tacklers in senior Jonathan Osuna and Hoffman.
At defensive back, sophomore Cesar Vargas, junior Carlos Herrera and senior Dominique Dominguez have all won a starting spot.
Kicking and punting duties will rotate between Nolasco and Alvarez.
“Our strength is definitely our youth and tenacity,” Maiale said. “When we get out there and do things, we can look really good. The guys want to be out there and they’re having fun. The team is jelling and they like each other. We’re hoping that will translate into success.”
