Improvement key for Glendale High football
Progress is the goal and expectation for the Glendale High football team in 2017.
Last season, the Nitros struggled to their second consecutive 1-9 campaign that included an 0-7 mark in Pacific League play.
The team’s one bright spot came via a 35-14 victory over Desert Mountain League runner-up Acton Vasquez on Sept. 15.
Having not won a league game in two years, having finished last in the Pacific League in back-to-back campaigns and having struggled with overall competitiveness, Glendale has modest goals set by third-year coach George Maiale.
“Obviously, we want to see more wins and get better from year to year,” Maiale said. “We have a good group; I like this group. They have a better understanding at this point than last year. We just want to get better overall and get better at the little things.
“Last year, there were just too many big mistakes that cost us. The team seems to have bought in more and we if can eliminate even half the mistakes, that’s big for us.”
One way to change a football culture is with an infusion and the Nitros received one this offense when former Pasadena La Salle junior varsity quarterback Van Haslett transferred to Glendale.
The junior won the starting position and has impressed Maiale.
“He’s intelligent and somebody everyone got to love really quickly,” Maiale said. “He’s a great leader and he has the personality it takes to be successful.”
Glendale returns a couple of All-Pacific League and All-Area selections, led by linebacker Chris Ibarra.
The junior tallied 50 tackles, 13 for a loss, and eight sacks.
“We’re working harder than last year,” Ibarra said. “We’ve been looking forward to the season for a long time and you can see that in our practices.”
Junior running back Cameron Hoffman (seven touchdowns), a league second-team honoree, also returns on offense, while helping out at linebacker.
It’s the linebacking corps that Maiale is most confident about with Ibarra flanked by seniors Jaasiel Santiago and Santino Espiritu.
“One of our big goals this year is to beat Hoover,” said Santiago, as the archrival Tornadoes have won the last two games in the city series by a combined score of 90-26. “I’m sick of losing to them and we have to get them this year. This is my senior year.”
The versatile Espiritu, a team captain, will also highlight an offensive line that includes tackle Jose Gomez, guard Jason Villalobos and junior center Roderick Mirzakhanian.
“It feels like we’re more a team now than we were last year,” Espiritu said. “We’re a lot closer and we’ve bonded a lot better.”
The offensive line will attempt to protect Haslett and open lanes for senior running backs Carlos Herrera and Erick Torres.
Maiale’s receiving unit is a little light, but does have two able pass-catchers in sophomore Angel Barrios and senior Anthony Luna.
As for the defensive line, junior Seth Harley is the star of Maiale’s first line of defense, while in the secondary, seniors Enrique Salazar and Ethan Orsuno will lead a veteran group.
“At the end of the year, you want to say you were better this year than last,” Maiale said. “The only way you’re going to get more wins is to get better and play better. Yes, I want us to win, but I want us to learn the game, execute and eliminate mistakes.”
