Glendale Community College Football Preview: Vaqs looking for more than just repeat success

Coming off a somewhat magical 2014 season, there appears to be a few paths the Glendale Community College football team can take this year.

The squad can try to replicate last season’s success as Glendale finished 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the American Division Pacific Conference for second place behind Santa Monica. The Nitros also advanced to the Patriotic Bowl, the program’s first postseason contest since 2006, but lost to Palomar College, 30-22.

Perhaps a younger squad will take a step back from such a breakthrough season or maybe there’s more in store for Glendale, such as a conference title and bowl victory in 2015.

In either case, the approach will be the same.

“Our goal is to win one game at a time, just the same as what we did last year,” said Glendale Coach John Rome, who enjoyed his best season with the Vaqueros and who upped his career record to 26-37. “You’d love to talk about conference championships and about winning bowl games, of course, but right now all that matters is facing East Los Angeles.”

The Vaqueros commence their season Saturday at 6 p.m. at East Los Angeles College.

Glendale lost a slew of talented sophomores with perhaps the biggest on the squad being California Community College Football Coaches Assn. All-Region IV Defensive Player of the Year David Smith, program all-time interceptions leader Dante Shipman and explosive running back Marquise McGuire.

Though McGuire and his 978 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns are gone, the Vaqueros have a loaded backfield in sophomore returners Robert Jones (655 rushing yards and seven touchdowns) and Tru Jarvis (six touchdowns) along with 2013 starter Josh Martinez (Bellarmine-Jefferson). Canoga Park’s Darius Jones is also fighting for time.

All four, however, have a serious challenger in transfer Travis Custis. The one-time Georgia Tech signee has 10 Division I offers, according to JCfootball.com, and is listed as one of the best backs in the nation.

“Really, to be honest, the [junior college] rankings don’t mean anything to me,” Custis said. “I’m thankful for that, but I’m just trying to go out there and give it my all. I’m not worried about that.”

When asked how we would divvy up the playing time, Rome reached for his pocket.

“I guess I could flip a coin or shake a Magic 8-Ball,” he said. “I don’t say that trying to be glib or anything, I just don’t think it matters who is out there because they’re all so good. I can’t really lose.”

Success on the ground will be key as Glendale is involved in another potential quarterback platoon. While the Vaqueros’ duo of Sean Murphy and Andre Nunez split time last year, both are gone and the battle for the signal-caller spot is down to Grant Kramer and David Arriaga.

“I’m just going out looking to do my job, keep playing well and understand the offense,” Kramer said. “As the leader of the offense, I need to be in control and a leader on the field.”

Kramer and Arriaga have a few receivers to target in Elonzo Griffen and newcomers Rayce Williams and former Crescenta Valley High standout Jordan Lobianco, who played wide receiver, cornerback and returned punts last year for the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division champions.

Over the last few seasons, perhaps the most consistent position for the Vaqueros has been tight end as the team has produced some talented athletes, including graduated American Division Pacific Conference first-teamer Austyn Walker.

While Rome doesn’t have a breakout star as in the past few years, the coach is more than comfortable with the rotation of Andrew Belsito, formerly of Bell-Jeff, and Sylvester Robinson.

Maybe the biggest question this season will come along the offensive line as the squad graduated a talented crew that included Pacific Conference picks David Orellana, Jose Sanchez and Mitchell Stout (Crescenta Valley).

In their place, Rome is turning to 6-foot-3, 280-pound St. Francis product Israel Gutierrez, 6-1, 270-pound Burroughs alumnus Andrew Mills, 6-3, 310-pound Chris Salgado and “scrappy” 5-10, 230-pound Marciel Briseno to fill four of the five spots.

Along the defensive front, there is simply no replacing Smith, arguably the most important player on last year’s defensive unit.

Rome will instead turn to a group of players for production, led by talented sophomore defensive end Payton Lowry-Sanders (4 1/2 sacks and six tackles for loss). The former Loyola player will be joined by Robert Ortiz (4 1/2 sacks).

As for the linebackers, sophomores Shawn Hardge and JD Mena and freshman Nolan Jackson will man the unit that graduated talented playmaker Chris Riley.

“I like the competition this year, nothing is set,” Mena said. “It’s a good thing because that means we have more depth than last year.”

In the secondary, perhaps the biggest question mark remains in regards to the eligibility of sophomore cornerback Kev’n Farmer, a conference second-team pick last year. Farmer’s status was not known at time of publication and he may not be available for Saturday’s season opener, let alone the rest of the season.

Whether or not he returns, the secondary will include three additional players in Deamon Thompson, Josh Benson and La Cañada’s Sam Brown.

On special teams, St. Francis alumnus Forrest Ascarrunz is back at punting this season, while Kerin Beltran will handle kicking duties.

“There’s an excitement and expectation to do as well if not better than last year and that’s natural,” Rome said. “But if we don’t improve game to game and practice to practice, we’re not going to be able to accomplish what we need to do. You can’t look too far out in front, you have to focus on what’s at hand.”