WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville High defense last year allowed just one touchdown over its final three games and only 13 points per league contest. Yet the Wildcatz finished 4-6 overall and took third in the Monterey Bay League Pacific division.
What went wrong?
“We couldn’t score,” said senior safety and running back Brayden Arnold. “We just couldn’t put it in the end zone like we wanted to.”
Stingy, speedy and mean, Watsonville’s defense kept the Wildcatz in every game last season but the offense struggled mightily to keep up its end of the bargain, averaging just 12.8 points per game. Watsonville’s offensive struggles ultimately cost the program a shot at the MBL-P championship, as the Wildcatz failed to score a touchdown in a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to eventual league champion Seaside High.
Enter senior quarterback Isaac Baltazar, a deep and fast stable of running backs and a reworked offensive line. Oh, and don’t forget about ace pass-catcher Jorge Tinoco.
On paper, the Wildcatz have it all. But will they finally be able to put it together on the field and notch the program’s first winning season and Central Coast Section playoff berth since 2009?
Head coach Ron Myers believes so.
“We should be in the hunt the whole year,” said Myers, who is in his fourth year of his second stint with the Wildcatz. “This is the point where these guys have had the four years of lifting and the benefit of all that. We’ve got some speed. We’ve got some size. We’ve got some toughness.”
All good things to have heading into what should be their toughest league slate since the MBL became an equity league in 2012. Gilroy High will be the heavy favorite as the Mustangs return several key contributors from last year’s CCS semifinalist team, including starting senior quarterback Jonathan Castro, junior running back Joseph Barnes and senior linebacker Antonio Andrade. Christopher High, which swapped places with Seaside after spending a pair of seasons in the Gabilan division, also figures to be a big threat to take the title, while Alisal High and Monterey High, both of whom played Watsonville tough last year, are reportedly much-improved. North Monterey County High and Pajaro Valley High are also no guarantees — N.M.C. has topped Watsonville in nine of their last 12 meetings and P.V. last year stunned the Wildcatz in the 10th annual Belgard Kup Game.
“It’s going to be a challenge but I feel good,” said senior running back Johnny Bravo. “Last year we were so close. We missed the playoffs by a couple of points. I feel like this year we’ll actually make it.”
Bravo (5-foot-5, 145 pounds) and Arnold (5-8, 145) will be two key pieces of an experienced offensive backfield, which will also feature powerful 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior Evan Delozier and shifty 5-foot-8, 160-pound junior Matthew Barcelo. Bravo last year burst on to the scene midway through the season and became one of the Wildcatz’s top backs along with Delozier and Barcelo. The trio combined to run for 1,139 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“There’s going to be a lot of guys that are going to touch the ball for us,” Arnold said. “We have a lot of playmakers on this team.”
They’ll be running behind senior fullbacks Gilberto Marinez and Jorge Maya and an undersized but quick offensive line that will be buoyed by seniors Orlando Cruiel (5-9, 214), Jason Garza (5-7, 180) and Angel Gutierrez (6-0, 210).
But the success of the offense will ultimately depend on whether Baltazar and his receivers can make opposing defenses respect the passing game. The 5-foot-9, 152-pound signal caller played sparingly last season as Myers rotated through three quarterbacks. This season he has had full reign of Watsonville’s double wing offense and his confidence has flourished in the role.
“Since I’m a senior and a leader all eyes are on me,” said Baltazar, who will look for Tinoco and fellow senior Isaiah Hernandez out wide. “I have to take leadership, of course. As a quarterback I have to take control of the team. I have to feel confident and I do. Compared to last year — coming in as a junior and being new to stuff — I’m more comfortable. Knowing everyone, knowing all the plays, knowing what to do, it helps.”
Myers said they don’t need Baltazar to break any passing records but if he can keep teams honest and make the offense two-dimensional they have a chance to be very good.
“We have to make huge strides this year,” Myers said.
Defensively, Watsonville figures to be stout again with seven returning starters. Delozier and junior Esteban Reyes (5-11, 210) are back at inside backer. Hernandez (5-7, 155) returns at outside linebacker. Maya (5-10, 190) and Rodrigo Hernandez (5-11, 210) bring experience along the defensive line. And Arnold and junior James Sandoval, who led the team in interceptions last season, are lockdown defenders in the defensive backfield.
“It’s a lot of fun to have those guys back — it’s exciting,” Myers said. “You’ve got to play [defense]. That’s where all football programs begin and end.”
But graduation did strip the Wildcatz of their three best defensive linemen, JoJo Vargas, Jesus Valle and Chris Cowans, as well as rangy cornerback Reyes Serrano.
Several players have stepped up in the trenches and at the cornerback spot opposite Sandoval. Arnold said the four vacated starting roles are all still up for grabs.
“It’s tough to say who is going to be the starting defensive line because everyone is still fighting for their position,” Arnold said. “Everyone is fighting for one of those spots. I think that’s a good thing.”
Watsonville will play a preseason slate featuring games against Pacific Grove High (Aug. 25), Santa Cruz High (Sept. 1), Greenfield High (Sept. 8) and Irvington High, of Fremont (Sept. 15) before starting MBL-P action on Sept. 22 against N.M.C.
Watsonville will play Gilroy, Monterey and Christopher in consecutive weeks but will have the benefit of having a bye week before the taxing stretch. It also doesn’t hurt that the Wildcatz will host both Gilroy and Monterey.
Last year, Gilroy routed Watsonville, 48-13, in a game where everything that could go wrong for the Wildcatz did. Watsonville believes things will be different this season. Much different.
“They’re good, they’re great, actually, but we just didn’t play as hard as them. We knew we needed to work harder and I think we did,” Bravo said. “I know when we play them this year it’s going to be a good game.”
Added Arnold: “That was a tough one. Losing to Seaside by one point, was tough, too. We don’t want that again. We’re coming back.”
