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Preseason schedule allows Warriors clarity
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Photo by Paige Lampson
The varsity Warriors have a different preseason this year after contracts expired with several teams after last season.
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By Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley
Herald Sports
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With a roster that includes mostly returning players and several new assistant coaches in place to guide Galt High School, varsity football head coach Warren Schroeder is taking no chances with his preseason schedule.
Tired of difficult pre-seasons that ended up in banged up, injured players before the league schedule even began, the Warriors will be using their time instead to try to ensure a more prepared Sierra Valley Conference season.
Galt’s contracts with a handful of powerhouse teams expired after 2007, making way for a vamped-up schedule for Galt.
“The contracts with some of our more challenging pre-season opponents had expired so we decided to seek out some teams who would provide us with a more realistic opportunity to gain some early confidence and stay healthy as we entered league,” Schroeder said Thursday.
The Warriors open up their season Friday at home against McNair and will also play against River City High School in addition to their usual preseason opponents Tokay and Lodi.
Galt is running an offensive mix of new and old, which could work well with its roster of 45 players, which includes 27 returning players, according to Schroeder.
“We will be running more of a ball control pro offense this year with some of last year's scheme mixed in,” Schroeder said.
“We plan to take advantage of our playmakers and allow them some freedom within our scheme.”
Those playmakers include senior Trevor Alcoriza at running back/ss, senior Joey Ruiz, a tight end/linebacker, and junior wide receiver/defensive back Abram Piggee, who will all be key athletes on the field.
Alcoriza was a leader on both offense and defense as a junior, Ruiz was a solid presence on defense and Piggee was a standout for the JV squad in 2007.
Other key players named by Schroeder include offensive lineman/defensive lineman Ryan Byrd, running back/full safety PJ Lowe, defensive lineman Eric Toscano, fullback/linebacker Tyler Kluender, offensive lineman/linebacker Daniel Herrera, quarterback/linebacker Bobby Byrd, and running back/defensive back Anthony Trejo.
Added to the Sierra Valley Conference this season is Vista del Lago, which is in its first year of varsity sports after opening in 2007.
The Eagles will be Galt’s first league opponent, and will be followed by Union Mine, Ponderosa, Christian Brothers, Oak Ridge and Cordova in the final week of the prep season.
Vista del Lago has a young roster of 36 players who are mostly juniors, and is coached by Chris Jones.
Union Mine, coached by Dave Johnson, has 30 players comprised of a mixture of seniors and junior players.
Both Christian Brothers and Oak Ridge have nationally ranked players, although the Trojans will have only a few returning starters and will have to adjust to its new lineup, according to Maxpreps.com.
Both Ponderosa and Cordova are dealing with major off-season changes.
Ponderosa lost 30 players from last season and has a young roster, while Cordova lost longtime head coach Max Miller, who is replaced by Vince Isbell.
Isbell most recently served as the Lancers’ JV head football coach and is a teacher at Cordova High School, according to Folsom Cordova Unified School District’s Web site.
The Warriors will have a new cast of coaches themselves, including Rich Maberto, who relinquished his JV head coach position in favor of serving as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach.
“He will be working closely with myself in calling plays,” Schroeder said. “I will also be serving this year as the offensive line coach.”
T.J. Guidotti is returning as the Warriors’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and will be assisted by Mark Seibel, a secondary coach who will also work with players on strength and conditioning.
Wes Childress will serve as defensive line coach and John Rodriguez will assist as Galt’s receivers’ coach and special teams coordinator, according to Schroeder.
The Warriors will face McNair High School at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening at Galt High School.
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