Prep football: Maranatha Christian ready to fly high with new spread offense attack

By Michael Bower

Mike Hauser had never even seen an 8-man football game. But he had no problem taking the head coaching position at Maranatha Christian halfway through the season last year.

“I always played 11 in college and high school,” he said. “The field is 20 yards shorter and narrower, but because there are less guys on the field there are more big plays in 8-man football.”

After making the switch to a spread offense, big plays are exactly what Hauser and the Eagles are hoping for this season. The change should suit Eagles standout quarterback Jake Kirby, who as a 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior already has garnered some interest from colleges.

“He is one of the best in the county,” Hauser said. “He is going to have a big year.”

The Eagles had an odd season last year. The squad had just around 13 players on the roster, yet tried to compete in 11-man football for half the season. Once that plan was foiled due to injuries, the team competed in only 8-man games. The squad finished at 3-3 and went 3-2 in the Citrus League. The Eagles lost in the first round of the 8-man San Diego Section playoffs.

This year the entire season will be 8-man games for the Eagles. The San Diego Section has done away with 8-man team playoffs. Instead, putting the eight, 8-man teams into one league — the Sunset League — and letting them fight it out all year for the league title and mythical section championship.

“At first it was disappointing, because it is fun to have a playoff game and see how you match up,” Hauser said. “But now every week matters. Each game is important and it is like a seven-round playoff. That makes it exciting.”

The Eagles are expected to compete for the league title along with rivals Warner and Kuyper Prep. Maranatha should have an explosive offense with Kirby leading the away. His go-to guy this season should be do-it-all junior Michael Trent.

“He is all over the field,” Hauser said. “He is a hard runner and he can do just about anything on the field.”

Another target for Kirby will be first-year receiver Chad Rocha. Hauser got the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder to step away from the soccer field for a few months to play a little football this season.

“He is a natural catcher,” Hauser said.

The real question mark for the Eagles comes on defense. Hauser is trying to install a new defense, too. The Eagles were burned on the outside run all last season and Hauser doesn’t want that to be the case this year.

“Two things we want to do this year is put the QB on his back and stop the run,” he said. “Nobody could pass on us last year. We kept getting beat on the outside run, so this year we are overemphasizing the run to make sure nobody gets outside on us.”

This could be the final year of 8-man football at Maranatha Christian, as Hauser said they are hoping to play 11-man football full time within the next two years.

“That all depends on kids coming to the school,” he said. “You need at least 20 or 30 guys to have an 11-man team.”

Maranatha Christian

COACH: Mike Hauser, second year.

2010 RECORD: 3-3, 3-2 Citrus League

TOP RETURNEES: QB/S, Jake Kirby, Jr.; RB/WR/LB, Michael Trent, Jr.; OL/DL, Derek Olsen, Sr.; LB, Josiah Rubia, Soph.

KEY LOSSES: none.

OUTLOOK: After splitting time in 11-man games and 8-man games last season, Maranatha will only play 8-man football this year. The Eagles have installed the spread offense, which should be perfect for Kirby, one of the top QBs in the county. RB/WR Trent gives the Eagles a real offensive threat and returning LB Josiah Rubia will anchor the defense. The Eagles should compete for a Sunset League title.

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Posted by Michael Bower on Sep 7 2011. Filed under High School, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry