Football: Broncos still loaded; ready for D-I
A suffocating defense led the Rancho Bernardo High football team to its first state championship in school history last year. This season the fireworks should come from the other side of the ball.
The Broncos return nine starters on offense, including Quarterback and Fresno State commit Mark Salazar and electrifying running back Milan Grice. Add in senior receivers Leo Wagner and Christian Baker, one of the top place kickers in the nation, Matt Araiza, and four returning offensive linemen and you get one of the most feared offenses in the section.
“I love watching our offense,” said Broncos coach Tristan McCoy, who is also the defensive coordinator. “Our offensive coordinator (Bryan Gundon) does a great job with scheme and preparation. I always tell him that I would hate to defend our offense because I don’t know what poison I would pick. I don’t know what I would try to take away. I think we have a lot of potential and it should be pretty exciting to watch.”
The expectations are high for the two-time defending Palomar League champions. After conquering San Diego Section’s Division II last season, the Broncos were bumped to Division I for 2016. A new challenge and a chance to show they belong with the best of the best in San Diego erases any feelings of complacency Rancho Bernardo might have developed after last year’s historic CIF Division 3A state title run.
“I think moving to Division I is the best thing that could have happened to us after last year,” McCoy said. “The No. 1 challenge you have coming off a successful season is complacency. The threat of having the mindset of ‘we did this last year so next year we will do the same thing.’ Moving up to Division I presents a ton of challenges. I think once the kids found out they got really excited. I think they want to prove and show last year wasn’t a fluke. They want to show they can do it in a higher division.”
Rancho Bernardo opens the season ranked No. 5 in the San Diego Union-Tribune poll. Defending Open Division champion Helix, St. Augustine, Cathedral Catholic and Oceanside are ranked No. 1-4, respectively.
The Broncos will have to fill many voids on the defensive side to climb the charts. Defensive back Kaelan Pestano and defensive linemen Matt Roehrig and Aric Tateyama are expected to lead the way. But there are eight new starters out there trying to help Rancho Bernardo duplicate its smothering, ball-stealing ways of 2015.
It helps for those guys to be going up such a dynamic offense in practice.
“Trying to defend our receivers and running back and experienced offensive line has been a good challenge,” McCoy said. “Day in and day out it helps us continue to get better.”
Salazar is expected to sling he ball around the field and run more this year. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 185-pound signal caller threw for 2,248 yards and 21 touchdowns to just eight interceptions last season. He rushed 35 times for 161 yards and four TDs. He is ready to face the section’s best teams.
“I know we have a lot of guys who love to compete and we are not afraid of competition,” Salazar said. “We want to show teams in Division I and the Open Division that RB can play. We can play with anybody in the county.”
Salazar will be protected by nearly the same group as last season. James Lee and Chase Layne will anchor the offensive line, which will pave the way again for the speedy Grice. Grice, who rushed for 1,872 yards and reached the end zone 23 times on the ground, has an offer from the University of South Dakota.
The Broncos are the favorite to win the Palomar League again. October 7 is the date that stands out on the schedule, as Rancho Bernardo will travel to No. 9 Mission Hills. The Broncos open the season Friday at Eastlake at 7 p.m.
Rancho Bernardo
Coach: Tristan McCoy, 6th year
2015 record: 13-2, 3-1 Palomar League; CIF Division 3A state champions, SoCal Regional 3A champions, San Diego Section Division II champions and Palomar League champions.
Division: I
Key players: QB, Mark Salazar, Sr.; RB, Milan Grice, Sr.; WR/DB, Leo Wagner, Sr.; WR/DB, Christian Baker, Sr.; PK, Matt Araiza, Jr.; OL, James Lee, Sr.; OL, Chase Layne, Sr.; DB, Kaelan Pestano, Sr.; DL, Matt Roehrig, Sr.
Outlook: The Broncos feature one of the top offenses in the county, led by returners Salazar at QB and Grice at running back. Wagner and Baker are two of the top options in the area at WR, while place kicker Araiza is one of the best in the country. Combine that with four returning offensive linemen and RB should have little trouble lighting up the scoreboard. The defense is the only question mark with just three starters returning, but coach McCoy seems to always have that side of the ball playing at a high level. Defensive returners Pestano, Matt Roehrig (DL) and Aric Tateyama (DL) are expected to lead the way.
The Broncos have won back-to-back Palomar League titles and are the frontrunners to win it again this year. The Broncos should also challenge for a spot in the prestigious Open Division playoffs where they hope to prove they belong at the top of the list. Rancho Bernardo opens the season at Eastlake on Friday at 7 p.m.
Prediction: Rancho Bernardo 42, Eastlake 24