Football: Nighthawks move to Palomar League
The blame game and finger pointing usually begins pretty quickly in the midst of a 1-10 season. But second-year Del Norte High football coach Patrick Coleman didn’t hear a peep about it out of his players or the rest of the coaching staff in 2015.
“We survived a 1-10 season without any finger pointing by the kids or anyone else in the organization,” said Coleman, whose team opens the season against Carlsbad Friday at 7 p.m. at Del Norte . “Nobody blamed anybody else ever. And that makes me hopeful for 2016.”
Being a tight-knit group is not the only reason Coleman is hopeful his second year leading the Nighthawks will result in more wins than his first. Del Norte comes back with a larger roster and it returns 14 starters, seven on each side of the ball.
“I absolutely think we are going to make a big leap this year,” said Coleman, whose program will play in the Palomar League for the first time. “We had a tremendous offseason in the weight room and we did well in all of the passing leagues. Our offensive line has improved and we will run the ball and pass protect better.”
Returning quarterback Jake Moore sure hopes that is the case. The talented 6-foot, 5-inch signal caller threw for 1,503 yards, but was intercepted 14 times in 2015. Much of that was due to the Nighthawks being down big so quickly that they became one-dimensional and opponents knew the pass was coming. Moore was also still learning Coleman’s version of the spread offense.
“I think he has the experience now and we can fine tune some things now that he knows the system,” Coleman said. “Jake is a great athlete and he can make plays with his feet and he has the foot work to go through his read progressions. He also has a great cast surrounding him.”
The Nighthawks have a handful of electric skill players, but none are expected to have a bigger breakout season than senior wide receiver/defensive back D’Angelo Gunter. The state qualifier in the 400-meter last year only played in seven games on the football field, catching just 11 passes for 91 yards. His athleticism and speed should shine on the gridiron this season.
“We didn’t see it last year from him,” Coleman said. “He wasn’t ready. It was a new program. But we are going to see something special out of him this year. He trusts me and the scheme and he has worked hard in the weight room. The first play we scrimmaged out here Moore connected with him (on a deep) touchdown. He just ran right by the safety and my safety plays 15 yards off the ball.”
Del Norte has many other great options, too. Senior running back Robby Hauck returns as does leading receiver Anthony Ullrich. Ullrich had 38 catches for 488 yards and a TD last season. The Nighthawks, who never scored over 17 points in a game and were blanked three times last season, think their depth and experience should help them reach the end zone much more often in 2016.
The defense hopes it can keep teams out of the end zone more often. Del Norte allowed just over 32 points per game and it gave up 50-plus on three different occasions last year. Coleman, who was a defensive coordinator with Oceanside for six years, thinks a year of being in his system will help tremendously.
“We have the depth this year and I think the kids are more confident in the system,” he said.
The linebackers, led by senior Scott McKirdy, will be the strength of the defense. McKirdy will be surrounded by other talented linebackers, including Cody Gilligan and Will Carpenter.
Del Norte is expected to struggle against its neighbors in its first season in the Palomar League. But the Nighthawks have the talent to surprise a few teams and possibly finish in the middle of the pack.
“Our school has never had a winning season,” Coleman said. “That is a huge monkey on our back that we would like to remove, and we feel like we can go out there and accomplish that.”
Del Norte
Coach: Patrick Coleman, 2nd year
2015 record: 1-10, 0-4 Avocado East League; eliminated first round of Division III playoffs
Division: III
Key players: WR/DB, D’angelo Gunter, Sr.; QB, Jake Moore, Sr.; RB/LB/DB, Robby Hauck, Sr.; WR, Anthony Ullrich, Sr.; LB/FB, Scott McKirdy, Sr.; WR/DB, Michael Morales, Sr.; LB, Cody Gillegan, Sr.; OL/DL, Anthony Jimenez, Sr.
Outlook: The Nighthawks will play their first season in the Palomar League and are hoping it goes better than their last in the Avocado East. Del Norte was young and it led to a 1-10 finish, but 14 players are returning starters. The Nighthawks need to be better on both sides of the ball, as they were shutout three times and allowed over 50 points in a game on three occasions. There is a strong core of players at the skill positions with WRs Gunter and Ullrich leading the way. QB Moore is looking to progress from last year as is talented RB Hauck, the 2015 team MVP.
The Nighthawks are expected to finish near the bottom of the pack in league. But the challenges they face throughout the season could prepare them to make a run in the Division III playoffs. The Nighthawks open the season at home against Carlsbad at 7 p.m.
Prediction: Carlsbad 35, Del Norte 14