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Spring Football Preview: Experienced Trabuco Hills Looks to Finish Strong

Trabuco Hills went from reaching a division title game in 2009 to going winless in the South Coast League last season, but the Mustangs return a number of experienced players this fall.

Trabuco Hills was given a rough introduction last season to the CIF Southern Section's marquee division in football, the Pac-5. The coaching staff and players are chalking up their winless record in South Coast League play to inexperience.

This fall, with 17 returning starters, the Mustangs are looking for retribution. Trabuco Hills is used to winning football games, not losing them.

In 2009, the Mustangs were undefeated in Sea View League play and advanced to the Southwest Division championship game. But because of their success—two finals in three years—when leagues were realigned over the summer, the Mustangs were moved into the South Coast League, which is included with the Trinity, Sunset, Serra and Moore leagues to make up the Pac-5 Division.

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Though unable to match up with the upgraded competition, second-year coach Scott Orloff said he believes his team took something away from that experience.

“I think this team is motivated to do better," Orloff said. "The four years prior, Trabuco was successful in Division 6, but they didn’t realize it’s a whole different ballgame in Division 1—Pac-5 football. So they worked real hard this off-season.  That’s going to pay dividends for them.”

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With 17 returning starters, 10 on offense and seven on defense, the Mustangs hope that experience is something that will work in their favor.  All of the 17 returning players started at least five games last year.

One of those is senior quarterback Jonathan Newsom, who started every game for Trabuco Hills.

“I learned a lot from last year, mainly about the atmosphere,” said Newsom, saying that in JV play it’s pretty much only friends and family who come to games, while for varsity games, the crowds get a lot bigger and the lights get brighter.  Newsom is looking forward to experiencing it once again.

The coaching staff said it likes to give Newsom, a dual-threat, different options on each play to either run or throw.  Newsom said simply, “I love having my hands on the ball.”

With experience comes leadership, and the returning quarterback learned a lot about how to run the offense. “There’s going to be no talking in my huddle,” said Newsom emphatically. “If we have a good huddle, we usually have a good play; if we have a bad huddle, it’s usually a bad play.”

Orloff is very happy with his quarterback, saying that “Newsom is a tough kid. He’s a returning starter, so that’s going to help him.”  He added, “He’s got a good arm, he can run, has got good speed. ... He throws really well on the run.  We give him options to run and pass.” 

Protecting Newsom will be another returning starter, offensive and defensive lineman Michael Talafus, a 6-foot-4 left tackle who is a third-year starter for the Mustangs. 

“Spring [practice] has been great so far," Talafus said. "We have a new defensive coordinator in coach [Joe] Mitchell and I’m just really happy to be out here.”  On his role this upcoming season, Talafus said, “My job is to push some guys around and help out the quarterback. I gotta make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”

Other returning senior starters include running back/linebacker Mitchell Simonsen, wide receiver Lucas Hoover, defensive lineman Devon Spaulding and receiver Matthew Kirkland.

Where the experience might prove most vaulable is in close games. A year ago, the Mustangs dropped league contests to Tesoro, 21-14, and Dana Hills, 39-38. Newsom said that the main lesson learned from last season was to “never give up, because we didn’t finish games so well.”

Orloff said if this year's team can “learn how to finish games,” they will have a chance to compete for the league title, which invariably goes through Mission Viejo.

The departure of wide receiver Adam Gunn, free safety Andrew Walsh, kicker Oleg Parent and offensive lineman Kyle Wade must be addressed, but with the depth among senior leaders, the Mustangs are hopeful they will be able to find replacements.

While there is a lot of optimism being expressed about the team's experience and togetherness, the Mustangs know first-hand how things that are uncontrollable can derail any dreams.

“By our fifth game last season we were starting three sophomores on the offensive line due to injuries,” Orloff said. “We have to stay injury-free this year.”

The addition of strength and fitness coach Joe Mitchell will hopefully help the Mustangs avoid the injuries that plagued them last year.

Mitchell said he has been promoting overall strength training with Olympic lifting exercises to get the team ready for the upcoming season.  He said that certain changes needed to be made in the players' approach to strength training and, so far, he has been happy with the progress he has seen.

The Mustangs plan to use multiple sets on offense this year, including two running backs in the backfield at times, and none at other times but adding extra receivers instead. On defense, Trabuco Hills will be lining up in a 4-3 base defense and scheme around what their opponent's offense likes to do. 

“We have the talent to be successful,” Orloff said. “It’s going to come down to how hungry the kids are for it.”

Trabuco Hills' 2011 Varsity Football Schedule:

Thursday, Sept. 1 at Capistrano Valley, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 8 vs. Newport Harbor, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 15 vs. Santa Margarita, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 23 vs. JSerra, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 30 vs. Fountain Valley at Huntington Beach High, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 6 vs. San Juan Hills at Tesoro High, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14 vs. San Clemente, 7 p.m.*

Friday, Oct. 21 at Tesoro, 7 p.m.*

Friday, Nov. 4 at Dana Hills, 7 p.m.*

Thursday, Nov. 10 vs. Mission Viejo, 7 p.m.*

* Indicates South Coast League game

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