Chargers are early pick to win Marmonte League football title

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn SEASON SET TO START--Senior Mike Coons, center, of Agoura gets tackled by a Chaminade defender during a scrimmage last Friday. Most local high school football teams are in action tomorrow. night.

Last spring, L.A. Times sports writer Eric Sondheimer, who reports on high schools, picked Agoura to win the Marmonte League in football this fall. Much more recently, the Ventura County Star also picked Agoura as the team to beat in the Marmonte League this season.

Charger head coach Charlie Wegher is downplaying the hype and trying to concentrate on the task at hand.

"It does put pressure on you," Wegher said regarding the early expectations. "We have talked about it, and I think our team has potential, but they really have to focus in practice like a championship-level team if they’re going to achieve their goals. We have some days we’re good and some we aren’t."

Summing up the first-place prognostications, Wegher said, "I think it’s been more of a distraction than anything."

Last year Agoura was 4-6 but a lot of its key players are back this year and the past two years the Charger JV teams have gone 9-1. Senior quarterback Dustin Croick returns as does starting tight end Bryan Huston and tailback Mike Coons, both seniors.

"A lot of guys are returning," Wegher said. "We’re getting good leadership out of Dustin Croick and Bryan Huston. And I think as we go through the season we’ll get some more leadership out of some of our other guys."

Concerning the 6-foot-0, 200-pound running back Coons, Wegher said, "Mike Coons is a bruiser, he’ll try to be physical and run you over—that’s his style."

Bryan Walker, a junior, is the backup to Croick at quarterback.

Agoura opens its season vs. Buena at 7:30 p.m. this Friday at Larrabee Stadium in Ventura.

Wegher said Buena would be tough competition right away because the Bulldogs are big and physical.

"They’re huge," Wegher said after viewing videotape of Buena. "It will help us get better where we need to get better, and it will be a good test for us."

After Buena, Agoura will host Camarillo on Fri., Sept. 20, and Rio Mesa on Fri., Sept. 27.

Wegher thinks the Marmonte League will actually be a close race between schools that appear similar talent-wise

"I think it’s wide open," Wegher said. "It’s one of the most even years I can remember. There are six teams that are legitimate contenders for the title. I consider us one of those six. But I don’t think that there’s a frontrunner right now. Let’s wait until we get into the year."

Wegher said Agoura should be solid on both sides of the ball this season even though he isn’t certain who will start on the defensive line.

"I think our defense will be better than it was last year," he said. "We’ve got probably eight or nine kids on the defensive line that are going to play. We just haven’t decided who’s going to start."

Who plays on the defensive front four may depend on the opponent.

"If we’re playing a physical team like Buena, we’ll play the bigger kids, and if we’re playing a passing team, we’ll play the smaller, faster kids," Wegher said.

The offensive line will consist of Blaire Berg, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior left tackle, Jared Smits, a 6-1, 230 senior right tackle, guards P.J. Irvin (6-4, 290, sr.) and Ryan Deirmendijan (6-0, 220, jr.) and center Bob Snyder who’s a 5-10, 251-pound junior.

"At certain positions we’re very deep and at others we’re not," Wegher said. "We’ve got a good first group of linebackers. We’re a little bit thin in the secondary. The offensive line is fairly solid."

Wegher added, "At quarterback we’ve got two very good, quality kids, and we’ve got several guys who could play tailback. At receiver we’re okay—it’s not panic time."

Braden Lepisto, a junior wide receiver/free safety adds speed (4.5 in the 40-yard dash) as do cornerbacks Matt Marx, a senior, and Josh Silverman, a junior.

"We don’t have big-time speed-burner types. But if they play smart and don’t make mistakes, we can compete," Wegher said. "Overall, as a team, there may be more potential there than we’ve had in a long time. But we still have to wait and see if we’re going to focus and work hard and commit."

The Charger coach said his players are ready for the regular season.

"We need to play a game," he said. "Our kids are sick of seeing each other every day, tackling and blocking each other—we need to block somebody else and go full speed. We need to get that tempo."