Coyote football team remains optimistic

With two games remaining in the football season, Calabasas is 0-8 overall, 0-5 Marmonte League.

But coach Ken Papotta was optimistic as the team prepared this week to host the Newbury Park Panthers tomorrow night at 7 p.m. and finish the season on Nov. 14 at Agoura against the Chargers, also with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

In league games this season, the Coyotes have lost to the Moorpark Musketeers, 50-7; Royal Highlanders, 47-14; Westlake Warriors, 59-0; Thousand Oaks Lancers, 42-17, and Simi Valley Pioneers, 48-19.

"We’re trying to reduce the mental errors that our younger players are making," said Papotta, who’s in his first season as head coach of the Coyotes. He said that the team giving up points has been "one of the main things we’ve been battling all season."

So far, he’s been impressed with the spirit and attitude of most of the team and several key players in particular.

He’s worked with senior quarterback Keith Barrett who’s completed 43 percent of his passes. "We’ve limited the field to a certain area on the plays instead of trying to see the whole field," his coach said. To achieve this, he’s worked with Barrett on concentrating on one or two receivers. The specific receivers vary—depending on the play, he added.

Papotta said that senior wide receiver Damon Rodriquez (who’s averaging 17 yards per catch) has been a strong producer. "We get the ball to him with short passes," his coach said. "He’s key to helping us move the ball down the field."

Senior running back Obi Ikemefuna, averaging 6.1 yards rushing, Papotta said, did well in the Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley games. He’s very deceptive with his speed and strength, Papotta said.

Another Coyote, a two-way player, senior tight end/defensive end Rick Harrison, is averaging eight yards per carry on offense. Harrison has been a workhorse, having played solidly in every game, Papotta said. "He is very smart and has played before," his coach said. "He knows how to read defenses and stop the plays coming around his side."

A player that Papotta will be happy to see back next year is junior running back/defensive back Alex Henderson, who’s averaging 3.3 yards per carry on offense.

"He is our bright star, a future star," his coach said. "Against Thousand Oaks, he played a pretty big game. This week (against Newbury Park), I am going to ask him to do some different things. He’ll do anything we ask. He’s the fastest in our program."

In addition to this quintet, Papotta said he’s pleased with several others, including two seniors: offensive lineman/linebacker Chase Smith and offensive-defensive lineman Dan Melancon.

Smith has played a crucial role for Calabasas. "I can count on him in every game," his coach said. "If we need a few yards, I know I can run the ball through his area."

Regarding Melancon, Papotta said, he plays "a core position at tackle and defensive end (and) he helps the other players know what to do and where to go when they’re confused on the field."

Despite the struggles this season, the Coyote coach has started planning for the future. "I’m going through development and growth of the program with an entire year to work on it instead of three months," he said.

Papotta was appointed head coach in May. One of his first concerns was conditioning. Many players worked to gain the size and weight they need to play football.

However, the coach said, the players need a full year of training. "Even though they made huge strides from where they were, I cannot imagine where we’ll be if we have a whole year in the program."

Papotta said he’ll be encouraging residents of Calabasas to develop a youth football program. Athletes who’ve played youth football "have more knowledge and more awareness two of three years before getting to high school," he said.

"We have young sophomores and this is only their third year of playing football," the coach said. The West Valley Eagles used to play in the area, but that program folded. Others are working on a Pop Warner team for the area, Papotta said

In addition, he wants more participation, he said, in the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams. "We’re trying to get the numbers up in who comes out for the program.".

To support his goals, Papotta said that seniors will go to A.E. Wright and A.C. Stelle middle schools next month and wear their jerseys for pep rallys. "They will talk with the kids about all sports," the coach said, "not just football."

Also Papotta said he’ll be working to acquire more assistant coaches. "Some of our levels are lacking for numbers of coaches," he said. "We’d like to get ex-Calabasas players out to coach. This is in the process. I am already doing that."