QB CRUNCH—Oak Park High defensive lineman Anthony Pounds sheds a blocker and gets after the quarterback during practice. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers The Eagles are an enigma.

They could mature quickly, take the Tri-Valley League title from Nordhoff, make a deep postseason run and contend for a section championship.

Or the Oak Park High football team could rumble through a respectable if unspectacular autumn.

The spectrum is that wide.

There’s one giant question: Who’s starting at quarterback?

Jonny Katz, Nick Koshofer and Jack Gerstenberger were competing for the starting quarterback spot earlier this week.

Oak Park head coach Terry Shorten didn’t settle on a starter on the eve of the team’s home scrimmage against Valley Christian last weekend.

The team kicks off its season at 7 p.m. Friday at Yucaipa.

“It’s a little tough,” senior Aki Zapata said last weekend. “It’s a little confusing. We need to figure out who our quarterback is. It’s a battle right now.”

Shorten understands the importance of installing the right quarterback into the Eagle system.

“The quarterback position is something we feel will be a key factor with this team and how we execute offensively,” he said.

“We need our play-caller to be consistent. We need him to be a field leader, take the team down the field while executing the offense and making good decisions.”

Katz, who has played four years in the system, is a natural leader.

Koshofer, a summer sophomore transfer from Crespi, possesses a solid arm.

The junior Gerstenberger has the best size to view the field from the pocket at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds.

Katz, who is also a wide receiver, has approached the delicate situation with aplomb.

“I just want to play,” Katz said, “and be on the field. I’d love to be the quarterback. I want to be the quarterback of this team.

“Whatever brings us the best chance to win, I’ll be for it. That’s what I’ve always been about.”

The senior quarterback said he’s helped Koshofer and Gerstenberger pick up the offense.

“I pride myself on my work ethic,” Katz said. “It shows the team that I’m going to be here to work and that I’m here for my team.”

The rest of the lineup is rounding into shape.

Oak Park has plenty of playmakers on offense, especially at wide receiver with Zapata, Aaron Lacombe and Nick Fahn.

Anton SanFilippo and tight end Thomas Mattivi are other pass-catching options.

Zapata will be very busy. The dynamic and versatile studentathlete will spend time at free safety, cornerback, running back, kicker, punter and as a primary return man.

“This team can accomplish anything it wants,” Zapata said.

“We need to become a team first and not a bunch of individuals. Practice is one thing—games are different.”

Yanir Klibanov, Kyle Espinosa and Dominic Ju bolster the running back corps with Zapata.

Shorten expects Oak Park to run and pass effectively thanks to its offensive line.

“We’re blessed with talented big guys,” the coach said. “We expect them to dominate the line of scrimmage.”

Luca Bruno, a junior, anchors right tackle.

“He’s bigger, stronger and meaner,” Shorten said of Bruno, who started as a sophomore.

Bruno, who also starts at defensive end, said he relishes the aggressive philosophy of firstyear defensive coordinator Dave Breuninger.

“There’s going to be a lot more hits,” Bruno said, “and a lot more blitzing. We have a new, more aggressive outlook.”

Junior left tackle Anthony Pounds and senior center Bobby Surane solidified starting spots.

Shawn Green, Austin Shapiro and Troy Gentile are battling for playing time at guard.

Pounds, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle, is quiet, hardworking and physical, the head coach said.

“I hope we communicate and play well as a team, of course,” Pounds said.

The lineman said proper conditioning is crucial for Oak Park, which has 31 players on its varsity roster and multiple two-way starters.

He’d also like the Eagles to perform well at home on their newly installed FieldTurf.

The first home game is Sept. 9 against Channel Islands.

“We have to stay healthy and stay hydrated,” Pounds said. “We don’t want to get beat at home.”

The strength of the defense is in the trenches. Bruno, Jack Mulville and Matt Covert are defensive ends. Pounds and Green beef up defensive tackle.

“We’re big and physical up front,” Shorten said. “We will take the running game away from most teams.”

Klibanov and Mattivi both start at outside linebacker.

Mark Flamer and Brandon Schmidt are middle linebackers. Kyle Espinosa and his brother Taylor, a fullback, are in the mix at linebacker.

Zapata will spend time defensively roaming free safety.

Ju and Cory Shiender are strong safeties. Cornerbacks SanFilippo, Lacombe, Fahn and Jordan Chalk-Wong aid the defensive backfield.

“We have to get back to a winning tradition at Oak Park,” Shorten said. “My expectations for the program are very high. We want to win at all levels, go to CIF playoffs and make runs for CIF championships.

“This year’s team—we really feel we could be there this year.”

Oak Park schedule

• Sept. 2 at Yucaipa
• Sept. 9 vs. Ch. Islands
• Sept. 16 vs. Chino
• Sept. 23 vs. Paraclete
• Sept. 30 at El Segundo
• Oct. 7 at Camarillo
• Oct. 14 vs. Santa Paula
• Oct. 28 at Carpinteria
• Nov. 4 at Fillmore
• Nov. 11 vs. Nordhoff