Capistrano Valley’s 2018 season was one with good and bad stretches. They started off strong, winning their first six games, but by the end of their 9th game, they were 6-3. They managed to get back on track in their last regular season game with a win and carried some momentum into their division playoffs. They won their first two playoff games before falling short in a shootout to Cajon, 46-42. A final record of 9-4 includes many positives but also areas where the Cougars can learn and improve going into 2019.
Sean Curtis is now the head coach of Capistrano Valley. He was hired in March to replace Ernie Bucher who was the head coach for six years. Bucher led the team to the division semifinals or finals in four of the past five years before resigning in December of 2018 to spend more time with his family. Curtis recently coached at JSerra Catholic, a top football program in the state. Despite the long period of not knowing who would replace Bucher, Capistrano Valley athletics believes they have the right guy for the job.
Key Losses
Inside linebacker James Giles (6’4, 235 lbs) and safety Jayce Hunter (6’0, 185 lbs) were the heart and soul of the Cougars defense. Giles racked up 164 tackles, good for the team-high, while Hunter recorded 113 tackles. Giles was possibly the most overlooked player in the state of California last year. BYU got a steal getting Giles as a preferred walk-on. Quarterback Nathan Manning (6’2, 185 lbs) ignited the Cougars offense throwing for 3,500 passing yards and 49 touchdowns. Manning is playing baseball for Cal. Blake Morgan (6’0, 175 lbs) caught 47 passes for 970 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Morgan signed to play at Southern Oregon in the upcoming fall. Jake Meyer (6’2, 200 lbs) caught 51 passes for 772 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Cornerback Tommy Dickman (5’10, 170 lbs) brought down 4 interceptions on the season, good enough to lead the squad.
Offense
The Cougars lost a lot of offense from last year’s graduating class. As we approach the 2019 high school season, it’s a possibility that Jack Haley (6’0 170 lbs) makes the switch from receiver to quarterback with Manning gone. He is on the roster at both positions and attempted more passes last season than any other returning varsity player for the Cougars.
As pass-heavy as Capistrano Valley was last season, it will be interesting to see how a new head coach changes the offense. The Cougars are losing their starting quarterback and 2 of their top receivers. Meanwhile, they are returning their top two rushers and a physical PAC-12 tight end. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Cougars want to run the football more this season.
De’Andre LeNard (5’10, 200 lbs) and Dylan Flynn (5’9, 145 lbs) are two senior running backs that will be featured this season. The duo combined for 730 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. LeNard is an All-Conference caliber player that colleges will be looking at before the season is over.
The Cougars had several receivers who had impressive seasons. Jake Muller, a 6’6 235-pound tight end caught 14 passes for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns last season. He will definitely need to be a primary option in the passing game this season. The staff needs to find creative ways to get him a lot more touches and take advantage of having a PAC-12 tight end on the roster. Muller committed in June to play at Cal. Hayden Cook and Jackson Wear are Class of 2021 receivers that will be good options for Haley.
The offensive line is lead by 6’6 255-pound left tackle, Brennan Karsh. He is another player under the radar for the Cougars that has a Power 5 frame. Karsh is an elite player but he is even better in the classroom with a 4.83 overall GPA. Jacob Hubbard is a 6’2 280-pound offensive guard in the 2021 recruiting class that will start this season.
Defense
Allowing opponents an average of only 17 points per game, that total would’ve been even lower without a short midseason slump. Heading into 2019, there are a lot of starting positions to fill. Capistrano Valley is losing their top linebacker, safety, and corner.
The strength of the Cougar’s defense will be the defensive line. Pressuring the opposing quarterback on a consistent basis is what defensive end Patrick Griu (6’1, 200 lbs) does best. He led the way in the sack category for Capistrano Valley with 16 and is the top returning defensive player for the Cougars. Luke Meyer (6’2 255 lbs) started at defensive tackle as a freshman last year and is a Division 1 prospect in the class of 2022. He is another great student-athlete that carries a 4.22 GPA. Daniel Gutierrez is a 6’2 240-pound defensive lineman that had 67 tackles and 12 tackles for loss as a junior.
A pair of linebackers who will see their playing time expand this fall are Eric Crow (5’9, 175 lbs) and Jacob Pontius (5’9, 165 lbs). Both are 2021 graduates and played in the majority of the games last season.
A player who could make a leap and be the best defensive back on the team is senior Sean Holland (5’10, 170 lbs). He played in 8 games last season and made an impact by picking off opposing quarterbacks 3 times. Mikey Shott (5’11 160 lbs), Garrett Hamm (5’10 165 lbs), Brady Kasper (6’0 170 lbs) are all defensive backs that will contribute.
Coach Curtis has some decisions to make. They have the talent to compete, and it will be interesting to see whether or not a lack of experience will be a factor.
2019 Schedule
Capistrano Valley opens up with San Juan Hills in a tough non-conference game in week 1. They are a talented team that went 8-4 last season and will be a difficult team to face to start the season. Yorba Linda will be a big game in week 3. The Cougars beat them last year 28-14 but Yorba Linda did well down the stretch and finished the year with a 9-3 overall record. San Clemente, Mission Viejo, and Tesoro will be tough opponents in the South Coast League. All 3 teams beat the Cougars last season, but they all lost some key players that could give Capistrano Valley the edge. The Cougars entered the playoffs last year with a 7-3 record from the regular season. They have the ability this year to finish the regular season with only 1 or worst case 2 losses but a definite improvement from 2018.
2019 Outlook
A new head coach changes everything for a team in any sport. When it comes to football, the coach may bring in a new staff, change the offensive and defensive playbook, run different formations and schemes, and other things. Players who can adapt to changes brought into a system will be the most effective. The Cougars are losing a lot of their senior starters from last season, opening the door for new players to emerge into the spotlight.
Offensively, the tailback tandem of De’Andre LeNard and Dylan Flynn should get the bulk of the carries. Jack Haley will have some impact, whether it be at quarterback or wide receiver. Jake Muller’s role will expand and he will be a huge difference-maker in 2019. We are expecting Brennan Karsh to have a break out senior season leading the offensive line. The success of the offense will depend on how well the play calling and personnel mesh together.
Defensively, the same can be said. The Cougars are losing 3 of their top 4 players on defense. Replacing starters is never easy, but Coach Curtis will have to experiment with a variety of players rotating in on defense and he will learn who his top guys will be. The defensive line has a lot of talent and will cause problems for opposing offenses. Their aggressive play will set the tone for the rest of the defense.
A team that has made at least the semifinals in four of the past five seasons, the bar is not any lower just because they are graduating several starters and their head coach resigned. The Cougars are expected to do well in the early rounds of playoffs, but winning a division championship might be difficult with so many first-year starters and a first-year coach.
