Despite the conditions, no one was complaining. In fact, many, if not all, happily endured the high temperatures just to be back on the field.
“Finally, it’s here,” quarterback Brock Dickey said of his anticipation for the season.
Dickey was one of 43 players who were back on the Pirates’ field after a three-week layoff since the end of summer practices. First-year head coach Josh McClurg said he was mostly pleased with what he saw on the first day of preparation, during which the players wore helmets, shorts and T-shirts. He said the real fun would begin Aug. 9, when the team is able to participate in full pads.
“This is more kind of seeing what they didn’t forget over the summer,” he said of Monday’s inaugural practice. “Once we get the pads on, then we can start seeing who can really play, especially on the lines. On the offensive and defensive lines, you can’t really tell who can do what until you get pads on.”
Santa Ynez will begin its season Aug. 24 at Dos Pueblos. The Pirates will be back on the road to take on Bishop Diego on Sept. 1 before opening their home schedule on Sept. 7 against Paso Robles.
Although the players are still adjusting to McClurg, who took the reins this year from the retired Ken Gruendyke, they’ve had plenty of time to become accustomed to his style and playbook. The team worked on the basics during two weeks of practices in the spring, and then spent five weeks together over the summer, including competing in passing tournaments at Arroyo Grande, Morro Bay and Coast Union. Those tournaments, along with offensive workouts with Bishop Diego and Pioneer Valley, helped the offensive unit get its timing down, according to McClurg, while also helping the players get to know each other.
“I think the group, throughout the summer, really came together and got a good little bond going and work well together, so I don’t think that will be an issue,” the coach said between the first sessions of two-a-days. “They came out this morning ready to practice.”
Dickey will enter the season as the team’s starting quarterback. After serving as backup last year, during which he started one game, Dickey said he spent time this summer working on his game at a couple of QB camps in Fresno. “It feels nice,” he said of the offensive unit thus far. “We’re in a good rhythm together.”
The team has a large group of running backs competing for positions in the backfield, including seniors Alec Hanna, Layne Frausto, Carlos Garcia, Taylor Zaragoza, and junior Christian Vences. Up front, the Pirates return four offensive line starters from a year ago in Sawyer Stapp, Matt Levesque, Tyler Tipton and Alex Ibarra. There’s a large group fighting for that fifth spot, though McClurg pointed out that every position on the team is still open. Among the other linemen are Jackson Valencia, Troy Wullbrandt, Tyler Carnemolla, Jonathan Flynn and Johnny Estrada.
“We’ll be a by-committee team,” the coach said, noting that players may rotate. “We don’t have a lot of superstars, which I kind of like.”
On the defensive side, Spencer Armenta, who was first-team all-Los Padres League last year, returns at safety. Dane Underwood, who took last year off to focus on track and field, will return at defensive end, and a pair of sophomores, Riley Newton and Jacob Pritchard, will look to make their mark at linebacker.
“We’re looking good,” Armenta said. “We’ve got a few kids who are out of shape – a couple puking – but we’re looking good. I’m super excited to get the pads on.”
McClurg said he will be looking for Armenta to lead the defensive effort.
“He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but football IQ-wise I haven’t coached many guys like him who know what he knows,” he said of the senior. “He’ll be a heck of a player on defense for us, and on offense he’s a nice possession receiver.”
Nick Neilsen, who swept the kicking competitions during a camp at Arroyo Grande, will man the kicking duties and also compete at receiver. Neilsen consistently put the ball 3-yards deep into the end zone during kickoffs at the camp and also connected on 55-yard field goals. Sophomore Trey Mercado will also compete for a receiver spot.
McClurg, who said he likes to run every practice at game-speed, is still getting the players up to speed on his practice schedule. With less than three weeks to get ready for the first game, he said that prepping for Dos Pueblos has already begun.
“We’re trying to insert what we think we need to run against Dos Pueblos to be successful,” he said. “But that’s kind of a crapshoot because they’ve got a new coach and we don’t necessarily know what they’re going to be running, either. So we kind of have to be really well balanced and prepared to play against any defense and stop any offense. It’s tough to do, but we’re gonna get after it.”
The Pirates have high expectations for this season. They went 5-6 last year, but reached the CIF tournament, where they lost to Torrance in the first round. Armenta said he is looking for at least a return to CIF, and his teammates seem to share that mentality.
“We lost a lot of kids,” said Dickey, “but we should be OK.” willis@syvjournal.com