OCVarsity’s season preview for 2016:
BREA OLINDA WILDCATS
Coach: Robb Perrance
Last season: 8-6 overall, 2-1 league
Scouting report: There’s a sense of hunger surronding this Brea Olinda squad. Falling just short of a CIF-SS title will do that to a team. The Wildcats finished as the Southern Division runner-up a year ago, and 14 starters from that team are back, working to capture what they flirted with last fall. Coach Robb Perrance boasts a veteran pair of running backs and receivers, led by senior halfback Michael Martinson (1,085 rush yards) and wideout Noah Rivera (1,146 total yards from scrimmage). On defense, the Wildcats are loaded at linebacker. Mike Salazar, Jason Allen and Steven Hayes were among the team leaders in tackles last year, and the trio will man the heart of the defense. Add defensive linemen Braden Baker, Alex Guerra and Austin Godges into the equation, and Brea trots out a fierce defensive front that should cause opposing backfields grief.
Bottom line: A physical defensive front seven paired with a talented group of skill position players has Brea looking like the overwhelming favorite to win league. With so much experience on the roster, a deep run in the Division 8 playoffs seems like a possibility too.
Players to watch: Jason Allen, LB, Jr.; Dylan Flenniken, QB, Sr.; Steven Hayes, LB, Sr.; Michael Martinson, RB, Sr.; Noah Rivera, WR/CB, Sr.
RELATED LINKS
- North Hills League preview
- Brea Olinda preview
- El Modena preview
- El Dorado preview
- Esperanza preview
Contact the writer: kconnolly@scng.com
