OCVarsity Kickoff ’15 preview: Buena Park

Four of the key players for Buena Park this season will be, from left, Elijah Gates, Zach Taylor, Cedric Dashiell and Ryan Nelson.
Buena Park will be led this season by, from left, Zach Taylor, Ryan Nelson, Elijah Gates and Cedric Dashiell. The Coyotes are confident they can contend for the Freeway League title this season.
Buena Park has a talented roster that includes, from left, Ryan Nelson, Zach Taylor, Elijah Gates and Cedric Dashiell.
Buena Park will be led this season by, from left, Elijah Gates, Elijah Bynum, Zach Taylor and Cedric Dashiell.
Buena Park quarterback Zach Taylor
Buena Park running back Elijah Bynum
Buena Park defensive end Cedric Dashiell II
Buena Park cornerback/receiver Elijah Gates
Four of the key players for Buena Park this season will be, from left, Elijah Gates, Cedric Dashiell, Zach Taylor and Ryan Nelson.

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By Kenny Connolly | kconnolly@scng.com | Orange County Register

August 25, 2015 at 7:20 p.m.

OCVarsity preview for the 2015 season:

BUENA PARK COYOTES

Coach: Anthony White

Last season: 11-2 overall, 4-1 league

Scouting report: Buena Park has all the tools needed to dethrone La Habra atop the Freeway League hierarchy. “We’re extremely quick and athletic at the skill positions, and we’re huge up front,” Coyotes coach Anthony White said. Huge is an understatement. The offensive line averages out at 6-foot-3, 280 pounds, and the defensive front’s collective mean is 6-2, 251 pounds. Zach Taylor gives Buena Park arguably the area’s top dual-threat quarterback, and he will benefit from a new set of playmakers in transfers Jeremiah Hawkins and Elijah Bynum. Defensive end Cedric Dashiell II lives in opposing backfields, but the defense as a whole struggled when playing the division’s elite offenses in 2014. If the Coyotes want to make that next step, their defense will have to play much better in their marquee matchups.

Bottom line: The Coyotes should challenge La Habra for Freeway League supremacy and make noise again in the Southwest Division playoffs.

Players to watch: Elijah Bynum, RB, Sr.; Cedric Dashiell II, DE, Jr.; Jeremiah Hawkins, WR, Jr.; Andrew Mulipola, LB, Sr.; Zach Taylor, QB, Sr.; Andrew Wright, DE, Sr.

Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com