OCVarsity’s season preview for 2016:
IRVINE VAQUEROS
Coach: Erik Terry
Last season: 3-7 overall, 0-5 league
Scouting report: The Vaqueros are looking to bounce back from their first last-place finish since 2005. They will be young on offense with three returning starters and only three seniors in the projected starting lineup. Senior running back Brent Miller returns after rushing for almost 500 yards last season. He could run this fall behind four juniors on the offensive line. Sophomore Marc Filia takes the reins at quarterback, and sophomore Jacob Haley returns at receiver. Filia is the brother of former Irvine standout Mikey Filia. “He’s a Filia,” Coach Erik Terry said of Marc. “He’s a leader, a hard worker and coachable.” The defense features six returning starters. The group is led by emerging all-league nose guard Tyler Luna, linebacker/athlete Luke Coleman and improved corner Logan Dory.
Bottom line: The Vaqueros are young but talented at spots. Junior wide receiver/linebacker Rian Fields is a transfer from JSerra while Robert Rahimi is another sophomore to watch. The question is how fast the Vaqueros can grow.
Players to watch: Marc Filia, QB, So; Brent Miller, RB, Sr.; Jacob Haley, WR, So; Tyler Luna, NG, Jr.; Luke Coleman, OLB, Sr.; Logan Dory, CB, Sr.
RELATED LINKS
- Pacific Coast League preview
- Beckman preview
- Corona del Mar preview
- Irvine preview
- Northwood preview
- University preview
- Woodbridge preview
Contact the writer: dalbano@scng.com
