This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Las Lomas Football Preview: Standout Highlights Ground Attack

Running Back Marquis Waters returns to lead up-and-coming Knights

Head Coach: Doug Longero

2009 Record: 6-6

Returning Starters: Four on Offense; Seven on Defense

Find out what's happening in Walnut Creekwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Top Offensive Players: senior Marquis Waters, RB; senior Brandon Markey, OL; junior Mitch Frentescu, OL; sophomore Jackson Miller, QB

Top Defensive Players: senior Michael Pope, LB; senior Joey Sebella, LB; sophomore Kyle Hill, DB; senior Brandon Markey, DL; senior Kevin Merhoff, DL

Find out what's happening in Walnut Creekwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rising Star: sophomore Jackson Miller, QB

Team Strengths: Waters and the running game; experience at defensive line and linebacker.

Rivalry Game: Northgate @ Las Lomas, Friday, Sept. 24

Mark the Calendar: Marin Catholic-Kentfield @ Las Lomas, Friday, Sept. 10

——————————

When the high school football season kicks off later this week, every team in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League will begin with high expectations.  From top to bottom, the DFAL should be one of the most balanced in recent years. 

While every team has a core of returning players, and up-and-comers from the lower levels, only one team boasts one of the top backs in the Bay Area.

"Every team has their guy," Las Lomas coach Doug Longero said. "But the one true difference maker (in the DFAL) is Marquis Waters."

Waters, a  5-foot-10, 175-pound senior, returns after an impressive 2009, in which he racked up 1,574 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground.

Along the way, the Knights battled through an up-and-down season to advance to the second round of the North Coast Section Division II playoffs.

Waters teamed with quarterback Lucas Gorton to form a dynamic pass-run combination.  With Gorton gone due to graduation, Waters will be paired in the Las Lomas backfield with quarterback Jackson Miller, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore. 

Longero feels that Miller, also a standout swimmer, has a bright future ahead of him on the football field.

"He could be a D-I type player," Longero said.

Miller, a classic drop-back passer, will be asked to take some of the pressure off of Waters, as opponents will defend heavily against the Las Lomas ground game.

While the offense returns only four starters, the Knights received a big boost in Mitch Frentescu, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound transfer from Tennessee.  Frentescu, a junior, looks to be one of the top two-way lineman in the East Bay.

Joining Frentescu on the offensive line in front of Waters is senior Brandon Markey, who was named second-team all-DFAL as a junior.

With four starters on offense and seven of defense returning from 2009, Longero is expecting a big impact from seven sophomores , including Miller and free safety Kyle Hill, who will play a key role as the as the last line of defense in the secondary.

The Las Lomas defense will be tested in the DFAL by standouts such as Campolindo wide receiver Andrew Ahr and Miramonte quarterback Ross Anderson.

Anderson, a junior, heads up the Matador's spread offense.

"He's a really talented running quarterback," Longero said.

Before DFAL play begins, Las Lomas must navigate through challenging non-league schedule, including a home game against Marin Catholic-Kentfield, which finished 2009 with a 13-2 record and an appearance in the Division III State Bowl Game in Carson.

Marin Catholic knocked off Las Lomas last year, 28-19, its first of 13-straight victories before eventually losing a tight contest to Serra-Gardena in Carson.

The Knights will open their season on Friday against Vintage-Napa in a game which will be played at Justin Siena in Napa. 

If Las Lomas looks to contend in the DFAL and make a run into the NCS playoffs, they will be banking on a huge year from Waters, and serious contribution from their rising sophomores.

———————————

Schedule

9/3 vs Vintage-Napa at Justin-Siena

9/10 vs Marin Catholic-Kentfield 

9/17 vs College Park 

9/24 vs Northgate

10/1 vs Alhambra

10/15 vs Miramonte

10/22 at Dublin

10/29 @ Dougherty Valley

11/5 @ Campolindo

11/12 vs Acalanes

*JVs play before varsity

Freshmen

9/2 Vintage 5 p.m.

9/9 @ Marin Catholic 4 p.m.

9/16 @ College Park 4 p.m.

9/23 @ Northgate 4 p.m.

9/30 @ Alhambra 5 p.m.

10/14 @Miramonte 5 p.m.

10/21 Dublin 5 p.m.

10/28 Dougherty Valley 5 p.m.

11/4 Campolindo 5 p.m.

11/11 @ Acalanes 5 p.m.

—————————

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?