Foothill coach likes his football team but won't make bold, or bowl, predictions
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Joe Hu/Town Crier Linebacker Michael Hickman leads the Foothill defense. The sophomore made a game-high 21 tackles in the Owls’ opener. |
If you expect the coach of the Foothill College football team to make any bold predictions about this season, then you don’t know Marshall Sperbeck.
Despite coming off another successful campaign - the Owls won their seventh bowl game in eight years - Sperbeck approaches this season like all the rest: cautiously optimistic.
“I don’t get too far ahead of it,” said Sperbeck, in his 15th year as head coach at the Los Altos Hills community college. “The focus is on making them the best they can be individually and as a team. Wherever that takes them, we’ll be content.”
So far, it’s taken them to a 2-0 record. The Owls kicked off the season Sept. 2 by walloping West Hills 31-10, then mauled Merced 56-6 Saturday.
While encouraged by the start, Sperbeck knows his team - like the season - has a long way to go.
“There are still questions to be answered,” he said.
Such as: Who will emerge as the team’s top running back? And how will the revamped offensive line hold up?
Neither area was a concern last year. Running behind an experienced line, halfback Jacob French rushed for 1,550 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. He was MVP of the Silicon Valley Bowl, spurring the Owls to a 35-33 victory over Feather River, and made the All-California Team.
French is now running for San Jose State, and three of his blockers have gone off to four-year schools as well. Their replacements have sizeable cleats to fill, and Sperbeck indicated that not all of them are secure in their starting roles.
“We’ll see how it plays out in the preseason,” said the coach, whose team begins play in the rigorous Golden Gate Division of the Northern California Football Alliance Oct. 12 at San Mateo.
The Owls opened the year with a halfback-by-committee approach, with freshmen Chris Morris (from Homestead High), Quentrell Hunter (Independence) and Louis Arnold (Bishop O’Dowd) splitting the duties.
Morris, who sat out last year as a grayshirt, ran for two touchdowns against West Hills but has since been bothered by hip and shoulder injuries. Arnold had four touchdown runs against Merced, and Hunter rushed for a team-high 62 yards versus West Hills.
“I’d like to see one of them step up and be the guy,” Sperbeck said of his halfback trio.
The offensive line returns only two starters: Steven Matos, a 5-foot-11, 285-pound guard, and Michael Cole, a 6-foot-8, 285-pound tackle. The Owls are starting a pair of freshmen in center Patrick Walsh (6-1, 245) and guard Gabe Castaneda (6-3, 315).
The strength of the offense is a passing game featuring quarterback Josh Riddell and receiver Schneider Julien, both returnees.
Riddell was the offensive MVP of the Silicon Valley Bowl, throwing for 321 yards and four touchdowns. This year, “I expect big things from him,” Sperbeck said.
Julien is one of several weapons Riddell can choose from. A versatile sophomore who also returns kicks, Julien even played some defensive back late last season when the Owls’ secondary was plagued by injuries. In this year’s opener, he caught three passes for 50 yards.
“He’s the leader of the group,” Sperbeck said. “We expect him to be a playmaker.”
Julien teams with returner Kevin Maher, a big target at 6-3, 210. Freshman Chantz Staden is also in the mix at receiver. The Westmont High graduate caught four passes for 59 yards against West Hills.
“He’s a good athlete and works hard in practice,” Sperbeck said. “He has a good attitude - and he’s good blocker.”
Tight end Saia Taumoepeau (6-2, 245) is known for his blocking, too. The returning starter is a pass-catching threat as well and scored on a 14-yarder at Merced.
While the offense looks solid, Foothill’s defense may be even better. The unit limited West Hills to only a field goal until the closing minutes when the visitors scored a meaningless touchdown.
“We’ve got a good group there,” Sperbeck said, “and they’re working hard.”
Perhaps no player worked harder in the opener than linebacker Michael Hickman. The 6-1, 235-pound sophomore from Mills racked up 21 tackles, caused a fumble and recovered one.
“He’s a heck of a player,” the coach said. “He’s the catalyst of the defense.”
The defensive backfield returns three starters: cornerbacks Branimir Vatavuk and Burt Codera, plus strong safety Chris Jackson. Vatavuk preserved Foothill’s win in the Silicon Valley Bowl, intercepting a last-minute pass to end Feather River’s comeback hopes.
Two freshmen are also making an impact as defensive backs. Vincent Bellotti (Los Gatos High) starts at free safety and cornerback Michael Fullbright (Milpitas) returned a ball for a touchdown against West Hills.
The defensive line returns starters Chris Leatigaga (6-2, 270), Jason Trigis (6-2, 200) and Andre Robinson (6-0, 300). Freshman Joseph Townsend (6-4, 290) from Valley Christian-San Jose is seeing plenty of action at defensive end.
With 20 players returning from last year’s 8-3 team and a promising recruiting class, the Owls appear on their way to a 10th consecutive winning season.
Not that Sperbeck will say that.
“I think we can be a pretty decent football team,” he said of a team ranked sixth in Northern California and 12th in the state. “We just need to keep improving.”
Foothill is scheduled to host Sequoias at 7 p.m. Saturday.
