Big line strengthens Paly hopes Big line strengthens Paly hopes (September 09, 2005)

by Tim Goode

Palo Alto lost a considerable amount of skill from last year's team which made it to the semifinals of the Central Coast Section medium school playoffs and finished 8-4. But what bodes well for this years' team is the amount of size and experience the Vikings do return.

The offensive line, big and talented, returns intact. The defense is much improved and the new faces on offense appear ready for high-level varsity competition.

Last year's frosh-soph team went 10-0 and won the league title, making all members of the varsity used to having success.

"We're ready to start playing games," Hansen said. "We have a chance to be a pretty good football team."

Four juniors and one senior comprise the line. Tim Currie (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) is the elder statesmen at guard. The juniors are the highly regarded Fred Koloto (6-4, 265) a returning first-team all-leaguer; Uly Morales (6-4, 290), John Stirrat (6-0, 180) and Will Elmore (6-4, 260). Morales missed much of the 2004 season with an injury.

Koloto, Morales and Currie will go both ways. Senior Nick Rosas (6-1, 175) will join them at defensive end.

"The line is a strength this year and we're going to be better on defense than we were last year," Hansen said.

Senior Roger Prince (5-9, 201) leads the linebackers and junior Maurice Williams (5-10, 170) is a lock-down type defensive back. Senior Roger Villanueva (5-10, 210) returns to strengthen the linebacking corps.

"Woodside tested Maurice in the scrimmage," said Hansen. "They couldn't pass on him - he got an interception - and they couldn't get by him or around him."

The new-look offense starts with junior quarterback Nick Goodspeed (6-0, 175), who takes over for 2004 SCVAL De Anza Division Offensive Player of the Year Nathan Ford, now at Cornell University. Goodspeed is strong-armed thrower with good mobility.

"Nick is a good leader, and his arm strength is getting better," Hansen said. "Learning-wise, he reminds me a lot of Nate, and that's a big compliment."

Goodspeed, who has been getting tips from former San Francisco 49ers' QB Steve Bono, who helps out on a part-time basis, will be throwing to wide receivers like senior Cooper Miller (6-5, 205), junior Dennis Pruzan (5-9, 180), junior Trenton Hart (6-1, 180) and Williams, one of the team's fastest players. Senior tight end Teddy Jones (6-3, 203) also figures to be catching a lot of passes this season.

The pressure on Goodspeed should be lessened, given the talent of the offensive line and backfield. Prince returns at fullback and running back Will Frazier (5-11, 180) was the frosh-soph league Most Valuable Player last season as a second-year player. Junior Evan Warner (5-8, 150) has been moved from wide receiver, where the Vikings are loaded, to running back and will provide additional speed there.

Hansen figures the top teams in the league to be Los Gatos, Wilcox and his Vikings (4-2 in league play in 2004) although Milpitas may be a factor. The top three teams in the De Anza Division get automatic berths into the CCS playoffs. Palo Alto is gunning for a third straight trip to the postseason.

"We're a very young team and that always worries me," said Hansen. "But we had a very good scrimmage and we are ready to go."

Palo Alto opens its season tonight at home against Carlmont (7:30 p.m.) in a nonleague test. The Vikings will host always-tough Burlingame on Sept. 16 and then visit rival Gunn on Sept. 23 in the schools' annual grudge match.

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