It is a journey that began in 2009 as a junior varsity program,
to a varsity squad with zero seniors in 2010, to a 41-player-strong
team with 20 seniors — the first senior class — in 2011.
Christopher Cougars
Coach: Tim Pierleoni (third year)
League: Monterey Bay
2010 record: 3-7, 2-4 (fifth)
It is a journey that began in 2009 as a junior varsity program, to a varsity squad with zero seniors in 2010, to a 41-player-strong team with 20 seniors — the first senior class — in 2011.
Christopher High School’s season opener against Sobrato on Saturday is, for all intents and purposes, a night three years in the making.
“I’ve told the kids a bunch of times, and I don’t really say it out loud a lot, but we have been scrimmaging for two years, basically,” third-year coach Tim Pierleoni said after a four-team scrimmage Friday night. “That’s why last year, going 3-7 hurt a little bit, but we still had the perception of what we are trying to do.
“When they gave me a job, I gave them a three-year plan. On that day, when I walked in, we knew this was a big game for us.”
Pierleoni isn’t hinging the season, by any stretch, on Saturday’s game alone. But he expects his team to come out well prepared.
“We are going to keep repping our plays so they become so comfortable that they go in there and not worry about it,” Pierleoni said. “These are good kids. They work hard. They know what’s up.”
A luxury experienced by few, the Cougars bring back the majority of players for the third straight season, including eight who grabbed spots on the Monterey Bay League postseason awards list. And at nearly every position, a year of growth and a wealth of experience gained with a year of MBL play out of the way, provides the Cougars with a valuable continuity on all fronts.
The offensive line is a vital part of the system, pumped into circulation by returning all-league senior Steven White, senior Scott Rathi and senior John Riffle, back from injury. With many of the players well-versed in multiple positions, a platooned offensive line won’t be a shocker.
“Coach Eric Lopez does such a good job of mixing them up,” Pierleoni said. “I thought those kids played very well tonight. We did a good job of pass protection and I felt when we wanted to run the ball up the middle we were able to do that.”
On the opposite side of the ball, the Cougars are deep and quick at the linebacker position with returning seniors Mikey Pirnik, Nic Slater, Dillon Babb and Patrick Mank, who has missed much of the offseason due to injury but could be ready to go by Saturday, Pierleoni said. Bryant Cid, the league’s co-Most Valuable Defensive Back from a year ago, is back, patrolling the middle of the field at safety.
“All these kids have been working their rearends off,” Pierleoni said.
Back to the offense, there is a bit of win-some, lose-some. The bad news: the Cougars lose a pair of playmakers in Patrick Valdez and Jorge Ramos, who will not rejoin the team. On the bright side, senior wideout and cornerback Marcus Harrell returns after missing last season for personal reasons. Harrell’s quickness and ability to bob-and-weave his way through defenders keeps Pierleoni optimistic as the Cougars implement a full-fledged spread offense for the first time.
“It hurts not to have both those guys,” Pierleoni said, pointing toward Nadar Elaskary, Nick Cordova and Brian Delgado to fill in at wide receiver.
“We have some guys that will do a good job there.”
There are no questions surrounding the running back position. A pair of backs, the aforementioned Nic Slater, and Rayshon Mills, will split duties.
“They are two different runners and I like that idea of having one guy who is more shifty and the other more hard-nosed,” Pierleoni said. “It’s a good thing to have.”
WHO TO WATCH
Rayshon Mills/Nic Slater – RBs: It’s a one-two punch out of the backfield. Senior Nic Slater (6-foot-1, 185 pounds), who will also play linebacker, led the team with 540 yards and six scores last year. As a freshman, Rayshon Mills (6-foot, 175 pounds) grew more and more comfortable at running back. Powerful at the point of attack and swift in the open field, look for Mills, who stands at 6-foot, to have a break-out sophomore year.
Brandon Pickens – QB: The senior, who has started since the Cougars first took the field three years ago, will carry more responsibility with the implementation of the spread offense. His grasp of the offense will dictate much of the Cougars’ success driving the ball and producing points.
Dillon Babb – LB: At last Friday’s four-team scrimmage, San Benito head coach Chris Cameron walked up to Dillon Babb, and said, “you play the game how it’s supposed to be played.” It was the first time Cameron saw Babb in action. The 6-foot-1, 250-pound linebacker will be everywhere for the Cougars. If the senior can stay healthy, he is a vaunted figure in the middle of the field and on both lines. He also has the hands of a receiver. So don’t be surprised if he lines up at tight end, too.
Marcus Harrell – WR: Back after a year off, Marcus Harrell returns for his senior year and will undoubtedly light a spark in the Cougars’ offense. A gifted playmaker who can strike at any moment, Harrell may rush and receive for 500 yards apiece.
QUICK HITTERS
The Cougars have eight returning all-league selections: First Team: Bryant Cid, senior, WR/DB (also co-Most Valuable Defensive Back); Mikey Pirnik, senior, LB; Nic Slater, junior, RB/LB. Second Team: Brandon Pickens, senior, QB; Steven White, senior, OL. Honorable mention: Patrick Mank, senior, LB; Dillon Babb, senior, OL/DE; Matthew Almeida, senior, DL.
– CHS has 20 seniors, 17 juniors, three sophomores and one freshman listed on the roster.
2011 SCHEDULE
Saturday: At Sobrato, 6.
Sept. 9: At Live Oak, 7.
Sept 16: Pacific Grove, 7:30
*Sept. 30: Monterey, 7:30
*Oct. 7: At Pajaro Valley, 7:30
*Oct. 14: At MVC, 7:30
*Oct. 21: North Monterey County, 7:30
*Oct. 28: At Seaside, 7
*Nov. 4: Watsonville, 7:30
**Nov. 10: Gilroy, 7:30
Home games in bold
(*) league game
(**) neutral site
