SMALL SCHOOLS FOOTBALL: MORE MUSCLE FOR VASQUEZ FOOTBALL TEAM IS GETTING PHYSICAL.Byline: Gideon Rubin Special to the Daily News ACTON - The Vasquez High of Acton football team has relied on speed and athleticism to make the playoffs each of the past two seasons. This year, however, they've added some more physical toughness to the formula and it has helped the Mustangs adapt to different kinds of opponents and different playing conditions. ``We have a little more muscle this year,'' Vasquez coach Doug Odum said. Vasquez employs a variation of a spread offense it ran the last two years in order to exploit its team speed. Speed figured prominently in a 32-12 Week 1 victory over La Quinta of Westminster, and a 23-18 Week 2 upset of Montclair Prep of Panorama City. Against a more athletic secondary and amid blustery blus·ter v. blus·tered, blus·ter·ing, blus·ters v.intr. 1. To blow in loud, violent gusts, as the wind during a storm. 2. a. To speak in a loudly arrogant or bullying manner. conditions, the Mustangs turned to their power running game in Friday's 16-12 victory over Desert of Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. . Adaptability is a big reason the Mustangs (3-0) are off to their best start in school history. ``We're a multi-faceted team,'' Odum said. ``Nobody's going to catch us being one-dimensional. We have a lot of weapons and we're going to use them.'' Junior quarterback Joe Perez, a 5-foot-7 140-pounder who's also a baseball standout, has sparked the Mustangs. He has completed 23 of 35 passes for 344 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and has rushed for 134 yards and two scores on 31 carries. Senior running back Travis McKelvey has rushed for 213 yards and two TDs on 40 carries, and senior receiver Casey Schlock schlock also shlock Slang n. Something, such as merchandise or literature, that is inferior or shoddy. adj. Of inferior quality; cheap or shoddy. has caught 13 passes for 235 yards and two TDs. McKelvey and Schlock have also been defensive standouts, at linebacker and defensive back, respectively. Schlock has also contributed a field goal and kicked four PATs. --By-committee:Last season, playmakers Playmakers is a TV series on ESPN that depicted the lives of the players on a fictional professional football team. The show starred Omar Gooding, Marcello Thedford, Christopher Wiehl, Jason Matthew Smith, Russell Hornsby and Tony Denison. Chris Stevens Chris Stevens may refer to:
With both playing collegiate ball - Stevens at Fresno State, and Ashcraft at Antelope Valley College Antelope Valley College is a comprehensive community college located in Lancaster, California, USA. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. - the Mustangs are now counting on strength in numbers in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers. See also: Number . ``It's different this year,'' Mojave coach Larry Satterfield said. ``We don't have the go-to guys, so we're trying to do it more by committee.'' The run-oriented Mustangs (1-1) have gotten significant production from running backs Leroy Hill Leroy Hill, Jr. (born September 14, 1982 in Haddock, Georgia) is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He was selected with the 34th pick of the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Clemson University. (28 carries for 192 yards), Justin Hamilton Justin Hamilton (born September 17, 1982) is a safety for the Cleveland Browns. He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL draft and signed a 4-year contract to play for the Browns in July 2006. (15 carries for 93 yards) and Damien Joseph (nine carries for 44 yards). Coty Madrona and Matt Adamczyk, who've combined for 30 yards on six carries are among five other ballcarriers the Mustangs have used. ``Our feeling is that we have a lot of good athletes that are really pretty equal and we want to use all of them,'' Satterfield said. But for the by-committee approach to work, the Mustangs need players to buy into the system. ``The kids understand what we're trying to do, but it's hard for them because they don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what they're going to do from week to week,'' Satterfield said. --Tough travel: Mojave's road game against Hoover of Glendale on Friday at 7 p.m. at Glendale High is the first meeting between the schools. They may not meet again any time soon after Friday's game. Hoover has elected not to travel to the remote Kern County campus next season. ``They think it's a really long trip,'' Satterfield said. ``We think it's about average.'' The Mustangs have had trouble fielding a full nonleague schedule and play only nine regular-season games this season. Gideon Rubin, (818) 713-3607 gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com |
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