2021 Dolphin Football Preview

Dana Point Times August 13-19, 2021

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Rising Tides DANA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HAS A NEW COACH, PLENTY OF POTENTIAL AND HIGHER EXPECTATIONS Dana Point Times August 13-19, 2021

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BY ZACH CAVANAGH

L

ast season was a milestone for the Dana Hills High School football team. It was a milestone that could prove foundational to the future of the Dolphins program as it enters a new era.

Dana Hills has a new head coach in Tony Henney, a three-time CIF-SS champion with visions of getting the Dolphins back on the level with some of their South Orange County contemporaries.

“I think there was a lot of potential,” Henney said of what he saw in the program. “You could tell the kids that play, they care about football.

That’s kudos to the last staff for instilling that into them. You see potential, and you get excited about it. I think we’re in the right league for us right now, and that’s a good thing. It gives us a chance to build something special.”

Henney takes over after Phil Skinner stepped down after six seasons in the position and two of the most successful in recent Dana Hills history.

It started with a small step in 2018, when the Dolphins pushed above .500 for the first time at any point in a season since the last time Dana Hills made the playoffs in 2013.

Then came the record-breaking season of 2019, when Dana Hills swept its nonleague slate for the program’s first-ever 6-0 start.

Last season, in its inaugural run in the newly formed Pacific Coast Conference and Pacific Hills League, the Dolphins earned only their second league championship in program history with a three-way split of the title with Laguna Hills and Portola.

“It’s not hard to look at where it was for a good amount of time and where it’s been the last couple years that there’s an opportunity,” Henney said. “It’s one thing to try and rebuild if you’re in a league with Mission Viejo, San Clemente, San Juan Hills and whoever else.

It’s another thing to be with schools that are athletically similar to you and have kids where you have a chance to be successful. Hopefully, we become successful, and when we get

moved back, we can meet that challenge.”

And while a return to the Coast View Conference is part of the long view, there are things to be accomplished in the here and now.

With this new league and a change to the CIF-SS playoff system, Dana Hills can aim for its first outright league championship in program history and its first playoff berth in eight years.

“I think (the opportunity for playoffs) is huge,” senior quarterback Bo Kelly said. “We’ve talked about it since our freshman year, and I don’t think we were even satisfied with having a three-way tie for the league championship last year. I think solidifying a league championship and going far in the playoffs is a goal we’ve talked about for a while, and knowing we have the capability, too, it’s definitely a big thing to put together this year.”

EXPLOSIVE PASSING OFFENSE Dana Hills’ biggest strength is its skill positions on offense.

It starts with Kelly, a dual-threat quarterback whom Henney was actually recruiting while he was at his last job as an assistant at Cal Poly.

“I think (the offense) has a chance to be explosive,” Henney said. “I think (Kelly is) a tremendous high school football player. He’s very cerebral, very smart, and has a very quick trigger, so he allows you to do a lot offensively.”

The Dolphins have the weapons for Kelly to distribute the ball. Senior receiver Omarjaye Black was an electric deep threat in the spring, and senior receiver Owen Chambers transfers in from JSerra. Senior James Allemann, a 6-foot-5 tight end, provides a big, physical target, and junior Christian Guarascio is a strong running back.

Dana Hills has the flash, but it won’t get off the ground without the offensive line. Senior Abraham Munoz and junior Johnny Owen have taken charge to build the offensive line.

Another weapon for Dana Hills is the leg of senior kicker Kian Afrookhteh, who led the county with six field goals on eight attempts in the spring.

(Continued)

Troy Henney enters his first season as head coach of the Dana Hills football team. Henney is a three-time CIF-SS champion head coach and was most recently a college assistant at Cal Poly. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

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RISING TIDES (Continued)

FAST, MOBILE DEFENSE Dana Hills will operate in a 3-4 defense under Henney, meaning three down linemen and four linebackers. The Dolphins aren’t the biggest defensive group, so they will capitalize on speed and the coverage an extra linebacker can bring.

The experience for the Dolphins on defense comes in the secondary.

Senior Hayden Dendiu at cornerback is a vocal player and a good leader. Seniors Broghan Daley and Miles Darst have developed into college-recruitable safeties, something Henney says they didn’t believe they could be a year ago.

Senior linebacker Ethan Geske brings plenty of experience to that next level of the defense and a much-needed physical edge.

PLAYOFFS? Dana Hills’ path to finally make the playoffs for the first time since 2013 is both slightly easier than previous seasons and also more convoluted than ever before with the advent of yet another tweak to CIF-SS’ competitive equity playoff system.

When the competitive equity system was first put into place five seasons ago, teams were slotted into divisions based on data from the two previous seasons. That system was eventually tweaked at the top to make a Division 1 & 2 grouping, in which all teams would make the playoffs no matter what and played the season essentially for seeding purposes.

On the whole, the competitive equity helped eliminate the first-round blowouts seen in the old system and seemingly gave everyone an equal shot at a CIF-SS title. However, over time, some inequities began to show.

The divisions didn’t all have the same number of teams, but the number of playoff teams was locked, meaning it was easier to make the playoffs in some divisions than others.

This hit Dana Hills in 2019, when, despite a 6-4 record, the Dolphins didn’t make the playoffs in their division, as there were no at-large spots in Division 12. In fact, there were two “automatic qualifiers” that couldn’t crack the 16-team field in Division 12. Overall, Dana Hills had a better record than 26 of the 39 at-large selections across all divisions that season, and

Dana Hills has two goals under new coach Tony Henney: capitalizing on the opportunity to win now,and building the foundations to make a sustainably successful program and football destination. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

there were 17 at-large teams with sub-.500 records in other divisions, including 1-9 El Toro as one of six at-large teams in Division 4.

Additionally, teams could have two great seasons with a strong senior class that would put them in a higher division. Injuries and graduation losses would hit the following class, and despite having a weaker team, they would be stuck in the higher division. There were also instances of historically bad teams getting an influx of talent or transfers and running roughshod over a lower division.

To specifically address the last point and help with the inequity of the number of teams in some divisions, the latest tweak was passed by the CIF-SS and was originally slated to start last season.

During the season, there will be a constantly

updated points system and power rankings by CIF-SS and calpreps.com, and teams will not be assigned a playoff division until after the season. Once the season-end power rankings are made, there will be 12 or 13 automatic qualifiers assigned to each of the 14 divisions, and at-large teams from the power rankings will be used to fill out the full 16-team bracket.

The brackets will also be seeded straight No. 1-16, with no regard for league affiliations or league championships. In the past, league champions were guaranteed a first-round home game, and two teams from the same league couldn’t meet in the first round.

On the surface, this looks to be another step to complete equity by basing on the current season and not handing out any immediate disadvantages. Some detractors have pointed

out it could be a single point in the rankings that is the difference between being a No. 16 seed in a higher division or being a No. 1 seed in the next division down.

However, the season still needs to play out to see if teams could or would try to control that destiny, or if this is truly an issue at all.

If the Dolphins can break through and make the playoffs, it won’t matter to the program where they land. It will just be the next step into making Dana Hills an attractive place to play football and where people can finally expect to win.

“I think that we (want to) build a program that is sustainable, that is reliant on the kids of Dana Hills to want to go to Dana Hills,” Henney said. “I want the kids that stare through the fence to want to be Dolphins.”

Dana Hills’ offense has the potential to be quite explosive with the dual-threat abilities of quarterback Bo Kelly (left) and a bevy of talented receiving options, including 6-foot-5 James Allemann (right), who moves to tight end.

Photos: Zach Cavanagh

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GAME PREVIEWS

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

GAME 1 // AUGUST 27

GAME 2 // SEPTEMBER 3

GAME 3 // SEPTEMBER 10

GAME 4 // SEPTEMBER 17

GAME 5 // SEPTEMBER 24

VS. LAGUNA BEACH

VS. TRABUCO HILLS

VS. ALISO NIGUEL

VS. WOODBRIDGE

VS. UNIVERSITY

Coach: John Shanahan 2020 Record: 1-4 (0-2 Pac 4 League) 2019 vs. DH: DH win, 10-7 Season Outlook: It was a tough spring season for Laguna Beach. The Breakers opened with a promising 40-0 win over Jurupa Valley, but Laguna Beach struggled against its Golden West Conference and Pac 4 League foes. Laguna Beach lost one-score games against both league opponents. The standout for Laguna Beach and its star returner is quarterback Will Bingham. Laguna Beach has developed as a program with a strong passing attack, and Bingham completed 51% of his passes for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns.

However, Bingham was turnover-prone, with 12 interceptions.

Coach: Mark Nolan 2020 Record: 1-4 (1-2 Sea View League) 2019 vs. DH: TH win, 42-14 Season Outlook: This will be a reunion game on a couple of fronts for Dana Hills.

It will be the Dolphins’ first game against a Sea View or South Coast League opponent since leaving the Coast View Conference for the now-Pacific Coast Conference after the 2019 season. The game will also be a return for head coach Tony Henney, who led Trabuco Hills to a CIF-SS title in his only season at the school in 2014.

Junior Will Burns, a transfer from Mission Viejo, is slated to be the Mustangs’ starting quarterback.

Coach: Michael Callahan 2020 Record: 0-5 (0-3 Sea View League) 2019 vs. DH: AN win, 37-10 Season Outlook: This game will be another reunion for Dana Hills, as former head coach Phil Skinner is now an assistant coach for the Wolverines.

To say that Aliso Niguel struggled in the spring season would be an understatement. The Wolverines’ closest margin of defeat was nine points against Trabuco Hills, with an average margin of defeat of nearly 20 points. Aliso Niguel also averaged just less than 12 points per game.

The Wolverines will have new faces at nearly every position, but Aliso Niguel does return junior quarterback Shaun McCaghren.

Coach: Aaron Craver 2020 Record: 0-2 (0-0 Pacific Valley League) 2020 vs. DH: DH win, 34-7 Season Outlook: Woodbridge struggled mightily last season on several fronts. Due to roster size, injuries and lack of available players, the Warriors only played their first two games of the season, and then Woodbridge canceled all of its league games. In the games in which Woodbridge did take the field, they lost both, including a drubbing by the Dolphins.

Woodbridge will practically have an entirely new team, but one major returner is at quarterback in senior Danny Jazdzyk, who completed 4 of 9 passes for 68 yards and a TD against Dana Hills last season.

Coach: Vince Mesa 2020 Record: 0-2 (0-0 Pacific Valley League) 2019 vs. DH: Did not play Season Outlook: Like Woodbridge, University was a team that lost its two nonleague games and was forced to forfeit its two league games due to injuries, roster size and lack of available players. To put in perspective where the Trojans were last season talent-wise, their second game was a 49-2 loss to Northwood, which also had to cancel its league slate for the same reasons as Woodbridge and University.

The Trojans were also 0-10 in 2019.

University has a new coach in Vince Mesa, who was previously an assistant at Orange Coast College.

GAME 6 // OCTOBER 1

GAME 7 // OCTOBER 8

GAME 8 // OCTOBER 15

GAME 9 // OCTOBER 22

GAME 10 // OCTOBER 29

VS. BECKMAN

VS. NORTHWOOD 7 P.M. AT DANA HILLS HS

7 P.M. AT DANA HILLS HS

VS. IRVINE

VS. LAGUNA HILLS 7 P.M. AT DANA HILLS HS

7 P.M. AT PORTOLA HS

Coach: Marcello Giuliano 2020 Record: 2-4 (1-1 Pacific Valley League) 2020 vs. DH: DH win, 13-7 Season Outlook: Beckman was majorly affected by the schedule of musical chairs created by Woodbridge, University and Northwood canceling games. To illustrate how volatile Beckman’s schedule was last season, the Patriots ended up playing a regular home-and-home series with Portola in back-to-back weeks.

Somehow, Portola and Beckman split their two meetings by similar scores: a 27-7 Beckman home win and a 20-6 Portola home win. Beckman focuses on the ground game, as the program runs an option offense. The Patriots graduated both of their quarterbacks and top rushers from last season.

Coach: JC Clarke 2020 Record: 1-1 (0-0 Pacific Hills League) 2020 vs. DH: Northwood canceled Season Outlook: Northwood had an up-and-down spring campaign during which the Timberwolves lost big to Irvine and won big over University before canceling their league schedule due to lack of available players. So, in Northwood’s second season in the Pacific Hills League, the Timberwolves will finally play a Pacific Hills League game.

Dana Hills and Northwood did play a thriller back in 2019 that the Dolphins won, 35-28. That 2019 game at Dana Hills was the coming-out party for Bo Kelly, who passed for 229 yards and the winning touchdown.

Coach: Tom Ricci 2020 Record: 4-1 (1-0 Pacific Valley League) 2020 vs. DH: Irvine win, 35-33 Season Outlook: The Vaqueros were a strong group last season with a balanced offense that was producing just more than 35 points a game.

Irvine won the Pacific Valley League, and because of the schedule fallout, Irvine scheduled Dana Hills in a season finale that was a quasi-conference title game with two league champions squaring off.

Irvine beat Dana Hills by going 60 yards in the final 16 seconds of the game to score a touchdown as time expired.

Irvine graduated its starting quarterback and top receiver, but the top rusher returns.

Coach: John Lester 2020 Record: 2-2 (1-1 Pacific Hills League) 2020 vs. DH: DH win, 32-24 Season Outlook: The Hawks are under new management this season, as longtime assistant coach John Lester is now the head coach at Laguna Hills. Lester is in his second stint at Laguna Hills and was the offensive coordinator for the Hawks’ 2008 CIF-SS championship.

Laguna Hills tied Dana Hills and Portola for the Pacific Hills League title last season and lost to the Dolphins on a goal-line stand.

The leading returning player for the Hawks is junior running back Troy Leigber, who does a bit of everything on both sides of the ball for Laguna Hills.

Coach: Peter Abe 2020 Record: 3-2 (1-1 Pacific Hills League) 2020 vs. DH: Portola win, 29-26 (OT) Season Outlook: Portola clinched its second straight league championship last season in only its third year of varsity football. Portola’s win over Dana Hills came down to a goal-line stand in overtime, but the Bulldogs couldn’t grab the outright title, as Laguna Hills made its own goal-line stand against Portola. The margin of this league was razor-thin in the spring season.

Portola commits to its ground attack out of the Wing-T offense, returning its top rusher from last season.

Senior Nova Kebeli ran for 658 yards and seven touchdowns on 126 carries.

7 P.M. AT DANA HILLS HS

7 P.M. AT TUSTIN HS

Dana Point Times August 13-19, 2021

7 P.M. AT DANA HILLS HS

7 P.M. AT ALISO NIGUEL HS

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7 P.M. AT UNIVERSITY HS

7 P.M. AT UNIVERSITY HS

VS. PORTOLA

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PLAYERS TO WATCH // BY ZACH CAVANAGH

Five to Watch OFFENSE

JAMES ALLEMANN TE, Sr.

OMARJAYE BLACK WR, Sr.

OWEN CHAMBERS WR, Sr.

It’s hard to miss James Allemann when the Dolphins line up, as his 6-foot-5 frame draws attention.

While Allemann was a productive receiver, he is moving to tight end this season, where he will still be a weapon. Allemann said the change has upped his aggressiveness as he works on blocking.

In his first season at Dana Hills, Omarjaye Black brought a deep threat to the Dolphins offense.

Black led the team in receiving touchdowns with seven and caught 27 passes for 384 yards. Black also made catches of at least 40 yards in each of the first three spring games.

Owen Chambers is a transfer from JSerra, and while Chambers didn’t get many varsity reps at the Trinity League school, he will have a spot in this dynamic Dolphins offense.

Chambers is quick and explosive, always looking to make a play and looking to play his role for the team.

Training Camp Dolphin Talk

BO KELLY QB, Sr. In his second season at the helm of the Dolphins offense in the spring, Bo Kelly shined and showcased his arm and legs. Kelly completed 65% of his passes for 1,333 yards and 15 touchdowns. Kelly worked on the mental, game-planning and leadership aspects of his game in the offseason.

ABRAHAM MUNOZ OL, Sr. Ask any of his offensive teammates, and they’ll tell you Abraham Munoz may have the most important role on this year’s Dana Hills team.

Munoz is the lone senior returner on the Dolphins’ offensive line, and as a technically sound and smart player, he is helping the offensive line get into cohesive form.

“I think (the opportunity for playoffs) is huge.

We’ve talked about it since our freshman year, and I don’t think we were even satisfied with having a three-way tie for the league championship last year.”

– SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MICHAEL ALEJO

“THE OFFENSE WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THIS YEAR, WE’RE GOING TO KILL IT. I DON’T THINK ANY TEAM WE’RE GOING TO PLAY IS GOING TO BE READY FOR US. I’M SO EXCITED TO GET STARTED.” – SENIOR RUNNING BACK CHRISTIAN GUARASCIO Dana Point Times August 13-19, 2021

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Five to Watch DEFENSE

BROGHAN DALEY S, Sr.

MILES DARST S, Sr.

HAYDEN DENDIU CB, Sr.

ETHAN GESKE LB, Sr.

CHRISTIAN GUARASCIO LB, Jr.

A leader in the secondary, Broghan Daley brings a strong energy to the defensive unit. Communication has been an area of improvement for the defense, with Daley being a part of that. Daley is also fast and physical and made 14 total tackles, including five solo tackles, in the spring.

With experience in the secondary, Miles Darst returns for the Dolphins at safety. Darst will play both sides of the ball for Dana Hills and get reps at wide receiver. Darst is fast and quick and hits hard. As a junior, Darst recorded 12 tackles, including 10 solo tackles.

Hayden Dendiu is another player going both ways in the secondary and in the wide receiver corps. Dendiu is quick, explosive and physical and made an impact in the spring.

He was third in tackles with 19 total tackles, including nine solo tackles, and also pulled in an interception.

In a large group of two-way players, Ethan Geske is one who made big contributions in the spring season.

Along with playing linebacker, Geske was the Dolphins’ leading rusher as a running back, with 155 yards on 38 carries. Geske also racked up 12 total tackles, including seven solo tackles.

Christian Guarascio is among the best of the young players who will be asked to make impacts as Dana Hills reaches higher. Guarascio will also go both ways at linebacker and running back. He described his playing style as fast-paced, dominant and taking every yard he can get.

“WE’RE LEARNING OFF EACH OTHER AND GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY.” – SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER OMARJAYE BLACK

“THE COACHING STAFF TRANSITION, WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A BIG CHANGE, BECAUSE WE WON THE LEAGUE TITLE, BUT COACH HENNEY, (WITH) HIS DISCIPLINE, HE TRIES TO BRING A COLLEGE D1 LEVEL TO PRACTICE.” – SENIOR SAFETY BROGHAN DALEY

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