Red Bluff Daily News

September 18, 2014

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Thursday, September 18, 2014 Page 5 Red Bluff Daily News By Rich Greene It's been awhile since the Red Bluff Spartans were near the top of the Eastern Athletic League hierarchy. The perennial success of Paradise, an Enterprise team that reached a state bowl game last year are just the cream of the crop. Foothill and Shasta, Chico and Pleasant Valley, none of those schools are about to slide into irrelevancy and give up their spot in the pecking order. It's made the road back to the top for Red Bluff all the more difficult. But if you listen closely, it appears the Spar- tans might be knocking on that door in the near future. This year's team has talent and it comes in all forms from size and strength to speed and smarts. "All of us, we're like brothers," wide receiver and defen- sive back Aaron Lyon said. "We've been playing (together) since we were little. This is our last year together and we want to make a difference. We want to change this program around." If this is to be the year Red Bluff crashes through with not just making the playoffs, but doing something when they get there it will start in the middle with 6-foot, 5-inch Justin Nunez, all 320 pounds of him. Nunez isn't just a big man. He has athleticism, hands and instinct, which is why he's drawing interest from Divi- sion I college football programs. Having one player like Nunez can help lead to a good year, but he's not the only player the Spartans have with a big frame and skills to match. Wyatt Clement is drawing college looks as well. He's also 6 feet, 5 inches tall and will join Nunez on a defensive line that will anchor what should be a tough defense to crack. Head coach Corey Hein says it could be the best defen- sive front Red Bluff has had in a decade. Hein said the key is a triangle of talent with Nunez and Clement set to create havoc on the line and with Travis Jensen filling in behind them as the emotional team leader at middle linebacker. The quality of play and attention that triangle should receive should open up plenty of play making abilities for Walker Dodero and KJ Hinkston at the linebacker spots. Daniel Koenig, Lyon, Joey Skaggs and Sam Hendricks will man the secondary. On paper the defense looks to be strong, but Jensen said he expects even more. "It's going to be better than what people think it's going to be," he said. Starting quarterback Kade Lewis has firsthand knowl- edge of how good it is from going up against the defense in practice. "They're really good. I don't get much time to throw the ball or even hand it off," he said. Lewis, who played defense last year, will give up that side of the ball this season to focus on leading the Red Bluff offense. Hein says Lewis brings an option threat the Spar- tans haven't had in years and is a a good decision maker with the football. While the defense may be getting the publicity, the offense doesn't look too shabby either. "I like that we have so many playmakers," Lewis said. "I have so many options to get the ball to and I can always count on the players around me to get open and to block for me." The playmakers Lewis refers to resemble a basketball team more than a football team. Clement and Dodero give the Spartans a duo of tight ends that should provide night- mare programs. There's also Skaggs and Joseph Bosetti and a speedster in Lyon. "We feel really, really good about our receivers. We feel they stack up against anybody in the section," Hein said. Carrying the ball for Red Bluff will be Koenig and Hinkston. Hein said they'll rotate series as both are also defensive starters. As a game wears on plan for Red Bluff to go with whoever has the hot hand that night. "It's pretty big. It's senior year, last year playing foot- ball. I want to put it all out there," Koenig said. Obviously Nunez will anchor the line they run behind. Jensen provides more experience at center, but after that Red Bluff will be relying on some newcomers. Junior Ryan Gamboa has established himself at one of the guard positions. Spartans have talent, but lack depth

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