Last season, the Trojans went 5-1 in league and were able to play in the CCS Championships with the help of former Coach Cesar Chaidez. This year, the Trojans are being led by new head coach, Francisco Estrada, after Coach Chaidez stepped down.
Alisal football is nothing new to Coach Estrada, as he played for the Trojans from 2000 to 2003, and he was part of the first championship who went to the playoffs.
With some key returners, Coach Estrada hopes to work with them and complete a goal of his, which is to win CCS. Returners like Kike Jacinto, Efren Posadas, Carlos Zamora, Joshua Angel, Roy Reyes, and Jayden Duarte are players who Estrada relies on when he needs some leadership for the team.
Jacinto, a senior free safety and receiver, believes the team can get to CCS this season just like he did last season, “To be honest the only way we’re going to CCS is by listening to our coaches, making sure we’re all on check, all locked in to our job and what we have to do,” he said. “Last season motivated us by wanting us to go over there again and making it to CCS and just not getting second place and trying to win it this year,” said Efren Posadas.
Although the team went 1-3 during the pre-season, Estrada praised the players for continuing to play hard. “A high piece of our success is credited to our kids believing what us as coaches are teaching them and the goals we set for them,” he said. “Our kids demonstrating mental toughness is a huge part of the turn around. At 1-3 a team can lose faith in itself and implode easily but our guys have stayed the course.”
Estrada also said injuries slowed the team early on. “Well, one of the things that we battled in the first four games is a lot of injuries,” he said. “Getting all our guys back and healthy we can definitely put some points up in the board and then you know we battled two possible A league Champion contenders, so that’s not always easy.”
Defensive line Coach, Josh Elledge, who played for Alisal from 2013 through 2017, also feels good about the team. “I think we have a lot of great leaders, and a good set of kids, just good kids, good all around kids,” he said.
Estrada agreed, “I think right now, some of the strengths that we have are probably some of the leadership on the team. I think we’ve really grown as far as leaders, captains have really stepped up – Roy Reyes, Kike Jacinto, Efren Posadas, and Joshua Angel have really stepped up, so leadership is definitely one that is a strength.”
The team has gotten off to a good start in league, going 2-1 at the halfway point, getting a big win over St. Francis in the Homecoming game. “Our defense came up huge against St. Francis and I can’t say enough at how proud I am of them as a group,” Estrada said. “I am confident that as a defense and as a team we will continue to grow and get better every week.”
Caleb Gabriel, who scored the final touchdown of the game, agreed. “It felt good because we were like the underdogs, so we needed that win to probably make it to CCS,” he said. Estrada highlighted the play of Jayden Duarte who he said has brought a whole different dynamic as a dual threat quarterback and has stepped up in a big way. “It was and felt great, seeing the clock hit zero we stopped them on four-down ran onto the field, it felt great.” Duarte said. He also credited the offensive line who has collectively not allowed a sack in the past two games.
On defense, he said senior Middle Linebacker Efren Posadas continues to be the anchor, while junior Linebacker Jesiah Ramos, and Junior Cornerback Xavier Estrada, continue to make big plays. Estrada also commended the special teams unit for only allowing 1 touchdown the entire season.
The team will be tested over the final three league contests. “All 3 opponents are going to be tough, but I feel like we are peaking at the right time,” Estrada said. “We have not been a good road team this season and we are looking to change that this Friday at Seaside.”
