Sizing up Sage

Rick Devereux

In order to maximize the talent of his short-on-depth team, Sage Hill

School football coach Tom Monarch is contemplating moving last year’s

all-league quarterback to wide receiver and plugging in someone who

has yet to throw a prep pass as the signal caller.

Braden Ross, a second-team All-Academy League selection last year

as a freshman, is in a position battle with freshman Jaime McGee to

steer the Lightning ship that has gone 2-15 since christening its

debut varsity season in 2002 with two straight wins.

“Both have great arms and are equivocal runners,” Monarch said.

“If Braden weren’t such a great receiver, it would be very difficult

decision. Braden has proven himself at quarterback and he’ll still

get snaps. Now, he can show off his skills at other positions.”

Ross is a proven athlete and will be counted upon to catch, run,

throw, defend the ball as a cornerback, punt and handle the kickoff

and punt-return duties.

Joining Ross as an ultimate utility player is Keya Manshadi.

Manshadi was the starting wide receiver, safety, punt returner and

kickoff returner as a freshman in 2002, but a fractured leg kept him

on the sidelines for six weeks last year. He saw limited action in

the final weeks of 2003, but still averaged 3.9 yards per carry and

13.5 yards per reception.

“We have the potential to put up lot of numbers with Manshadi and

Ross on the field at same time,” Monarch said. “It’s the difference

between night and day from last year’s lineup.”

While Monarch believes the skill positions are the strength of the

team, he knows the style of football the Lightning will play will be

determined by the boys in the trenches.

“I think a lot of that is dictated on how well our line plays,” he

said. “We could have a good balance of run and pass. We have a good

group of athletes and can throw to four kids with confidence that we

will complete the pass.”

The defense will continue to utilize four linemen, four

linebackers, and three defensive backs. Monarch said he expects the

linemen to keep blockers off of the linebackers to free them up to

make tackles.

“We will be blitzing more with our ‘backers,” Monarch said. “I

think [our defensive backs are] all good athletes. Our goal is to

force [the other teams] into passing situations.”

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown:

Quarterback: The freshman McGee might have a leg up on Ross.

Monarch said he believes moving Ross out to receiver will better

utilizes his athletic ability.

“Ross improved tremendously at quarterback last year,” Monarch

said. “We need to look at the totality of what makes us a great

football team.”

But Monarch did not rule out Ross seeing time behind center during

the season.

“Either kid can start for us,” he said. “Both are great athletes

and have great attitudes. We believe Ross can dominate at receiver,

but he will still get in the mix at QB this year.”

Running back: Monarch said Manshadi will be a halfback that

motions out to the slot receiver position, but he will still be asked

to handle the majority of rushing attempts. The real battle seems to

be at fullback, where as many as three people could see time.

Sophomore Don Ayers and junior Morgan Brief, who were second-team

all-league performers last year, will rotate with Laguna Beach High

transfer Brandon David. David, 5-foot-11, 245 pounds, played

offensive and defensive line for the Breakers.

Senior Jimmy O’Hare will also battle for playing time as the

blocking back.

Receivers: Monarch believes the 5-9 Ross has the athleticism to

take over the game once the ball gets in his hands. Manshadi or Ayers

could be the other wideout.

Junior Nick Sohl and freshmen Nick Witte and Michael Higgins will

provide depth.

Tight end: Ayers might also line up at tight end, but Monarch

expects senior Steve Hancock to be the starter.

“He’s a big kid,” Monarch said of the 6-1, 195-pound Hancock, “and

he’s a good athlete who has done extremely well during the summer.”

Offensive line: Last year saw a lot of two-way starters for Sage

Hill, especially on the offensive and defensive line. In order to

keep his players fresh, Monarch plans to institute a rotating O-line

of about six or seven blockers per game.

Junior Bryan Kornswiet, the returning starter at center, is not

expected to rotate, and tackles Bryan Forrest and Michael Morgan are

expected to stay in for most of the snaps.

But the two guard spots are still open. Juniors Morgan Brief and

Kyle Ramer, along with freshmen James Barrata and Jeffrey Flack, will

be fighting for a spot in the rotation.

“We will focus a lot of our attention on a well-disciplined

O-line,” Monarch said. “We want to rest some of the two-way linemen

as well as get more depth with experience for next year.”

Fullbacks David and O’Hare could also see action as guards.

Defensive line: The two ends will be Forrest and Morgan and the

tackles will be Brief and Ramer. Monarch said he will not flop the

linemen (strong side or weak side). He also said the difference

between the players at each position is negligible.

“Both Forrest and Morgan are pretty quick and pretty similar in

talent,” Monarch said. “Maybe Forrest is a little stronger against

the pass, and Morgan is a little stronger against the run.

Brief is extremely quick and has the potential to cause havoc in

opposing backfields. Ramer isn’t as quick, but he has been working on

it and, at 230 pounds, is bigger than Brief.

“Ramer has worked on his quickness and footwork all summer and it

is really paying off,” Monarch said.

Sophomore Stuart Palley, junior Keon Ramezani, and some yet to be

determined freshmen will provide depth.

Linebackers: Returning starters Ayers and Kornsweit will handle

the outside linebacker roles and Hancock and David will attack from

the inside positions.

“I would say Kornsweit and Ayers are our leaders on defense,”

Monarch said. “They are three-pronged athletes who can play defensive

back, linebacker or defensive line.”

Monarch expects O’Hare and freshmen Dylan Milstein, Max Torres and

Zach Robosky to vie for backup linebacker positions.

Secondary: Monarch said this is the strength of the defense. Ross

and Manshadi will be the corners and returning starter Nick Sohl will

play the free safety position. McGee will also see time at safety and

maybe some corner.

Monarch said he likes the versatility of the secondary.

“I think what dictates [our man or zone coverage] is the team we

play,” he said. “We have absolutely no problem playing man-to-man,

but we will focus more on zone than last year.”

The only problem with the defensive backs is how they might

respond to a run-oriented team.

“We are untested playing against the run,” Monarch said. “Only

time will tell.”

Freshmen Nick Witte, Michael Higgins, Jordan Spencer and Ariyan

Manshadi, Keya’s little brother, will be the main backups.

Kicking game: Senior Amy Werblin, a second-team all-league

selection last year, will return to handle the field goals and extra

points. She booted a 38-yard field goal versus Sherman Indian last

year. Ross will be responsible for the kickoffs and punts.

Ross will also return kickoffs with Manshadi. Manshadi will return

punts.

Kornsweit will be the long snapper.

As with many of the other positions, the backups will be freshmen,

a scenario Monarch likes just fine considering the alternative.

“We will have freshmen as backups instead of in the starting

lineup at most spots,” he said.