Laughingstock no longer

Barry Faulkner

Professionalism, intensity and consistency are traits one would

associate with Golden West College football coach Ray Shackleford,

who is entering his 32nd season leading the Rustlers.

A straight-laced advocate and practitioner of the old school -- he

became Golden West’s inaugural coach in 1966 -- Shackleford would,

however, not be the first person the Rustlers would turn to in need

of a good joke.

But it was Shackleford who broached the subject of laughter when

addressing this year’s team, which comes off a 2003 campaign that

produced more victories (four) than the program had achieved in its

previous five seasons (a 3-49 record including consecutive 0-10

seasons from 1998 to 2000).

“To go 4-6, lose one in overtime and three games by a touchdown or

less was a dramatic turnaround, no question,” Shackleford said. “We

were very competitive last year. I don’t think there is anybody kind

of giggling this season when they see Golden West on their schedule,

like they may have in previous years.”

With 10 starters back, including sophomore quarterback Todd

Crabtree, who helped the Rustlers finish second in the 12-team

Mission Conference in passing yards last fall, Shackleford believes

more forward progress is in order.

“Wins and losses are hard to predict, but we’re much better for a

second year in a row,” said Shackleford, who also welcomes back

first-team all-conference American Division tight end Brandyn McCall

(the conference is broken into two six-team divisions).

First-team all-conference inside linebacker Tyler Hall and

second-team all-conference center Jose Cardoza are also back.

Crabtree, who played receiver at Fountain Valley High, showed a

talent for delivering passes last fall. He completed 139 of 245 for

1,667 yards and 13 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions.

“We’d like to be more balanced offensively this year,” said

Shackleford, who calls the plays. “But if we can’t, we could be up

near the top of the conference in throwing the ball.”

Helping to improve on the meager total of 975 rushing yards last

season will be talented running back Turill Engelman, a Marina High

product who played last season at the University of Montana.

Engelman, a speedy 6-foot, 190-pounder, should benefit from an

offensive line that gained seasoning last fall. Those slated to flank

Cardoza are sophomore guard Joe Hadley and sophomore tackle Robert

Tialino. Shackleford also cites freshman Dustin Hensel and sophomore

Carlos Hernandez as potential contributors to a front wall the coach

said may be as big physically as any group he has ever had.

When Crabtree needs to throw, he has the comfort of looking for

McCall and sophomore returning starter Steve Yaden.

McCall, whom Shackleford said is being recruited by dozens of

Division I programs and may be one of the best community college

tight ends in the nation, caught 22 passes for 256 yards and two

touchdowns in 2003.

Yaden, a complement to then-sophomore Ryan Partridge (a team-high

56 catches for 830 yards and eight TDs), collected 27 receptions for

540 yards, a 20-yard average, and four TDs as a freshman.

“Yaden is very physical and very aggressive,” Shackleford said of

the 6-0, 215-pounder.

Potential backfield contributors also include speedy freshman

Kevin Thompson, as well as 6-3, 220-pound Quinton Sayers, a freshman

from Hawaii and the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers.

Dana Franklin, Ryan Green, Anthony Gil and Jason Burch are

additional receivers with potential.

Hall and fellow linebackers Zeke Rodriguez, Russ Tupper-Brown and

Estancia High product Mike Cahill may have plenty of room to operate

between the tackles, where sophomore Tommy Moolio and Junior Iapatu

lead a stable of large, active linemen capable of both occupying

blockers and drilling ball carriers.

But it is the secondary where Shackleford reports the biggest

improvement in a defense ranked No. 11 overall in the conference last

season (No. 10 against the rush and No. 11 against the pass).

“We’re much improved, thankfully,” Shackleford said. “I can not

even tell you how many times better we are in the secondary. We have

way more speed and we have better athletes.”

Sophomore safety Bobby Thompson, as well as freshmen cornerback

prospects Brent Cogburn and Martin Mares are among those expected to

bolster the pass defense this fall.

In addition to the typical roster turnover at the two-year level,

Shackleford welcomes seven first-year assistant coaches, replacing

six coaches from last year’s staff who left for various reasons.

The Rustlers, who defeated West Los Angeles and Southwestern to

open last season 2-0, play West Los Angeles Saturday at L.A.

Southwest.

The Rustlers will play their Sept. 11 home opener at Westminster

High, due to ongoing renovations at Orange Coast College.