Touch act to follow

Tom Monarch began thinking about the 2006 Sage Hill School football season back in 2003.

As the coach of a CIF Southern Section Division XIII school (renamed this year to the Northeast Division), looking ahead and preparedness take on new meaning.

With Sage Hill’s first varsity football season coming in 2002, the Lightning lost a large group of experienced football players to graduation for the first time last spring.

“High school football is like mutual funds,” said Monarch, the only coach the program has had. “You have to invest time, money and effort.”

The growing number of players trying out for football — 42 this year as opposed to 24 three years ago — also means more leaving and Sage Hill lost 12 players to graduation last year.

The offensive and defensive lines took the biggest hits.

“I looked at the equipment and there were a dozen extra-large pants that won’t be used this year,” Monarch said. “Those are some big pants to fill. We had a heavy line last year.”

While Sage Hill has lost experience, it retained a fair share of experienced players. “This is the first year with so many returning players,” Monarch said. “It’s so much easier as a coach when you have kids who know what they are doing. They can teach by example. That’s an advantage.”

The Lightning are looking to build on the success of last year’s 9-2 season in which the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Division XIII playoffs for the first time. They lost in the first round of the CIF playoffs in 2004, their only other appearance.

But, as Monarch is learning, there are drawbacks to having a successful football program.

“We had two winning seasons so four teams dropped us [from the nonleague schedule],” Monarch said.

Luckily for Sage Hill, the team will play four Academy League games instead of three, which will also boost the team’s playoff chances.

Stoneridge Christian dropped the Lightning from its nonleague schedule.

The late change leaves Sage Hill with a nine-game season and two open weeks after its second game.

“It’s frustrating, but you have to look at other small schools and sympathize,” said Monarch, who compared securing nonleague opponents to selling time shares. “It’s the nature of the beast. There are bigger things in life to worry about, though.”

One thing Monarch is not worried about is any pressure to exceed last season’s performance.

“Our goal is to do the best we possibly can, physically and mentally on the field,” Monarch said. “I would hope our returning players would want to do better than last year.”

It is something winning breeds: the desire to continue to do so.

“They’re getting used to winning,” Monarch said of his players. “We’re going to win a lot of games we might not have won the past two years. The kids can expect to win. They are very humble, but, at the same time, they expect to win. That’s a dangerous team.”

Add in that many of the team’s seniors remember the 2003 season in which the team finished 1-8, 0-3 in league, was outscored by 23.8 points per game and blown out, 49-14, by league rival Brethren Christian in the finale, and you have a group of players who love to win and hate to lose.

Monarch recalled a 2003 game against league opponent Capistrano Valley Christian that the Lightning lost, 34-0. Afterward, Monarch pointed to the scoreboard and told his players to remember the score and that better days were ahead.

The next season, the Lightning beat Capistrano Valley Christian, 24-12.

“It builds a lot of character when you get steamrolled and steamrolled every game,” Monarch said. “Now we are steamrolling teams. The same team, the same coaches. That’s a great feeling.

“The kids have lived through both worlds. A true test of character is when the odds are against them from the beginning.”

The odds are not against the Lightning this season. They will not sneak up on anybody and that is something Monarch likes.

“[Success] has really boosted the morale of our program,” Monarch said. “[The first-round playoff victory, 28-27, over Poly of Pasadena] really put us on the map. Teams know they need to prepare for us. We’re not a doormat anymore.”

With the program growing into its own, Monarch had former players return to assist during the summer for the first time.

All-league running back Eddie Huang, who graduated in 2003, was the most notable of the four to five players who helped with coaching duties throughout the summer.

“That’s what puts a smile on our faces,” Monarch said.

The change in the starting lineup has forced Monarch, as always, to adjust his offensive and defensive game plans to suit the talents of his players.

With a new defensive line and two All-Academy League linebackers in senior Don Ayres and junior Max Torres, the obvious choice for a base defense was the five-two.

The intent will be to funnel the opponents’ ground attack into the awaiting arms of the two talented linebackers.

On offense, the Lightning will go with a spread attack — with Ayres the lone running back — to open up the field for junior quarterback Jamie McGee, entering his third year as the starter.

McGee threw for 1,492 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. He completed 90 of 176 passes and had at least one TD pass in 10 of 11 games.

McGee threw for 858 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 2004.

Sage Hill will also go with an I-formation to give Ayres (1,018 yards and 15 touchdowns on 151 rushing attempts last season) some carries inside and around the tackles as well as the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Torres, who will fill the fullback position.

The Lightning will hope to replace versatile Keya Manshadi, who rushed for 1,069 yards, had 416 yards receiving and scored 21 touchdowns.

As always, Monarch will start the best players regardless of age.

“If he earned a starting spot, I’ll start him,” Monarch said. “Just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean starting is a right.”

Sage Hill kicks off its season Friday at 7 p.m. at home against St. Genevieve of Panorama City.

The league season begins with an Oct. 13 home game against Linfield Christian at 7 p.m.

The Lightning will face four league opponents in their final five games to close out the season.

THE LIGHTNING

Colors: Forest green, silver and white.

League: Academy.

2005 record: 9-2, 2-1 in league.

Type of offense: Spread, I-formation

Type of defense: Five-two

Head coach: Tom Monarch (fifth year, 20-21)

Staff: Monarch (co-offensive coordinator); Brad Gossen (co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks); Jason Eldridge (defensive coordinator); Mike Marchetti (assistant defensive coordinator); Frank D’Amato (offensive line, defensive line); David Bare (receivers, linebackers); Tomas Diaz (secondary, receivers).

Returning starters: Four offense; five defense.

Returning lettermen: 21

Returning with honors: RB-LB Don Ayers, WR-CB Braden Ross, QB Jamie McGee, FB-LB Max Torres, DB Mike Higgins.

2005 ResultsOpponentScoreFairmont Prep 41-8 WSaddleback Valley Christian 32-19 WMidway Baptist32-8 WSherman Indian 52-8 WTwin Pines 47-6 W Silver Valley 55-14 WBrethren Christian* 27-16 WSt. Margaret’s* 56-8 LCapistrano Valley Christian* 56-6 WPasadena Poly** 28-27 WCampbell Hall** 65-28 L

2006 ScheduleDateOpponentSiteTimeFridaySt. GenevieveHome7 p.m.Sept. 8Saddleback V.C.Away7 p.m.Sept. 30Fairmont PrepAway7 p.m.Oct. 6Army-NavyHome7 p.m.Oct. 13Linfield Chr.*Home7 p.m.Oct. 21Brethren Chr.*Ocean View7 p.m.Oct. 27AnimoHome7 p.m.Nov. 4Capo. V.C.*San Clemente7 p.m.Nov. 10Fountain Valley*Hunt. Beach7 p.m.

* denotes league game; ** denotes playoff game