2017 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Laguna's Brothers in Arms

Reprinted from the SB News-Press
BY MARK PATTON

This year's Laguna Blanca football team is best known as the Band of Younger Brothers.

Coach Shane Lopes, who took the Owls to the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section 8-Man playoffs two years ago, has a familial look with this year's squad.

"We had a strong, winning record that season, and in some ways, I consider this to be the second crop," he said. "We have several of the younger brothers from that group, which is really cool.

"It's like a passing of the torch, now that these guys are in their senior years."

Pierce O'Donnell '16 was the star of the 2015 team that went 7-3, and younger brother Aidan, now a 5-foot-11 and 185-pound senior, is filling that leadership role this season.

He started at quarterback and middle linebacker on last year's 3-6 team, and will be asked to do even more this season.

"Aidan has been a jack of all trades for us," Lopes said. "One of his best attributes as a leader is his willingness to step up in various roles wherever the team needs him. He has exemplified a real team-first attitude.

"Our center went down a couple of weeks ago with an injury, and Aidan spoke right up and said, 'I'll play center.' He also plays linebacker and guard and is our long snapper as well as a quarterback. It's really helpful to have a guy like him who steps up to play different positions."

Other Owls who had siblings on the 2015 team are junior running back Josh Baron, younger brother of Isaac, and Laird and Wells Fowler, who are continuing the tradition that older brother Christian started in 2015.

"Josh is arguably the fastest guy on our team," Lopes said. "He really stepped up and trained hard during the offseason.

"Laird's a senior and he plays linebacker, while Wells is a starting receiver as a sophomore."

With O'Donnell at center, Ty Trosky will be taking the snaps at quarterback. The 5-10 and 160-pound junior played receiver last year.

"His strengths are his agility and his determination - he plays hard," said Lopes, who was a record-setting quarterback at Dos Pueblos High and is now Laguna's Dean of Students. "We're running what I call a spread-zone offense. There's a lot of motion and the quarterback reads the defense."

Tight end Anton Homeniuk (5-11, 175) will be Trosky's "go-to receiver," he added.

"He has great hands for a tight end," Lopes said.

The defense is anchored by O'Donnell, and senior defensive tackles Miles McGovern and Jack Fry.

"Jack did really well in our scrimmage," Lopes said. "Miles also plays offensive guard and is a volleyball player at our school. He's probably the strongest one in the weight room."

Several of Laguna's players also star in other sports. Tennis whiz Alex Furukawa will be sharing the running back duties with Baron.

He's one of nine seniors on a team of 16.

"We only have two newcomers, so we do have a more experienced group this year," Lopes said. "We've been training all summer."

With the Condor League disbanded for football, and cross-town rival Cate now in the Mount Pinos League, the Owls will play a freelance schedule that begins with Friday's 7 p.m. game at Santa Maria's Valley Christian Academy. Laguna will continue its cross-town rivalry against Cate on Oct. 6 when it plays host to the Rams at 3:30 p.m.

"We definitely have potential," Lopes said. "A huge part of it is staying healthy and executing each week. I'm making no predictions, but we definitely have what it takes to have a successful season."