Wolverines Need Improved Defense for 2012 Season

When Aliso Niguel came out of the gates last season winning its first three games by lopsided scores, dreams of a championship season began to soar. Then came a trouncing by a bigger, faster Huntington Beach team at home.

The back and forth season continued. A 41-0 victory, followed by a 48-7 loss. The Wolverines averaged more than 35 points a game last year, but they also surrendered a lot of points, too, including a 63-8 loss in the first round of the Southwest Division playoffs against Tustin, which went on to capture the CIF Southern Section title.

So with three home games to open the 2012 season against good, but certainly not great, opponents—starting tonight against Bellflower (7 p.m.)—followed by three road games against quality teams like Mission Viejo, could the Wolverines be looking at the same rollercoaster ride as last year’s team, which finished with a respectable 7-4 record?

Yes and no, says Wolverines Head Coach Kurt Westling.

“We could, but we are a better team than last year,” said the third-year. “The only negative is that everything is happening so fast. With the early start to the season and trying to make sure players are eligible and all the other little things get done, there hasn’t been much time. But I think in our scrimmage against (2011 division runner-up) El Toro, which is very good at quarterback and running back, we held our own.”

Click here for the Wolverines 2012 varsity schedule

The Wolverines welcome back 14 starters this season, nine on offense, and all at key positions. They are ranked 10th in the CIF-SS Southwest Division pre-season polls.

Senior Nate Cole, at 6-4 and 220 pounds, returns for his second year starting at quarterback. “He is reading defenses very well,” Westling said. “He’s a tall, pocket passer who has a good arm.”

At running back is 5-11, 190-pound junior Ryan Walker who is starting his third year on the varsity. “We are expecting 100 yards a game from that guy,” Westling added.

Aliso Niguel will miss junior receiver Roman Sert, who tore an ACL last week and is done for the season, but the team is deep with senior starters Jordyn Williams and Turner Westlake, backed by seniors Brenden Mitchum and Alijah Arnold, a transfer from Mission Viejo High. The starting tight end will be 6-3, 225-pound sophomore Jake Watkins.

The offensive line is big and has loads of experience. At the tackles are seniors John Mitzel (6-5, 280) and Manny Leiva (6-2, 260); at guard is senior Jeff Wright (5-11, 270) and co-captain Tyler Miller (6-0, 225); and the center is junior Chris Skarda (5-9, 205), his second year starting.

The defense will need to play better this season if the Wolverines hope to go deep into the playoffs, and some of the players that Westling is counting on are Miller and seniors EJ Gyimah and Ryan Hartman at defensive end, Wright and Skarda at nose guard, and a quintet of rotating linebackers: senior co-captain Eric Perez, junior Cameron Carpenter, senior Wyatt Schaffer, junior Kaleo Bastio and sophomore Onur Culhaci.

In the defensive backfield, Westling said he expects to start senior J.T. Barron and junior Andrew Iemsisanith at cornerback, senior Junior Lee at strong safety and Mitchum at free safety. Arnold also will see playing time at all four positions.

Zack Hammer has a strong leg and will handle kickoffs and field goals, while Nathan Smith or Barron will do the punting. Sophomore Zeke Zielinski and Merak Melikan will handle kick returns, while Barron and Arnold will return punts.

With experience at key positions and good depth with 60 players on the varsity, Westling is optimistic about his team’s chances this season, provided one thing happens.

“If we can stay healthy, we’ll be okay,” he said.

That…and making some stops on defense.