Pete Moye’
Sports Button

The Cerritos College football team enters the 2011 campaign with an empty starting quarteback slot, but because of its confidence in the depth of the team, offensive mind-set and compeition between players.

Last season, the Falcons beat LA Harbor 29-14, capping the victory off with a 56-yard punt return TD from wide receiver, Dion Curry, who also finished his sophomore season at Cerritos in 2010.

After coming within one game of playing in the state championship and finishing the season 9-1 last season, Cerritos also lost 16 players to universities with scholarships.

Rather than having a couple of standout players like Conference Offensive Player of the Year, running back Daveon Barner, Head Coach Frank Mazzotta says this 2011 team is strong from top to bottom.

“I would say that we are three-deep at every position,” Mazzotta said “We have at least 33 to 35 kids on both sides of the ball that are ready to play and that can play”.

According to Mazzotta the offensive linemen he has now, may be the best he has ever coached in his 33 seasons at the junior College level.

Mazzotta explained that as of right now the offensive line seems a bit consistent compared to the position battle between returning quarterbacks Freshman Morgan Fennell and Brandon Denker.

Both players have red shirted one-year at Cerritos College, due to injuries.

“I expect great things from myself, coach is expecting great things so i have to too,” Finnell said. “Its a competition, there is no way around it. The best player will play for the team.Football isn’t anything without competition”.

While last season’s quarterback Kane Wilson has left the team, sophomore saftey, Chris Metcalf feels that the team is in good hands, whether it is Denker or Fennell leading this year’s offense.

“Both players will most likely get a shot at playing this year and whoever does the best out of the two will keep the job,” Metcalf said.

Freshman defensive end, DonJames Sasa is more worried about hitting the opposing team’s quarterback, then the position battle.

“Im not real big on quarterbacks, because i have to hit them. The competition (between Denker and Finnell) is looking pretty good though,” Sasa said. “Both quarterbacks are looking strong. They both know how to read the field.”

The coaching staff have been keeping a close eye on both players throughout the offseason and will look to make a decision as to who will start the season this week.

“One (Finnell) has all the leadership and a little bit of a problem and the other guy (Denker) has the athletic ability, but lacks in the leadership department,” Mazzotta said

The Head Coach has recently changed the offensive mindset in the last few seasons, so that the offense is not dependent on the quarterback.

According to him this change has resulted in an average of 30.0 points per game for the Falcons.

Another reason why Mazzotta feels the quarteback situation is not a problem is because of the recievers and tightends.

“We have returners (sophomore reciever) Silver Viafanua, (sophomore reciever) Lindsey Anderson and i think we have three great tight ends right now. We just have to get them on the field.

On the other side of the ball, returners like Metcalf, look to step into leadership roles, left by last year’s Conference Defensive Player of the Year, free safety, Keith McGill.

Some key defensive returners that Mazzotta named were: sophomores linebacker, Joshua Finau, defensive end, Sonny. Theodette.

Some freshman who will make an impact soon, according to Mazzotta, are La Habra alumni Josh Peko and

Mazzotta does feel the team is young and might stumble over some growing pains early in the season, but with four games in the Month of September he thinks that should be out of the way by October.