Football Tour IV Seaside

Seaside

The Spartans have had more devastating losses to end their season during this push for supremacy over the last decade. But none has been more disappointing than last year's fall in the playoffs.
 A school record 11-0 start came to a sudden halt in the second round of the playoffs. Seaside coach Al Avila put the blame squarely on himself, feeling he didn't prepare his team properly.
 Of course, none of that matters today as the reward for a league title was a bump up into the MBL's Gabilan Division, where half the league has an enrollment twice the size of Seaside.
 Nevertheless the Spartans are going to show up this year with a punishing defense and an offense that has a lot of fuel in the tank.
 Despite a shrinking enrollment, the numbers are up for the football program as 95 players make up three teams -- two fewer players than what Salinas has on its varsity roster.
 Seaside is physical and nasty on defense behind the Choates brothers. My question is, can Seaside effectively run the ball? That was their Achilles heel last year.
 I don't know if there is a more athletic team out there. And there is depth in the trenches and at the skilled positions. Chris Evans will be fine handling the snaps.
 Yet, to win in the Gabilan Division, you have to be able to move the ball on the ground and keep your defense fresh.
 Not a lot of teams in the Gabilan Division have players playing both offense and defense. Seaside could have a handful starting on both sides of the ball. That's where depth comes in.

Watch an interview with coach Al Avila.