Football Tour VII

Soledad (5-5, 3-4)
 After two straight postseason appearances, the Aztecs turned in jerseys early last fall, dropping two games in the final minutes, ultimately costing them a potential playoff spot.
 Senior quarterback Fernando Longoria will be looking for a bounce-back season. After throwing for over 1,500 yards as a sophomore, he threw for under 800 last season.
 And it had nothing to do with the South County winds that gust down the valley.
 With the ground game gutted by graduation, Longoria has to be a factor in the offense with his arm and legs.
 One of his targets is Mark Valladarez, who spent most of last season as a backup tailback.
  "I will go where ever coach wants me to play,'' Valladarez said. "Hopefully it means more touches on offense.''
 Soledad never found its stride last year. While it produced two of the highest point totals in school history with 62 and 53 points, it was also held to seven and six points in heartbreaking losses.
 "That was last year,'' said Valladarez, who got a taste of the postseason as a sophomore. "The goal this year is to get back to the playoffs."

 Check The Herald's website for an interview with Soledad High coach Frankie Berlanga.