Pacific Grove football

Pacific Grove Breakers (10-3, 6-1)
Two Mission Trail Athletic League titles. Two trips to the Central Coast Section divisional finals and 31 wins over the past three years.
Quite a difference from when Chris Morgan first arrived and his squads won nine games combined in his first three seasons.
"It’s been a by product of doing things right,’’ Morgan said. "As far as pressure, I think it’s more of a drive from the players and coaches.’’
In other words, expectations come from within the locker room.
Morgan built the program back up over time. Pacific Grove improved in the win column in each of his first five seasons.
The Breakers have had some dynamic offensive weapons come through the system of late, as well as a blue collar defense, taking them to the past two MTAL titles.
That hasn’t changed.
The return of Noah Cryns is reason to believe Pacific Grove will be in title contention again this fall as the 1,000-plus-yard running back will move behind center and quarterback the team.
Injuries forced Cryns into the backfield last season and the incoming senior evolved into one of the premier backs in the area with over 1,000 rushing yards, compiling 19 touchdowns.
Cryns found the spotlight in a game against King City, rushing for 245 yards and four touchdowns, tossing a touchdown pass and intercepting two passes on defense.
While graduation stripped the Breakers of numerous starters on defense, the cupboard isn’t bare with the return of 6-foot-5 all-league lineman Foster Smith, who compiled 10 sacks.
"There’s pressure to perform better than expected,’’ Smith said.
Help in the trenches will come from Henry Albert and Chris Crandell, while the secondary is deep with the return of Cryns, Kane Miller and Nick Coppla.
An MTAL sprint champion in the 100 meters last spring, Coppla could play multiple positions offensively, posing a double threat as a running back and receiver.
Depth is always a concern for the Breakers, who have quite a few starters going both ways. On the non-league schedule is Orestimba, which beat Hilmar last season and went 11-1 in the Sac-Joaquin Section.
"We have to be very multifaceted with some of our players,’’ Morgan said. "A lot of them have to learn a lot of different positions.’’