Seaside football

Seaside (10-2, 6-0)
 Winning a Pacific Division title often comes with consequences as Seaside was bumped back into the Gabilan Division this fall.
 It must also replace nearly 80 percent of its offense as Keishawn Robinson and his 1,700 rushing yards and Sacramento State bound Malik Jeter have graduated.
 "It's never been about competition,'' Seaside coach Al Avila said. "It's about numbers and size. This league (Gabilan) is meant to satisfy four big schools. It doesn't work in this area.''
 The Spartans are still going to show up and let you know you're in a football game, particularly with a defense that starts with three-year starter DeMarcus Hawkins.
 Last year the 218-pound defensive end compiled 18 1/2 sacks, creating havoc each time an opponent went back to throw.
 "I want 23 sacks this year,'' said Hawkins, who has gotten the attention of a handful of colleges. "The school record is 22.''
 The surrounding cast around Hawkins won't be bad as Gabe Tulau and 265 pound Sione Kamitoni will make opponents respect the Spartans front four on defense.
 Double team Hawkins and you'll have to deal with Tulau, who came up from the junior varsity for the playoffs last season and compiled six sacks, batted down five passes and had a pick six.
 "Our bookends are going to come after you,'' Avila said. "Competing is not the issue with us. The key is can we stay healthy? There's a big drop off if a couple of players go down.''
 The secondary was a strength last year as Daniel Sayre intercepted seven passes, returning five for pick six's. He's back as a lock down corner.
 "We have to pick up the pace,'' Hawkins stressed. "And we have to be more disciplined. You can't make mistakes in the Gabilan Division.''
 Avila echoed similar sentiments as Seaside gears up for its season opener against defending Central Coast Section Division IV champion Soledad this Friday.
 "I just haven't seen our defense perform like it should in practice,'' Avila said. "We have eight guys that saw significant time last year. We're not where I feel we need to be.''
 Offensively there are obvious holes to fill. It is the hope that Hawkins will solve one void at tailback, running behind a mammoth offensive line anchored by 330-pound TJ Monu.
 "I expected to get more touches offensively this year,'' said Hawkins. "I want to do this. I want to help this team anyway I can.''
 Hawkins was a beast when called upon to run the ball last year, averaging just under seven yards each time he touched the ball -- often in short yardage situations.
 "He could be the most dominating player in this area,'' Avila said. "He's 225 pounds. And you can't touch him when he gets going.''
 A punishing runner, Hawkins should find a few holes to run through with Monu -- just the second biggest player on the Spartans line -- leading the charge in the trenches.
 "We've been conditioning for this,'' Monu said. "No one is going to outwork us. We know no one expects much out of us in this league. We feel different.''
 While Hawkins will get his share of carries, Avila feels this might be the most balanced Seaside has been in four years with the return of quarterback Ivan Ochoa.
 "One of our biggest mistake last year was not starting him all year,'' said Avila, who is in his 27th season as the schools head coach.
 Ochoa will have no shortage of receivers with the return of Sayre, who led the team in receptions last fall, and Roderick Gaskins, who also returned a punt for a touchdown.
 With the move to the Gabilan, three are three reigning league champions in the same league and six teams that went to the playoffs last year. At least five will earn automatic spots this year.
 Seaside's last appearance in the Gabilan Division marked a 1-6 league record in 2014. It hasn't faced a team in the Gabilan since.
 "We can compete,'' said Avila, who was forced to drop his freshmen program last week. "We just do not have the quality of depth that the big schools possess. Our numbers are shrinking. It's only going to get worse down the road.''