Mission Division
Alisal (7-5, 5-1)
Uncharted territory.
That's where the Trojans found themselves last season when they reached the Central Coast Section Division IV semifinals for the first time in school history.
Seven weeks earlier, Alisal was sitting at 1-4 and appeared headed for a fifth straight losing season, when it reversed its course of direction.
"What happened is the kids never stopped believing in the process," Alisal coach Cesar Chaidez said. "It was one or two plays costing us. The kids took ownership. You know the rest."
What transpired was a school record six game winning streak, which included the programs first ever postseason win, before falling in the semifinals to eventual CCS champion Christopher.
Chaidez doesn't have to preach patience this fall. He doesn't have to change the culture. Those that are back have seen the results. Instead of hope, there is belief at Alisal.
"We've been grinding," Alisal running back Dorian Segovia said. "The mentality hasn't changed. We want to get back to where we were. We got a taste and liked it."
Of course, Alisal will not be sneaking up on opponents this year. Its old school, throwback style of offense, in which it runs the ball 80 percent of the time -- still works.
"We want to control the clock, play smash mouth football," Chaidez said. "The kids have bought into it. The strength of this team is our offensive and defensive lines."
You can pound opponents when you have a lineman like 6-foot-3, 330-pound Isaac Duenas opening holes for the running game, pulling from his guard position on sweeps.
Last year Duenas was a menace in the trenches, earning the Pacific Division's Co Offensive Lineman of the Year award. He earned high praise over the summer at camps at Cal and San Jose State.
The Trojans blue collar approach offensively piled up over 2,000 rushing yards last season. But over 1,500 of those yards came from the quarterback position -- vacated by graduation.
"It's open competition," Chaidez said. "The hope is we will have a lot of players step up. We'll have a few more wrinkles in the offense. But we're not changing our schemes."
While Chaidez has not named a starting quarterback for the Trojans opener against Live Oak, Julian Renteria was taking a majority of the reps at a recent practice.
He has a loaded backfield with Segovia and Israel Corona, an all-league defensive back who showed flashes of his ability last year in a limited role at tailback.
"Israel could also see some snaps behind center," Chaidez said. "When you have an athlete like that, you have to get him touches."
Anthony Estrada is another option in the backfield for Alisal while Frankie Hernandez could be used as a punishing fullback.
"Everyone is here to work," said Segovia, who will also start at safety. "We feel with our schemes, we can adjust to every front we may see."
Alisal can expect to see a lot of nine man fronts. And it will be tested in non-league with Live Oak, Terra Nova and Seaside on its home schedule.
"There were a lot of tears after last year's playoff loss," Segovia said. "My thought after that game was we will be back."
Defense dictated the tempo during the Trojans second half surge last year, holding six teams to 63 points -- four teams to a touchdown or less.
Hernandez was a beast at linebacker last season for Alisal, averaging nearly eight tackles a game. Duenas, who has gotten the attention of a handful of schools, will be disruptive on the line.
"We had a great off-season," said Chaidez, who is in his third year. "I'm proud of all the hard work. No doubt, it was a carry over from last year. But you can't hang your hat on the past."
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