Trinity football

Eight Man Football
Mission Trail Division
Trinity (5-4, 3-2)
  A desire to play 11-man football remains a topic for the future at Trinity. For now, the focus is on  competing for supremacy in eight man football in the Mission Trail Division.
 The Warriors have produced five straight winning seasons under coach Frank Leonard, taking part in a bowl game last fall.
 Yet, Leonard felt a change was in order this fall. As a result, he has altered the offense, adding a few new wrinkles.
 "We had to," Leonard said. "What we were doing in the past was very efficient. But it wasn't working as well. Teams were on to what we were doing. That happens when you win a lot."
 Eight man football is no longer a pass happy league that resembles Arena Football. Being balanced and running the ball is just as critical.
 And Trinity did that well the last two years with arguably two of the best athletes the school has seen come through the system.
 "There is no Jamez Booker or Chris Wright in the program right now," Leonard said. "But this is a talented group as a unit -- united as one."
  Leonard will incorporate a spread offense this fall to take advantage of a receiving core, anchored by 6-foot-4 junior Cameron Hill.
 "It's different," said Hill, in what Trinity is running. "But we've adjusted quickly. We are a quick learning group. It's an offense that will create more opportunities for me."
 Last year Hill averaged over 20 yards a catch, leading the Warriors in receptions and touchdown catches. He's been building chemistry in the off-season with sophomore quarterback Chase Perez.
 "Chase has a great sense of timing in running the option," Leonard said. "He is comfortable in the position. He's very competitive in the right way."
 When Trinity was good last year, it was dominate, scoring 60 or more points three times, averaging over 50 points a game in its five wins.
 Yet, lost in those impressive offensive performances was the defense, which allowed just 58 points in its five wins. But in Trinity's four losses, that number ballooned to 198 points.
 The Warriors also couldn't hold leads in two of those losses.
 "That's on me," Leonard said. "We've changed some things in the off-season. I felt we had a better off-season program to get these kids in the shape we need to be in."
 Particularly with so many going both ways, perhaps being involved in as many as 120 plays a game.
 The Warriors will posses a pair of returning bookend defensive ends in Hill and Anton Guerra. Both are pass rushing demons that will be disruptive.
 While Hill is a possession type receiver, Caleb Wong provides a speed threat, particularly after the catch. Last year he finished among the team leaders in multi-purpose yards.
 Wong will get his share of carries in the backfield as well, running behind a talented offensive line.
 "We won't be the biggest team in terms of size," Hill said. "But we're faster than a lot of teams in our league. Speed is big in eight-man football. There is a lot of space."
 While the Warriors will open up the offense, Alex Cabinilia will get his share of carries, as well as being a threat out of the backfield as a receiver.
 "This offense fits our personnel," said Leonard, whose squad visits Rincon Valley on Saturday. "We have a few more bodies to spread it around. We have 27 players. The school has 52 boys. That tells me we're going in the right direction."