Stevenson football

Stevenson (4-5, 4-2)

 Year three for head coach Kyle Cassamas means a system at Stevenson is firmly in place. A culture has been established.

 Body language alone from players in practice breaths confidence in a program that has taken strides in the right direction in the last two seasons.

 "The experiment is over," Cassamas said. "We are full throttle. We've done a great job of building a new culture here. No one has tapped out on any drill."

 Growing pains?

 Well, that is part of the process when you're limited with off-season workouts because most of your athletes play multiple sports or disappear as borders students over the summer.

 A week into practice, players from Mexico City and Hong Kong were arriving as school remained a week off.

 "I am guessing we have the most diverse team," Cassamas laughed. "But we have prepared for these obstacles. We are an academic driven school."

 Football is part of the curriculum for 50 plus players in the program this fall. The sport is no longer treated as a foreign object, even if the student body hasn't caught the fever.

 "Players want to change that," Cassamas said. "You have to earn it. There's only one way to create a buzz on campus. We feel we're going in the right direction."

 Thrown into the mix four weeks before the start of practice two years ago, Cassamas has grown into his role. Having a full off-season showed in the programs development last season.

 The Pirates, who have not won a league title since 2000, went 4-2 down the stretch, with their only losses coming from two teams no longer in the Santa Lucia Division.

 "The difference coming into this year is the off-season preparation," tailback Tyler Olson said. "A lot of us put in the work. This group has bought into it."

 There is reason to turn hope into an expectation. Stevenson has its quarterback back in Dylan Santos, who threw for nearly 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns last year as a junior.

 "He's had a chance to sit down and study the playbook in the off-season and watch film," Cassamas said. "He understands what is being asked of him. When the lights go on, Dylan is a gamer."

 While Santos is a threat with his legs as well, rushing for over 200 yards last year, it's throwing the ball that has him behind center.

 His core of receivers include Evan Johnson, who caught 23 passes for 270 yards as a freshman last year for the Pirates. 

 "I prefer not to bring up underclassman unless it's a need," Cassamas said. "But you could tell from an athletic standpoint, Evan was prepared. He knows the game."

 Johnson, whose dad played professional football for Philadelphia, gives Stevenson a burner on the outside, with tremendous leaping ability as well.

 "I honestly believe leaving Evan down last year would have hurt his development," Cassamas said.

 Also back is 6-foot-1 Connor Cosand, who was brought up as a sophomore, catching 15 passes for nearly 300 yards last year.

 Olson arrived last year as a sophomore, contributing 238 yards on the ground and three touchdowns in the final three games. He was also a threat as a kick returner.

 "I got a lot of touches at the end of last year," said Olson, who rushed for over 100 yards in a loss to Soquel. "You can't simulate the speed of the game in practice. Or the hitting. "

 Olson, who will double as a defensive back, is expected to get a bulk of the carries this season as Stevenson looks to slow the tempo of the game down.

 "We need to run the football more to keep our defense fresher," Cassamas said. "We want to control the game. Tyler is an expectational athlete. This is his time."

 The concern for Cassamas is always depth, particularly in the trenches. Two-year starter Ethan White provides stability on both sides of the lines. But it will be trial by fire for others.

 As many as eight players will see action on both sides of the ball, including Johnson, Olson, Santos, Tyler Garrett and Darnell Adler.

 "We don't have a lot of depth," Olson said. "But we understand how the game works, the importance of being a well conditioned team."

 While Stevenson gave up more points than it scored last year, the figure is somewhat misleading as 84 of its 228 points allowed came in two games.

 Still, tightening up the defense means cutting down on mistakes and creating turnovers. Controlling the ball on offense is also a step in the right direction.

 "It's about putting athletes in the best position to be successful," Cassamas said. "It took some time for them to adapt to me. Things are different now. I feel I'm winning them over."