Here we go, two weeks away from their first game at Great Oaks in Temecula. The Tigers have finally made their way into pads, and are getting prepared to play. Coach G this week was stern, by this time players should know what they are supposed to be doing. Coach G continually reminded his team “17 more days boys, that’s all we have to be ready. 17 more days.” This week is what you would remember as “Hell Week” as the boys get into pads and practices move into Two-a-Days (Two full practices in one day) the weird thing is that the school’s schedules have changed and so have CIF regulations over the past few years. I remember being in pads for at least two or three weeks before we started school. The Tigers are set to start school on Thursday, August 8th, and their first game comes on the 17th. Time is coming down to the wire. I was very impressed this summer with the way Coach G, and his staff handled their team, to me it seemed like very little to none quit the program and most of them already knew the system, with only some strategies and plays being implemented into the playbook.
Kajiya Hollowayne, Juan Denny, and Damonce Williams are ready to show what an electric offense they have. They have been practicing some very complicated college-level packages that I can’t wait to see in action on the field in the coming weeks. Kajiya Hollowayne (Tigers Starting QB) is looking to increase his ranking amongst scouts as UCLA already offered him a full-ride athletic scholarship. He hasn’t signed with them nor does he seem close to making a decision yet, but this is an excellent opportunity for everybody on the San Jacinto Tiger Football team as scouts from all over the nation will be here this season to watch Kajiya play.
The Tigers Defense is looking solid and holding their own in practice against such an electric offense. Ryan Cogdill (Coach G’s defensive package) has done a great job at putting players in the right spot to be successful. His Defense is anchored by Kameron Rocha in the secondary who swaps between safety and defensive back, I’ve watched Kameron shut down his teammates all summer long in one on one drills, and play high-level zone defense when playing over the top. The great thing about Kameron is he isn’t scared to get in the box and lower the boom. He enjoys it. Nathan Ortiz who plays old fashioned smash mouth football as the middle linebacker, chaos seems to follow him everywhere he goes on the field. He is confident in his skill and is very intuitive as the Middle Linebacker. Lastly, the big man in the middle Sheldon Newton, Sheldon has no problems getting to the Quarterback; his only issue is he has been held in check all season being told not to hit the offense too hard. I can’t wait to see what happens when he isn’t playing against his team because he is big, fast, and strong. I envision Sheldon being a problem for many backfields this year when his restraints are lifted off.
My last article of this year’s Hardknocks coverage will come in next week’s print as I cover San Jacinto’s first scrimmage against Valley View at 6:00 on August 10th. Until then you can check out more pictures of Hardknocks at Author Kyle Rae Headlee on Facebook, If your child is in a picture feel free to download them and keep them, all I ask is you follow the page.
