While the three other county football programs have had lower than normal participation numbers over the summer, such is not the case in Arbuckle where the Pierce Bears have had one of their largest turnouts in recent years with a combined 94 varsity and JV athletes, equating to almost 25 percent of the school on the practice field.
For a team like the Bears, which lost an exceptional group of seniors to graduation last spring, its a sign that the program is healthy and growing, yet there is much to evaluate with the season approaching as head coach Anthony Tapia explained.
” We had over 105 sign up to play and had at least 50 show up for our voluntary workouts. Its the hardest working and one of the smartest teams weve had. They are also a really likable group, but we are still unsure exactly what we have talent-wise.
Like other teams in the COVID era, there is a lack of experience at the varsity level, even though the Bears did get in five games last year.
Still Tapia and his all-Pierce alumni staff have identified a handful of athletes they believe will figure prominently into their plans in 2021.
Senior Bryce Murphy takes over at quarterback in the Bears triple option offense, reprising a role he played his freshman and sophomore years on the JV squad.
Heading up the running back corps is junior Manuel Lopez, a three-year varsity player who is a load to bring down. Lopez actually started in the Bears 2019 section championship game against East Nicolaus as a freshman, and has averaged 7.1 yards per carry over his first two seasons.
Also penciled in the backfield is Iain Kalfsbeek, a senior who did not play last season, but has been a welcome surprise thus far.
Rounding out the skill position players are a pair of seniors in Ryan Travis and Armando Ramirez who are making a case for themselves to start at the wide receiver positions.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears have brought former standout Austin Bedart back to the fold as the coordinator and given him the luxury of having enough athletes to keep the number of two-way players to a minimum.
Returning for his senior season, Brandon Saavedra is one of the teams leaders and represents the best of Pierce football according to Tapia who praised the defensive lineman by saying, ” Hes strong, and one of the hardest workers on the team. He broke some records in the weight room this summer as well.
For Saavedra, this year is about working together and proving themselves on the field as he stated in his assessment of the team.
” I would say we are like a brotherhood. Our coaches push us to be better and we have a lot of guys who put in the work. We want to show that we can hold our own.
Senior Kayden Davis should be another fixture on the line while there is a whole new linebacking crew in 2021 with juniors Luke Myers and Joseph Saavedra looking to lock down spots.
In the secondary, Pierce will look to seniors Murphy, Ramirez, Travis and Daniel Gonzalez to provide leadership in the defensive backfield.
Despite the teams unproven nature, the Bears arent shying away from competition, as they should face tough challenges from Orland, Williams and Fall River in the preseason, before embarking on a grueling Sacramento Valley League schedule. –