Multi-threat Moriarty should keep foes guessing Dos Pueblos High coach Armando Gonzalez plans to throw caution — and his all-county quarterback — to the wind this football season.
"We're going to let him play," Gonzalez said of his 6-foot, 186-pound senior. "He may even return kickoffs for us." Gonzalez, who is starting his second season as DP's head coach, was an assistant during the mid-1990s when his half-brother, Anthony Ramos, rushed for 22 career touchdowns while passing for 45 more. "When Anthony played here, it was the same way — you turn him loose, and if he gets hurt, then he gets hurt," Gonzalez pointed out. "You just can't worry about it. We just have to surround Kellen with a cast that can pick up the slack."
He does have high hopes for his sophomore backup, Conner Rehage: "He's going to be really good — he's our first big quarterback (6-3, 190) since J.T. Stone, and he's got a rocket for an arm. He just has to develop." Moriarty, who was recently ranked by TheInsiders.com as the No. 11 prep quarterback in California, showed his ability to run last year with a team-high 533 yards and seven touchdowns. And Gonzalez says he's made big strides since then. "He's one of our hardest workers," he said. "Obviously, he's a naturally gifted athlete, but he's also really developed his arm and has gotten stronger." Moriarty will be without his top four receivers from last year, but he did get a new favorite target when basketball star Phil Friesen (6-4, 215) came out for the football team. "I didn't know if he was going to stick with it or not, but he played all summer for us and looked really good," said Gonzalez."He's got great hands. Maybe the only problem this summer was that Kellen probably threw to him too much — he got real comfortable with him, and we want to make sure he goes through all his reads." Friesen isn't DP's only big wideout. Senior Marco Gomez (6-1, 180), a backup last year, will step into a prime-time role this fall after also enjoying a productive summer. The Chargers are probably deepest at the tight end/H-back position. Gonzalez plans to get some offensive mileage at the spot from his marquee defensive player — all-county linebacker Ryan Shotwell (6-3, 216), who is also being moved to defensive end. Shotwell, who had a team-high nine sacks last year, has been offered a scholarship by the University of Arizona. Gonzalez also plans to plug juniors Josh Cohen (6-3, 205) and Scott Fleming (6-1, 178) into the tight end spot, as well as all-league defensive back John Ramirez (5-11, 205), who intercepted four passes and blocked two kicks last year. "We're going to use more tight-end and two-back sets, although we'll still throw the ball a lot," said Gonzalez. "We'll have more multiplicity out of those sets, which I like. At times, we were too one-dimensional last year." DP's offensive line is smaller, but Gonzalez considers three seniors — Nick Mascagno (6-1, 240), Alvaro Santos (5-7, 259) and Luis Madrigal (5-9, 238) — to be strong anchors. The Chargers also return their top two running backs — junior Matt Houston (6-1, 205) and senior Justin Sliger (5-9, 164): "Matt's become a real physical specimen," said Gonzalez. "Every college coach who came in during the spring said, 'Wow! Who is that kid?' If he continues to develop, he has a shot at being one of the best kids to come out of here." Houston, like both Shotwell and Ramirez, is also a key defensive player for DP, returning at cornerback. Other top defenders include safety Eddie Atelian (5-9, 172); linebackers Alan Penney (6-0, 195) and Riaan Bosch (5-9, 192), and linemen Dennis Aguirre (6-0, 275) and Josh Cohen. "Our strength right now is in our defense, and in the offensive backfield," said Gonzalez. "We're going to be attacking with the offense as much as we can, since we're a little lighter in the pants. "And we're going to attack on defense, too. We're going to move and stunt and blitz and mix it up as much as we can." — Mark Patton |
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| Bishop Diego Cardinals
• Cabrillo Conquistadores •
Carpinteria Warriors • Dos
Pueblos Chargers • Lompoc Braves |
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The
Chargers' Kellen Moriarty passed for 2,381 yards and 20 touchdowns
as a junior, but don't expect Gonzalez to keep him tucked safely
in a pocket this season. Not when he's got 4.4 speed in the 40-yard
dash.