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Player turnout numbers are up at Palo Alto, adding to football coach Nelson Gifford’s enthusiasm about the upcoming fall season.
“We’re in the high 30s, maybe even 40 on the varsity, our best numbers since I’ve been here,” said Gifford, who has a combined 19-10 win-loss record over his first three years. “We’re a more experienced football team with a lot more depth. I’m really excited. Over the last four years I’ve seen the growth of the program.”
And, of course, there’s the additional anticipation shared by prep football programs all over the state regarding the prospect of returning to a full fall season of football instead of the aberrational half-season played last spring.
“Spring football is not fall football,” Gifford said. “It was strange playing while there were no kids in school. Now the kids are back, fans are back. We might even sell some hot dogs.”
A couple of key skill-position players return in quarterback Danny Peters and running back Josh Butler. Both will be going into their third year as starters. But Peters did not take part in Paly’s summer program, instead playing baseball on a travel team. Brody Simison quarterbacked the team in Peters’ absence, as he did last season when Peters had to sit out with an injury, and Gifford said there’s competition between the two for the starting nod.
If Peters starts at quarterback then Simison would join a receiving group that includes wideouts Rowan Felsch, Blake Chase and Leon Unga and tight end Lucas Black. Simison would also play defensive back and return kicks.
Peters completed 61.4 percent of his passes (143 of 233) for 2,039 yards and 25 touchdowns over his sophomore and junior seasons. During those same two seasons Butler carried 115 times for 1,073 yards, averaging 9.3 yards per carry, and scored 12 touchdowns.
Center Vainga Mahe (5-11, 270), tackle Jordan-Elijah Fakatou (6-4, 225) and guard Angus Yencken return on the offensive line along with Kalev Vaska (6-4, 265) and Kyle Lee (6-0, 225). Sophomores Iki Tupou (6-4, 260) and Orasio Becerra (5-10, 235) provide the additional depth necessary to man both the offensive and defensive lines.
Gerardo Becerra, no relation to Orasio, is the sophomore kicker and according to Gifford, “has been kicking the heck out of the ball.”
Paly opens its season Aug. 27 at home against St. Ignatius, then has home games with Serra and Pioneer and a road game at Carlmont before Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division play begins.
The De Anza Division has been top heavy in recent years with Los Gatos, Wilcox, Milpitas and Play taking their turns.competing for the divisional title.
“We’re going to get after it,” Gifford said. “For us it means we’ve got to step up to the challenge. We’re going to play hard this year. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
