State title hopes for Sutter

The pinnacle of a 20-year career begins Saturday.

When coach Scott Turner leads his Sutter Huskies on to the field at E.H. Hanby Stadium in Mesquite, Texas, to begin his final season as head coach, he'll have just one thing on his mind — just win baby.

"We have one goal," Turner said. "Our goal is to win the last game — that's it."

Turner leaves open the possibility that Sutter's last game could be a California Interscholastic Federation Division III state title game, rather than a Northern Section playoff game, but that's potentially 12 games down the road.

However, bringing back 32 players from an undefeated team certainly bolsters the coach's imagination.

"I have pretty high expectations, no question," Turner said. "We got to take it one game at a time. We have to do well in the preseason and win league to get that Section championship. We don't even want to start talking about this state thing."

Among the 32 players returning are quarterback John Garcia, running back Dane Turner, middle linebacker Devin DeWitt and tight end Kyle Morehead — all senior captains, all a part of a class that has yet to lose a game.

Entering their final season, Sutter's senior class has run the table as freshmen, sophomores and last season as juniors, and while a fourth season of the same is a tall task, don't put it past a team this stacked.

Garcia, who finished last season with 10 passing touchdowns, nine rushing touchdowns and a combined 1,700 total yards, will have plenty of targets in 2008.

Morehead, along with returning receivers Brian Southers and Karam Bhandal will provide Garcia with plenty of options. Juniors Cody Shogren, also the team's kicker, Brady Breymer, Shawn Schoffstall and Tyler Richardson will also get in the mix at wideout. "One of the things that sticks out is our skill guys on offense," coach Turner said.

Dane Turner will receive a heavy workload at running back, while returning seniors Craig Smith and Rowdy Robinson also will share time in the backfield. Juniors Joe McMaster, Cameron Olmstead, Hayden Childers and Cody Hale should also rotate in.

Seniors Brian Coppin, Evan Scroggins and Andrew Figone will lead an otherwise inexperienced offensive line. However, coach Turner likes what he sees from junior Blake Ahlers (6-foot-3, 230 pounds), who may start at center.

"Our offensive line is very green," coach Turner said. "They have to get better."

It's actually on defense, where coach Turner feels most comfortable.

"Our aggressive defense is definitely a strength right now. It's extremely aggressive," he said. "Devin De Witt is our defensive quarterback."

De Witt leads a strong core of linebackers, including senior Zack Prosser and a slew of juniors. Junior Justin Taylor has especially caught the eye of coach Turner.

Juniors Nick Pittman, Austin Morehead, Jon Oglesby, Isaiah Bohmann, Ken Larsen, Cody Kern and Mike Ramos will join seniors Michael Phillips, C.J. Sanchez and Sean Dewoody in the trenches on defense.

The team is also deep in the secondary, where seniors Michael Allen, Lane Patterson, Shane Hamilton, Jordan Parsons and Dariusz Ratajczak are being pressed by juniors Leszek Ratajczak and Grant Campbell. Juniors Andrew Halcomb, Jamie Lemere and Bobby Houston will also compete for time.

"We believe competitiveness builds a better athlete," Turner said.

The Appeal-Democrat will preview the Gridley High football team in Tuesday's edition, followed by Wheatland on Wednesday. Contact sports editor Bryan DeMain at bdemain@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4796.