Mason returns to Blazers

Mike Mason knows success.

The coach spent 15 seasons at Mesa Verde, where he won back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section titles. He then turned around and led Lindhurst High to its first Golden Empire League championship in 2002. In 2006 and 2007, he led the Blazers to back-to-back section titles.

He ended on a high note and retired after 2007.

The run of success didn't exactly stop with Mason at Lindhurst.

His nephew Scott Albertson took over the following season and led the Blazers to a section title game, where they fell 33-19 to Marysville.

In 2009, the Blazers squeezed into the playoffs before getting bounced 34-0 by Mariposa under coach Dan Crabtree.

Now, Mason is back, and keeping that string of playoff berths alive is his No. 1 goal.

"Definitely, at least go to the playoffs," Mason responded. "We have a good chance at league. Dixon is going to be tough, but I think we could do it."

The Blazers will have a new look headed into the season, reverting back to their helmets of old — a large "L" with flames. It may very well foreshadow the team's performance on the field — a Spread offense loaded with speed.

The team, however, is also loaded with sophomores and juniors. The Blazers lost 20 seniors to graduation.

"A lot of people think we're rebuilding, but we're reloading," he added. "We have a lot of weapons and a good-sized line to go with them."

Bring in brothers Tyler and Brandon Vaitautolu from Hawaii, Trae Jones from Kentucky, Deon Blakely from Los Angeles and Marquis Daughton from Inderkum, coupled with four returning senior standouts and some exciting youngsters, and Mason's Blazers offense could be a threat to put plenty of points on the board.

Captains Brandon Vaitautolu and senior Stephen Paxton will carry the load on the ground — two players Mason is confident will get the job done.

"They're not that big. They're only 5-9, 5-10, 170 pounds, but they don't play like it," he said. "They're very fast. And they won't just run by you, they'll run over you, too. They have no fear."

Christian George, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior, will be the primary quarterback, however, in Mason's Spread offense, Stephen Paxton and Tino Aguirre may get some reps under center as well.

The strength of the team, Mason believes, is the choice of wideouts he has to work with.

Juniors Miguel French (6-5), Jarrade Davis (6-2), Jurrell Davis (6-2), Michael Hubbard (5-11) and senior Daughton (5-11) will rotate in and out of Mason's scheme. But the coach has 16 players on the roster who can line-up at wideout.

At tight end, Blakely (a 5-10, 190-pound sophomore) will start, along with Edgar Guzman, a player with "size and speed."

"Deon (Blakely) could be very good. He's just a sophomore, so he has some time to develop," the coach said.

Development of skills and technique, and understanding team terminology is one of Mason's No. 1 priorities as a coach.

"I like to work with the JV team a lot," he said. "I move around quickly so that I can get a good look at all of the players and make sure those skills are coming along."

As a former offensive line coach, Mason also works a lot with his players in the trenches.

"We have about 12 linemen," he said. "We can platoon them or get most of the guys on either side of the ball, but we're still working on that."

One thing is for sure — Sergio Ramos will start at center. The senior captain stands at 5-8, but weighs in at a mean 210 pounds. Also starting on the line: Tim Westberg (Soph., 6-1, 260); Jones (soph., 6-1, 245); Dakota Watson (senior, 6-1, 200); Bobby Duelfer (senior, 6-0, 220) and big man Terrence Bowens (junior, 6-5, 220).

Defensively, the Blazers are still tying things down, but junior captain Tyler Viatautolu has his spot pinned down.

"He's terrific on the line. He could see both sides of the ball," Mason said.

Kevin Yang, a 5-8, 170-pound senior, will also see time on the defensive line.

"Kevin is so quick and just tough to bring down," the coach added.