DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
DONNA — Last season was baptism by fire for Donna North. In their first year of varsity football play, the Chiefs were packed with sophomores, went 0-10, lost by an average of 27.4 points and were outscored 365-91.
Donna North’s potential for success this season will be dependent upon what it learned last year and how it adjusts.
“Our kids come back with a year’s experience,” Donna North coach Tommy Sauceda said. “That’s the biggest thing. It’s a year’s worth of experience for the offseason, a year’s worth for the summer program. They now know how to practice right, how to lift weights right.
“We talk about having the right intensity, a sense of urgency. We’re doing some good things and they’re ready to go. Our kids now know what it takes to compete.”
One positive his team can build on from last season, Sauceda said, is its attitude.
“We never quit. We competed,” he said. “We just need to put all four quarters together. We need to develop some consistency, get some first downs and play field position.”
Year 2 figures to be another trying one for the Chiefs, but a foundation is being established. Donna North, which returns 14 starters and 27 lettermen, wants to slow games down, run clock and ground-and-pound.
Igniting that will be an able offensive line. Led by juniors Juan Martinez and Luis Castilla, the line will be the rock of Donna North’s identity.
“We’re more mature and we’ve grown up,” Castilla said. “We’re more physical and stronger and it’s shown in camp.”
The offensive line will pave the way for the Chiefs’ go-to playmaker, junior running back Dominic Ochoa.
“I’ve known those guys for two years, some I’ve played with since middle school,” Ochoa said. “They trust me, I trust them.”
If Donna North can consistently control the trenches, which would be quite a feat for a young team, it could take a considerable step forward this season.
“It’s about getting off the ball faster, being quicker and being more physical,” Castilla said. “We’re doing better working toward a common goal, which is to win.”
RUNNING STRONG
Ochoa split time in the backfield last season and finished with more than 500 rushing yards. Many games, he was the Chiefs’ lone source of offense.
“How Dominic goes is going to be how our offensive linemen go,” Sauceda said. “Things are going good and they’re going to be our bread and butter in moving the chains and slowing down the game a little bit.”
Ochoa worked on his speed and agility during the offseason to counter what he expects to see from more attentive defenses this season.
“Last year I was getting a feel for the varsity game,” Ochoa said. “This year, I want more. I’ve got to keep pushing.”
ONE FOOT AHEAD
The Chiefs could have a new signal-caller this season.
Right now, Manny Ramirez, who shared time at quarterback last year, and Alex Saenz are competing for the spot, but Saenz has the edge. He will be the starter for today’s morning scrimmage against Port Isabel.
“Alex is getting better and he’s catching up to where he needs to be and what he needs to do at the varsity level,” Sauceda said. “Right now, he’s the frontrunner. He’s looking good and we’re excited to see him out there.”
LEARNING AND GROWING
Donna North will be fast on defense, but it won’t be big. Creating an identity there will be crucial if the Chiefs want to pick up wins.
“Getting tackles, interceptions, three-and-outs,” senior linebacker Manuel Lerma said. “We want to see results.”
The Chiefs are a throwback program that relies on the run game and strong defense. The talent is there for the former, but the latter remains an uncertainty.
“We made some mistakes last season and we learned,” Lerma said. “It was a year where we had to adjust to every single thing thrown our way. This year, we’re working on correcting them and taking what we learned to win some games.”
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DONNA NORTH’S PROGNOSIS
Year 2 will be another challenging one for the Chiefs, but with a roster loaded with juniors they could go far establishing momentum for next season.
Projected 2015 Record: 2-8
TENURE
Coach: Tommy Sauceda
Year at school: 2nd
Record at Donna North: 0-10
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