MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
SANTA ROSA — The Santa Rosa football program has seen resurgence in the last two seasons under head coach Arturo Garcia.
With a district title and two playoff seasons in as many years, the Warriors came into two-a-day practices this week fired up and ready to take another step.
However, they’re starting with baby steps.
“I’ve seen a lot of energy from the team,” Garcia said. “I think our kids understand that everything starts with energy and I’m very pleased that they’ve come out here and are getting at it.”
This year the Warriors will be in search of postseason success.
Garcia and the Warriors were a top seed in 2013 after winning a district title and a fourth seed last season, losing to Goliad both times in bi-district play.
Now, it’s all about embracing new program expectations, which were put in motion the previous two seasons.
“We started talking about taking the next step since December last year. We really appreciate what our former players did in 2013 and 2014,” Garcia said. “Now it’s time to get those playoff wins. We’re certainly optimistic with our players and numbers, and our players coming up. We’re more ahead of the game than we were last year.
“We just want to see energy and passion because with that we feel like everything will fall into place.”
The Warriors have eight returning starters on defense and five on offense. In all, they return 22 letterman from a year ago and feel that chemistry will be there for them this year.
“Our team is a confident one and it’s all of us who have grown up together and now we’re here playing varsity football,” said senior safety and running back Randy Reyna. “We had some mistakes last year, but hopefully this is the year we correct some of that. I’ve seen a lot of heart and guys going our there with passion trying to make varsity.
“I can’t wait to go out there with those Friday night lights.”
Last year’s team started 0-2 and then went on to win five of its next six games, before falling in its last three contests of the year.
A lot of that was due to injuries to players down the line, but with a lot of young players vying for spots in practice, the Warriors remain confident that they are a team on the rise if they can stay healthy.
“I feel like there’s a lot of potential on our team; a lot of underclassmen are really stepping it up,” senior offensive lineman Vince Olivarez said. “I think we just need to have confident because coming off of those losses last year hurt morale. We also had a lot of guys get hurt throughout the year, but if we can stay healthy, we’ll be a team to watch this season.”