Expectations high for DN

Opens season on Friday at home versus Mustangs

Del Norte Warrior senior running back Collin Taylor rushes down the field during the Blue and Gold scrimmage on Aug. 19 at the high school. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

With 16 seniors bringing veteran leadership, a strong running game and offensive line and an experienced defense, second-year varsity head coach Ray Rook is optimistic.

Last year, Rook said, “the system I wanted to run was in my head. Now it’s been established and we’re building on it and getting better.”

This offseason, Rook said, he and his fellow coaches “spent a lot of time going over ideas. We all believe in a common thing.”

And that, Rook said, is to put out a team that can contend for the conference title each year and have a long run in the playoffs, as well as one that teaches the players not just the importance of success on the football field, but on life beyond the sport once they graduate from high school.

Del Norte opens the season on Friday, as it has done for several years, against Hidden Valley of Oregon at home.

The varsity game begins at 7:30 p.m. and junior varsity is at 5 p.m. at Mike Whalen Field at the high school.

Dylan Pease of the Del Norte High junior varsity football team runs down the field during the Blue and Gold game on Aug. 19. The junior varsity team plays Hidden Valley at 5 p.m. Friday at home. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Senior linebacker Joseph Verdejo said he and his fellow seniors want to end their final year with a Big 5 Conference title and have worked hard to make this become a reality in the offseason.

“We can’t let up,” he simply stated.

Senior running back Collin Taylor believes that the team has matured from a year ago and this experience will lead them far.

“I think we’re in pretty good shape,” he said.

Taylor said that they are a much more focused team, especially when it comes to the mental part of football and not faltering  late in the game with a lack of intensity and focus, which he said happened at times last season.

“We’re working hard on doing it right,” he said.

Last year, the Warriors finished the season 4-7 and earned a berth in the Northcoast Section playoffs.

Big wins for Del Norte included a double-overtime victory at home against rival Eureka and a win on a field goal at the end of a game against Brookings-Harbor.

The majority of the losses were close, including a few that were lost in the final few minutes of the game.

Rook believes that with a year’s experience for both the coaching staff and players, he expects the team to win close contests in 2011.

“We know we need to always be disciplined in everything we do,” Rook  said.

Rook has liked the effort he has seen from his team during practices and at the annual Blue and Gold game and the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference Jamboree.

What pleases Rook is that for this time of year, mental mistakes such as fumbles and missed snaps have been limited, which has been an encouraging development.

Rook believes that the Big 5 will be quite good this year, with no weak team that he can see.

Eureka, the defending  Big 3 Conference champ last season, is still strong, as is Fortuna. Arcata, which did not field a varsity team last year and McKinleyville, which played in the Little 4, looked good during the jamboree, he said.

On offense, Rook said the team will certainly run the ball. But, he added, to be successful, the wideouts and quarterback must keep defenses honest through the air.

Rook likes his running game, led by Taylor, who brings shiftiness but also power to his game.

“He’s a hardworking individual who has worked a lot in the offseason to be better,” Rook said. “We plan to give him the ball a lot. He’s very, very strong and has good speed and good balance. He can put his foot in the ground and cut back well.”

The fullback slot will be filled by senior Austin Moore, who can pound his way through a defense using good size and solid speed.

Senior Julian Markussen is slated to start at quarterback. Rook said that he likes that Markussen knows the system and how to run the team’s option offense. He is a good runner, but can also throw the ball when needed. Also impressive at QB in fall camp has been sophomore Aaron Fitch, who brings solid size at 6 feet 1 inch, has a good throwing arm and shows a lot of potential, Rook said.

Rook is enthusiastic about the offensive line, which brings great size, technique and experience to the table, including a number of guys weighting in at 240 to 275 pounds and more than six feet tall.

Rook said that this unit has worked hard in offseason workouts, shows good chemistry on the field and has shown during scrimmages and practice the ability to open up running holes.

“Everyone on this unit is big and strong,” he said. “I think they could make or break this team. If they play the way we know they can we’re going to do well. They know they need to play hard on each play and always keep their intensity.”

On defense, the unit is big and fast, with many on the offensive line playing on this unit.

One standout out of many is senior Barrick Sala at nose tackle, who is also a starter on the offensive line. Defensive coordinator Friz Baldwin likes his intensity, speed and size and the way he can create match-up problems.

The coaches also like senior Darien Simpson at outside linebacker, who is a good athlete that has quickness at the point of attack, He is also the starting tight end on offense. Verdejo, a linebacker, brings  veteran experience  at linebacker and always seems to be near the ball, Baldwin said.

Baldwin said he likes the speed and size his unit brings and believes that they should do a great job putting 

“constant preassure” on the opponent’s offense and hopefully capitalizing on their mistakes.

“I have liked the effort they have put in,” Baldwin said. He says that having such a veteran team that is hungry to prove itself is nice to have.

“We like to hit people,” Sala stated. “We’re just ready to play. I know I’m really excited.”

Rook and the team certainly want to win a Big 5 title and make a long run in the Northcoast Section playoffs and perhaps playing for a section title.

“We’re shooting for the moon and will always go at it 150 percent,” he said.