11 Things Coyotes Football Must Do to Succeed

1. First and foremost, football team must rally under new coach Christian Pierce, who in turn must earn the players’ respect as a first-year head coach. It’s a new era, and the Coyotes must embrace a fresh start.

2. The Coyotes need to build on last year’s success. A 3-7 season does not sound like much, but taken into context, it was quite a year considering the Coyotes had won a total of four games over the previous six seasons.

3. Ike Fuchs needs to have a big year. He’s an athletic junior who is a key figure in the defensive secondary, and he also might fit in at quarterback and kicker.

“He’s a multi-position kind of guy with a great nose for the football,” coach Christian Pierce said. “As a strong safety, he will hit you.”

4. John Dehhaghi must help solidify the offensive and defensive lines. Everyone knows football games are won in the trenches, and Dehhaghi is an experienced returning senior who blocks well and also starts at defensive end.

“He’s a senior leader with a promising season,” Pierce said.

5. Tyson Jones must continue to develop. He proved himself as a fullback and linebacker as a sophomore last year season, and this season he has moved to the defensive line but still might also be Calabasas’ most effective ball carrier.

“He’s a junior leader, a punishing runner and a very quick defensive end,” Pierce said.

6. The receiving corps must remain strong. No matter who plays quarterback, Brandon Marin or Fuchs, both will be learning as they go because it will be their first year seeing significant action, so it will be a great help if the receivers like Caleb Madden, Matt Guttridge and Devin Doyle can elevate their game.

7. Calabasas must measure success not by the league standings, but in being competitive and fighting until the end. Everyone knows the Coyotes will be overmatched against some of the top Marmonte League opponents like state powers Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure and Westlake, but if Calabasas can hang tough and improve from defeats, the team will be on the right track.

8. The Coyotes need to stay as injury free as possible. There are depth issues compared to most of the other teams in the league, so everyone must stay healthy, particularly running back Ryan Duong, who is coming back from a knee injury.

9. Vince Hutchinson needs to make an impact. He’s one of the few impact transfers who have arrived at Calabasas, and the junior running back has a lot of potential.

10. Jordan Pierce must handle the pressure of being the coach’s son. The junior linebacker has impressive blitzing skills, and he’s also the defensive signal caller, so when he and his father Christian are working things out on the field, it has to be all business.

11. And finally, Calabasas has got to win the games it can win, so it is important to rise to the occasion against the opponents that are in the same class, such as Granada Hills, Simi Valley, Agoura and perhaps Royal. If the Coyotes can win those four and perhaps steal another victory against one of the Marmonte powers, that would equal a 5-5 season – and amount to one heck of a turnaround.