Mt. View Coach "Junkyard" James Wilson
By Tim Peterson
You know if they can win a couple of non league games and build some confidence they have a shot. They have Bassett and Keppel –both winnable games early and who knows? They might even surprise Workman in the opener. It’s August and in August hope runs rampant and I got to thinking how this could be the year that Coach “Junkyard” James Wilson leads the Mountain View Vikings into the playoffs.
Everyone has a shot in August. There are no injuries, no losses and no bad calls- only hope. And in August, like the major leaguers in March, hope springs eternal.
It’s all right there for the Vikings. They get South El Monte in the league opener and the Eagles like View, missed the playoffs last year. Also they lost some key players like Manny Acosta, Jose Garay and Neiko Padilla and you know if the ball bounces Mt. View’s way…
Ugly thoughts of winless league seasons and 61-14 losses keep prying their way back into my head but I will have none of it. In August there are no ugly thoughts for Mt. View- only good, positive thoughts.
That was in the past. That is so last year dude, like Wilson would say. After South the Vikes go to Rosemead and hey does anybody think the Panthers are going to be as good as last year? I mean they lost everybody didn’t they? They have to go in there thinking they have a chance.”
Before a negative thought jumps up and says they can’t I brush it away and think that they can.
Then they’re at Gabrielino. If I’m not mistaking those Eagles didn’t make the playoffs either. So a break here, a call there…you never know right?
I’m telling you the Vikes have some kids this year. They have Albert Duarte to carry the ball and Jason Cordero to play quarterback. They’re both good, quality kids. I’m not saying they’re Powell and Muema but who is?
What’s their greatest strength? It’s motivation that’s what. The only strength you really need.
My thought process keeps on rolling. Okay I won’t get crazy. The Vikings get Arroyo in week nine and no, they can’t beat the Knights. This is Singiser’s greatest squad ever right? They have everybody coming back to suit up. I ran into Efrain Oquendo during the SGV shootout and thought I saw him being fitted for gear. Hey what was Martin Mares doing over there?
So Wilson’s squad falls in line and takes its lumps at B.L. Bergstrom. No big deal though. The Vikes only need three wins to get in and if they don’t have them already they get El Monte in the season finale…at home no less.
Before you completely shove that notion aside, think about the crowd at Viking Stadium that would come out that night knowing a win means a playoff spot? An early turnover, a quick Duarte touchdown run and suddenly the Vikings have all the momentum.
Maybe George Tamayo picks off a pass and returns it for another score and before the Lions know what hit them it’s 14-0. Stranger things have happened. Who thought Buster Douglas would beat Mike Tyson or Villanova would beat Georgetown?
Who thought El Monte would beat South El Monte last year? I know I didn’t and put it down on paper. Unfortunately George Hernandez had to bear the brunt of my error after the Lions knocked off the Eagles.
Will it happen in 2009? Will Mountain View, after years of frustration, find its way into the post season? Of course it could happen. It could also happen at Bassett, Keppel, and Ganesha and every other school that has been kicked around the last several years.
It’s August and that’s what August is for. While the sun burns down on the Viking players the next couple of weeks it’s the hope that burns inside them that will carry them into the playoffs. And if not? Well there’s always next August.
Tim can be reached at tspeterson32@yahoo.com.
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