Linebacker Max Paronelli and the Defense has Pitched Four Shutouts
“We’re going to be okay,” said San Dimas Coach Bill Zernickow back in May as his Saints were sweating through spring drills. Most coaches are positive in May. It’s a new season and hope springs eternal for everybody that time of year. So we kind of took the quote as just that- a positive response from a coach who knew that it was possible that his team was going to be anything but okay.
San Dimas was coming off a season in which it went 10-2 overall and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. The Saints’ only losses were to Valle Vista league champion Northview by one point and to CIF Finalist Rosemead. Although Zernickow may not have liked the conclusion of the 2008 season, it was a pretty good year.
Now he was saying that he was going to be okay but we knew better. Gone were Erek Brown, Daniel Joseph and quarterback Mick Kalmar. Zernickow was saying everything was going to be fine but graduating in June were Nico Barbone, Gio Mantilla and Kyle Withem. Okay? The Saints weren’t okay. How could they be okay when Kyle Salm, Ryan Segovia and Ryan Doll were all taking the long walk in June?
That’s nine starters that were not going to be part of the 2009 equation- and some that I didn’t mention. There was also an extremely talented underclassman that wasn’t going to be back either. What was this guy talking about? Yeah okay Coach. Right, sure, wink, we understand. You’re going to be “okay.” We’ll write how everything is cool. It will look good on the website and in the paper.
And sure enough, just like we thought. Zernickow was wrong. After 12 games the Saints are not okay. Okay is average. The Saints aren’t even average. They’re terrific! The Coach was wrong all right- wrong for selling his team a little short.
After a 37-14 rout of Valley Christian last Friday night, the Saints have advanced further than they did last year. They’re one win away from a CIF Finals appearance. A win at home over Azusa on Friday night means that okay is a vast understatement.
Gone are backs Joseph and Barbone but the Saints have ample replacements. Now they come at you with three or four guys. Ryan Kohler and Tre Evans, both seniors, have combined to run for close to 2000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Kohler has 1142 of those yards and 21 TDs.
If that’s not enough Dillon Corona, a sophomore, has added 662 yards and six scores. Then there’s Jordan Taylor. Taylor has rushed for over 300 yards on the year while scoring five times including a 30 yard lightning bolt for a touchdown against Valley Christian.
It’s always hard starting over with a new quarterback but the Saints haven’t missed a beat in that department either. Shawn Kennedy, only a sophomore, has thrown for over 1100 yards and 12 touchdowns for a team that considers the pass a second option.
Justin Winrow leads the team in receptions with 18 and receiving yards at 497. However, Winrow’s biggest contributions have been on the defensive side of the ball where he has 50 tackles and 11 sacks. In fact defense has been the biggest improvement for San Dimas this year. Christian Morgan, who leads the unit with 90 tackles, and Max Paronelli who has 89, have sparked the Saints to four shutouts. The defense has allowed just 127 points through the first 12 games. To give you an idea last year San Dimas allowed 327 points in 12 games.
Zernickow, always a man of few words was equally emphatic after he was asked how he felt Friday night. “Good,” he said. At least he didn’t say his team was “okay.”
In the Southeast Division I like South Hills over Diamond Ranch and Charter Oak over Cal. In the Mid-Valley Monrovia beats Whittier Christian and yes San Dimas advances to the Title game with a win over Azusa. I think the Saints are going to be okay.
Tim can be reached at tspeterson32@yahoo.com.
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