Diamond Ranch Coach Roddy Layton preparing for 2010
(Pomona) – Charter Oak has moved out of the Southeast Division along with South Hills. But the team that has appeared in the last two CIF Finals is still there. Diamond Ranch is in a different league now – the Hacienda- but the Panthers are still front and center in the Southeast.
“There’s always a little bit of a target on your back when you’ve appeared in back to back CIF Finals,” said Diamond Ranch Coach Roddy Layton. “I mean Charter Oak and South Hills are gone but it’s still a very strong division.”
Diamond Ranch is now in the Hacienda League with Bonita, Rowland, Walnut, Los Altos, Diamond Bar and West Covina. And although the big two have moved on the Suburban League featuring such teams as Norwalk, La Mirada and Mayfair have moved in.
The Panthers have graduated several key players such as quarterback Gus Viramontes, receivers Elisha Henley and Brandon Taylor and running back Amari Staten. But there are players coming in that could immediately step up and make an impact.
Chase Price will be the primary running back and he has been impressive so far in summer drills.
“He has been running the ball well and has been catching everything in sight,” Layton said. “We finished third at the St. Bonnie tournament over the weekend and Chase was great.”
Price recently got an offer from San Diego State.
Jacoby Carter, who was an important part of the Diamond Ranch attack last year, is back to carry the rock as well.
Cesar Carrillo will step in at quarterback. Carrillo has Diamond Ranch football in his genes.
“His brother Joe was our quarterback before Gus arrived. So now we have Cesar,” Layton said. “We didn’t know who our quarterback was going to be when he graduated and Gus worked out pretty well. So now we weren’t sure who the guy was going to be when Gus graduated but we are happy with Cesar. He can beat you with his arms and legs just like Gus.”
Aaron Almond has already been getting D-1 looks. He will line up at receiver and running back for the Panthers but he is projected as a defensive back in college. New Mexico State and Colorado State are among the schools that like Almond.
Receivers Marquis Cherry and Andrew Fischer should contribute for the Panthers as well but are currently nursing injuries.
Up front D-Ranch will be relying on tight end Bryant Cox, center Jeremy Stucker, and right tackle Omar Sanchez.
Reports of numbers being down at Diamond Ranch have been greatly exaggerated. At least 50-55 players were patrolling the practice field late Monday afternoon.
“We’ve never had real big numbers on the varsity. The last couple of years we’ve had about 35,” Layton added. “Numbers wise we’ll be fine.”
Diamond Ranch typically plays a brutal non league schedule and 2010 appears to be no exception. The Panthers open with Santa Margarita, and then get Damien, Elsinore and Chaffey before hosting Diamond Bar to begin Hacienda League play on October 1.
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