The Student News Site of Ripon High School

The Smoke Signal

The Student News Site of Ripon High School

The Smoke Signal

The Student News Site of Ripon High School

The Smoke Signal

Ripon Football Week 1 Preview

Ripon Football Week 1 Preview
Luciano Gonzalez
This friday the Indians begin their 2014-2015 campaign against Sierra High of Manteca at home. The Indians finished off last year with an impressive 11-2 record while making it to the CIF semi-finals while Sierra is coming off a 7-4 record last season. This will be the first matchup between the teams in a number of years and will surely be a thriller to open up the season.
Ripon is led by Junior Nick Price who had a great sophomore campaign on varsity(1612 passing yards & 20 TDs) and a number of returning seniors including Robert Taylor, Harrison Salvador, Ryan Fugit, and Matt Kaiser. The Indians have only 10 returning seniors and will look for their juniors to step up for them which won’t be a problem considering their JV team went undefeated and took home the TVL title last year. The Indian’s running game will depend on running backs Ryan Fugit( 294 rushing yards, 263 receiving yards, 9 total TDs), Jacob Duxbury, and Angelo Baciocco. Price will look to target receivers Trent Murphy, Luciano Gonzalez, and Mario Roach along with Tight End Jacob Martin to move the chains. The line consists of seniors Taylor(TVL 1st team), Kaiser(TVL 2nd Team), and Salvador all experienced players along with Juniors Lionel Reyes and Cody Beato. The explosive running game of Ripon will allow them to run down the throats of defences and also stretch the field while the passing game led by Price can exploit defensive secondaries for big gains.
Sierra High lost a lot of key players this year and will look towards seniors Devin Nunez and Hunter Johnson to put the team on their backs. Sierra’s quarterback Nunez is a speedy athlete, but lacks experience at the QB position as it’s his first varsity game at the position. All eyes are on receiver Hunter Johnson who had a breakout junior seas

Nick Price handing off the ball during a scrimmage.
Nick Price handing off the ball during a scrimmage.

on with 878 receiving yards and 12 TDs. The question is that if Nunez will be able to overcome his inexperience and be able to hit Johnson for big gains. The Wolve’s running game consists of what appears to be a quick talented running back. Sierra’s high octane spread offense will have it’s hands full as it goes against Ripon’s defense and its impressive secondary. Ripon’s defensive line will include senior Salvador along with juniors Jacob Martin and Cody Haines. The linebacker core consists of Baciocco, Matthew Ysit, Evan Costa, and Gonzalez. The Indian’s ballhawking secondary includes Fugit, Javi Hernandez, Roach, and Duxbury.
Ripon’s key to victory in this weeks game is exploiting Sierra’s run and pass defense, maintaining a fast offensive play calling pace, slowing down Sierra’s Hunter Johnson, and being able to keep up with Sierra’s high speed spread offense. In an interview with quarterback Nick Price he had this to say: ” I believe in our big guys up front and they will be the difference makers in the game.”
I also interviewed defensive coordinator Coach Mussemen who had this to say: “ We need to be able to keep up with the speed of Sierra’s defence and shut down Hunter Johnson. If we do that we’ll have a shot at winning this week.”

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