#19 Mitty Monarchs Football Preview
Monarchs Have a Difference Maker in Ramirez
By Chris Jackson Sunday August 11, 2013
SAN JOSE-Fullback/linebacker Chandler Ramirez is a special talent at Mitty High
School in San Jose, but the Monarchs need more than him to be a successful
program this season, and they do have more than just him.
They also have 5’7” speedster Kyle Evans. Evans accumulated 598 yards and seven
touchdowns as one of the main running backs last season. Also a cornerback, Evans
accounted for 34 tackles and one interception. Both offenses and defenses must
contain him this year, or they will be eaten alive by the electric RB/CB.
Chandler Ramirez is the star though. In his junior season, Chandler ran for 818 yards and
eight touchdowns on 85 carries. Not only was he a force on offense, but he also
totaled 70 tackles and two sacks. He’s a one man wrecking crew and nobody wants
to mess with his talents.
Although they lost running back Daniel Mosko to graduation, a 545 yard rusher in his
senior campaign, Mitty looks great with their ground game, but their quarterback
experience might come back to bite them.
As you may or may not know, coach Haniger doesn’t run a pass heavy attack. It’s
more predicated on running the ball with their option style attack. Their
quarterback last season, Wyatt Hansen, threw for 1445 yards and ten touchdowns,
but did have nine interceptions to go along with that, which did cost the
Monarchs a couple of close games. On the other hand, Hansen did rush for 439
yards and six touchdowns on 121 carries. Replacing a running quarterback like
him will be tough.
The Monarchs are potent defensively. They return linebacker Erik Sargis, strong
safety Drew Mount and defensive tackle Daniel Mendoza. Sargis closed out the
2012 season with 77 tackles, Mount with 100 and Mendoza with 57. Defense is a
definite strength for coach Matt Haniger’s Mitty Monarchs.
Replacing linebacker Robert O’Leary will be difficult. O’Leary had 90 tackles last season
in helping the Monarchs defense become a force to be reckoned with last season.
But the strong linebacker core this season will replace O’Leary with ease. Returning
seniors Chandler Ramirez and Erik Sargis will lead the way at the linebacker
spot in hopes of leading the Mitty defense to stop every opponent they come across.
Losing to St. Ignatius in the CCS Open Division Playoffs was a heartbreaker. Mitty came
into that game as the seven seed and St. Ignatius the six seed, but the Monarchs
couldn’t pull out the victory en route to a 25-22 loss to the eventual Central
Coast Section Open Division champions. St. Ignatius boasted junior running back
Elijah Dale, who rushed for 1348 yards last season and that wasn’t an easy
player to defend for the Mitty defense, or any defense for that matter.
Competing in the West Catholic Athletic League will help measure the Mitty defense. After
going 4-3 in league play last season, the Monarchs look to go above and beyond
that by working hard and trying to be able to compete with all the talented
squads in the WCAL.
Bellarmine, the defending WCAL champions, returns four star quarterback KJ Carta-Samuels.
The Vanderbilt commit will be an extremely demanding player to stop, and the
Monarchs believe they can stop him with their strong defense. Being on the
losing end of the 14-10 defeat by Bellarmine last season was a tough one to
swallow for Mitty players and supporters. November 8th will help show
if Mitty’s defense is the real deal.
Serra is another tough test as they return Notre Dame defensive end commit Matt
Dickerson. Offensively, coach Haniger believes they have what it takes to get
past him, but everyone knows it will be a challenge. Both Serra and Bellarmine
are the Monarchs’ toughest league opponents this season, but Valley
Christian-San Jose is another barn burner.
All in all, the players in the black and gold of Mitty are shaping up to have an
exceptional season and are hoping to advance past where they did last season and
possibly play in the CCS championship.
Top Players: FB/LB Chandler Ramirez, Sr.; RB/CB Kyle Evans, Sr.; LB/FB Erik Sargis, Sr.;
SS/FB Drew Mount, Sr.; DT/C Daniel Mendoza, Sr.
Key Losses: RB/FS Daniel Mosko; LB/FB Robert O’Leary; QB/DB Wyatt Hansen; WR/DB Jacob Wesson
Team Strengths: Defense, Talented LB’S, FB, run game
Team Weaknesses: QB experience
Last Season: 8-4 (4-3 WCAL, 4th place), CCS Open Division Semifinals
Schedule
9/6 Los Gatos
9/13 @ Leland
9/21 Palo Alto
10/4 Riordan
10/11 @ Valley Christian-San Jose
10/18 Sacred Heart Cathedral’
10/25 St. Francis
11/1 St. Ignatius
11/8 Bellarmine
11/16 @ Serra
SAN JOSE-Fullback/linebacker Chandler Ramirez is a special talent at Mitty High
School in San Jose, but the Monarchs need more than him to be a successful
program this season, and they do have more than just him.
They also have 5’7” speedster Kyle Evans. Evans accumulated 598 yards and seven
touchdowns as one of the main running backs last season. Also a cornerback, Evans
accounted for 34 tackles and one interception. Both offenses and defenses must
contain him this year, or they will be eaten alive by the electric RB/CB.
Chandler Ramirez is the star though. In his junior season, Chandler ran for 818 yards and
eight touchdowns on 85 carries. Not only was he a force on offense, but he also
totaled 70 tackles and two sacks. He’s a one man wrecking crew and nobody wants
to mess with his talents.
Although they lost running back Daniel Mosko to graduation, a 545 yard rusher in his
senior campaign, Mitty looks great with their ground game, but their quarterback
experience might come back to bite them.
As you may or may not know, coach Haniger doesn’t run a pass heavy attack. It’s
more predicated on running the ball with their option style attack. Their
quarterback last season, Wyatt Hansen, threw for 1445 yards and ten touchdowns,
but did have nine interceptions to go along with that, which did cost the
Monarchs a couple of close games. On the other hand, Hansen did rush for 439
yards and six touchdowns on 121 carries. Replacing a running quarterback like
him will be tough.
The Monarchs are potent defensively. They return linebacker Erik Sargis, strong
safety Drew Mount and defensive tackle Daniel Mendoza. Sargis closed out the
2012 season with 77 tackles, Mount with 100 and Mendoza with 57. Defense is a
definite strength for coach Matt Haniger’s Mitty Monarchs.
Replacing linebacker Robert O’Leary will be difficult. O’Leary had 90 tackles last season
in helping the Monarchs defense become a force to be reckoned with last season.
But the strong linebacker core this season will replace O’Leary with ease. Returning
seniors Chandler Ramirez and Erik Sargis will lead the way at the linebacker
spot in hopes of leading the Mitty defense to stop every opponent they come across.
Losing to St. Ignatius in the CCS Open Division Playoffs was a heartbreaker. Mitty came
into that game as the seven seed and St. Ignatius the six seed, but the Monarchs
couldn’t pull out the victory en route to a 25-22 loss to the eventual Central
Coast Section Open Division champions. St. Ignatius boasted junior running back
Elijah Dale, who rushed for 1348 yards last season and that wasn’t an easy
player to defend for the Mitty defense, or any defense for that matter.
Competing in the West Catholic Athletic League will help measure the Mitty defense. After
going 4-3 in league play last season, the Monarchs look to go above and beyond
that by working hard and trying to be able to compete with all the talented
squads in the WCAL.
Bellarmine, the defending WCAL champions, returns four star quarterback KJ Carta-Samuels.
The Vanderbilt commit will be an extremely demanding player to stop, and the
Monarchs believe they can stop him with their strong defense. Being on the
losing end of the 14-10 defeat by Bellarmine last season was a tough one to
swallow for Mitty players and supporters. November 8th will help show
if Mitty’s defense is the real deal.
Serra is another tough test as they return Notre Dame defensive end commit Matt
Dickerson. Offensively, coach Haniger believes they have what it takes to get
past him, but everyone knows it will be a challenge. Both Serra and Bellarmine
are the Monarchs’ toughest league opponents this season, but Valley
Christian-San Jose is another barn burner.
All in all, the players in the black and gold of Mitty are shaping up to have an
exceptional season and are hoping to advance past where they did last season and
possibly play in the CCS championship.
Top Players: FB/LB Chandler Ramirez, Sr.; RB/CB Kyle Evans, Sr.; LB/FB Erik Sargis, Sr.;
SS/FB Drew Mount, Sr.; DT/C Daniel Mendoza, Sr.
Key Losses: RB/FS Daniel Mosko; LB/FB Robert O’Leary; QB/DB Wyatt Hansen; WR/DB Jacob Wesson
Team Strengths: Defense, Talented LB’S, FB, run game
Team Weaknesses: QB experience
Last Season: 8-4 (4-3 WCAL, 4th place), CCS Open Division Semifinals
Schedule
9/6 Los Gatos
9/13 @ Leland
9/21 Palo Alto
10/4 Riordan
10/11 @ Valley Christian-San Jose
10/18 Sacred Heart Cathedral’
10/25 St. Francis
11/1 St. Ignatius
11/8 Bellarmine
11/16 @ Serra
