#22 Granada Matadors Football Preview
Matadors are Looking for Postseason Berth
By Chris Jackson Thursday August 8, 2013
LIVERMORE-After a two year drought
from the postseason, the Granada Matadors are looking to go
back to where they’ve always wanted to be: the NCS Playoffs.
The last time the Matadors made the playoffs was in 2012, when they had the Atkinson
twins, who now play at Notre Dame.
2010 provided a season that was one of the best in school history. Although they
finished 6-4 (3-4 in EBAL) in the regular season, they found their way to the
NCS Division 1 semifinals to De La Salle, where they lost, but the Spartans
eventually won the state championship.
2011 and 2012 were seasons where Granada was just a couple of points and plays away
from making it to the playoffs. In 2011 they lost 35-34 to Monte Vista, 38-31 to
San Ramon Valley and also lost on a fumble at the goal line to Amador 12-9. They
were a couple of plays away from a 5-5 or even a 6-4 season.
2012 wasn’t much different. They lost 21-14 to Foothill and blew a 28-7 lead at
Amador Valley as they went on to lose that game 34-28 finishing the season 4-6.
Now with De La Salle becoming an independent school,
Granada doesn’t have to face them anymore and gets to add one
more nonleague opponent. Their nonleague schedule is pretty
straightforward without any tough teams. They host Windsor week
one and then travel to Antioch, Golden Valley (Merced) and Newark Memorial.
Odds are that Granada starts out the season 4-0 and looks for one more win to
qualify for the playoffs. (NCS Playoff requirements include going
above.500 in either overall record, league record, or record
against divisional opponents.)
Despite the fact coach Tim Silva runs a Wing-T style offense, the Matadors will run a
little wildcat this season after they decided that the quarterback spot will be
split with seniors Tyler Offill and Casey Soltis. Offill was the QB last season,
but after he got hurt and had to sit out the game against Livermore, Granada
went to Soltis to be the QB in the final week of the season.
Offill threw for 1141 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior.
Soltis is a multi-sport star. The 6’1” Soltis is an
Oregon commit for baseball as an
outfielder and has a strong possibility of
getting drafted out of high school.
As a junior, Soltis was one of the main contributors on both
sides of the ball. At running back he rushed for 474 yards averaging
5.3 yards a carry while closing out the season with 61 tackles at linebacker.
The linebacker position is the deepest spot on the Matadors defense. With Casey
Soltis already being mentioned there, teammate Dominex Kovacs (Sr.) recorded 67
tackles and two interceptions.
Strong safety/outside linebacker Riley Draa is coming into his third complete varsity
season, which he has been a starter in all of his years as a varsity athlete.
Draa has strength and awareness that goes unnoticed at times. He currently holds
interest from multiple Division 3 colleges and Division 2 powerhouse Humboldt State.
Granada’s secondary seems destined for success. Returning starter,
senior Jon Poppe displayed his sound coverage skills as
a junior last season and looks to develop and become one of the top corners
in the Tri-Valley.
One concern for the boys in black and gold is the experience on the offensive line,
but the players and coaches believe they have the skills to be just fine,
especially since they learned from good players on last year’s offensive line.
Although their offensive line is inexperienced, the defensive line appears to be
good with returning players such as Reece Backman and Artemio Fennoy.
Receiver Javonn Williams showcased his abilities as a junior. Now a senior, Williams
looks to make a name for himself and become one of the main contributors on the
Matadors offense. Last season he had 360 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Look out for his speed and hands this fall.
The last couple of seasons haven’t gone the Matadors
way, but this year should be the year where things fall into place as they
look to end their two year postseason drought.
Top Players: QB/RB/LB Casey Soltis, Sr.; LB/SS Riley Draa, Sr.; WR/DB Javonn Williams, Sr.;
DB/WR Jon Poppe, Sr.; LB/OL Dominex Kovacs, Sr.; OL/DL Kaiponui Bradanini, Sr.;
OL/DL Artemio Fennoy, Sr.; OL/DL Reece Backman, Sr.
Key Losses: RB/S Kyle Campiotti; RB/LB Matt Richards; FB/LB Derek Granados;
OL/DL Nicholas Pletschette; OL/DL Marshall Peters
Team Strengths: LB’s, Secondary, run game
Team Weaknesses: O-Line experience
Last Season: 4-6 (1-5 EBAL, 6th Place)
Schedule
8/30 Windsor
9/6 @ Antioch
9/12 @ Golden Valley
9/20 @ Newark Memorial
9/27 @ California
10/11 Monte Vista
10/18 San Ramon Valley
10/25 @ Foothill
11/1 Amador Valley
11/7 @ Livermore
LIVERMORE-After a two year drought
from the postseason, the Granada Matadors are looking to go
back to where they’ve always wanted to be: the NCS Playoffs.
The last time the Matadors made the playoffs was in 2012, when they had the Atkinson
twins, who now play at Notre Dame.
2010 provided a season that was one of the best in school history. Although they
finished 6-4 (3-4 in EBAL) in the regular season, they found their way to the
NCS Division 1 semifinals to De La Salle, where they lost, but the Spartans
eventually won the state championship.
2011 and 2012 were seasons where Granada was just a couple of points and plays away
from making it to the playoffs. In 2011 they lost 35-34 to Monte Vista, 38-31 to
San Ramon Valley and also lost on a fumble at the goal line to Amador 12-9. They
were a couple of plays away from a 5-5 or even a 6-4 season.
2012 wasn’t much different. They lost 21-14 to Foothill and blew a 28-7 lead at
Amador Valley as they went on to lose that game 34-28 finishing the season 4-6.
Now with De La Salle becoming an independent school,
Granada doesn’t have to face them anymore and gets to add one
more nonleague opponent. Their nonleague schedule is pretty
straightforward without any tough teams. They host Windsor week
one and then travel to Antioch, Golden Valley (Merced) and Newark Memorial.
Odds are that Granada starts out the season 4-0 and looks for one more win to
qualify for the playoffs. (NCS Playoff requirements include going
above.500 in either overall record, league record, or record
against divisional opponents.)
Despite the fact coach Tim Silva runs a Wing-T style offense, the Matadors will run a
little wildcat this season after they decided that the quarterback spot will be
split with seniors Tyler Offill and Casey Soltis. Offill was the QB last season,
but after he got hurt and had to sit out the game against Livermore, Granada
went to Soltis to be the QB in the final week of the season.
Offill threw for 1141 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior.
Soltis is a multi-sport star. The 6’1” Soltis is an
Oregon commit for baseball as an
outfielder and has a strong possibility of
getting drafted out of high school.
As a junior, Soltis was one of the main contributors on both
sides of the ball. At running back he rushed for 474 yards averaging
5.3 yards a carry while closing out the season with 61 tackles at linebacker.
The linebacker position is the deepest spot on the Matadors defense. With Casey
Soltis already being mentioned there, teammate Dominex Kovacs (Sr.) recorded 67
tackles and two interceptions.
Strong safety/outside linebacker Riley Draa is coming into his third complete varsity
season, which he has been a starter in all of his years as a varsity athlete.
Draa has strength and awareness that goes unnoticed at times. He currently holds
interest from multiple Division 3 colleges and Division 2 powerhouse Humboldt State.
Granada’s secondary seems destined for success. Returning starter,
senior Jon Poppe displayed his sound coverage skills as
a junior last season and looks to develop and become one of the top corners
in the Tri-Valley.
One concern for the boys in black and gold is the experience on the offensive line,
but the players and coaches believe they have the skills to be just fine,
especially since they learned from good players on last year’s offensive line.
Although their offensive line is inexperienced, the defensive line appears to be
good with returning players such as Reece Backman and Artemio Fennoy.
Receiver Javonn Williams showcased his abilities as a junior. Now a senior, Williams
looks to make a name for himself and become one of the main contributors on the
Matadors offense. Last season he had 360 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Look out for his speed and hands this fall.
The last couple of seasons haven’t gone the Matadors
way, but this year should be the year where things fall into place as they
look to end their two year postseason drought.
Top Players: QB/RB/LB Casey Soltis, Sr.; LB/SS Riley Draa, Sr.; WR/DB Javonn Williams, Sr.;
DB/WR Jon Poppe, Sr.; LB/OL Dominex Kovacs, Sr.; OL/DL Kaiponui Bradanini, Sr.;
OL/DL Artemio Fennoy, Sr.; OL/DL Reece Backman, Sr.
Key Losses: RB/S Kyle Campiotti; RB/LB Matt Richards; FB/LB Derek Granados;
OL/DL Nicholas Pletschette; OL/DL Marshall Peters
Team Strengths: LB’s, Secondary, run game
Team Weaknesses: O-Line experience
Last Season: 4-6 (1-5 EBAL, 6th Place)
Schedule
8/30 Windsor
9/6 @ Antioch
9/12 @ Golden Valley
9/20 @ Newark Memorial
9/27 @ California
10/11 Monte Vista
10/18 San Ramon Valley
10/25 @ Foothill
11/1 Amador Valley
11/7 @ Livermore
