Today we pass another milestone in the long trek of 2008 preseason football. Our team previews here at School House Zach have ventured into the South Sequoia League. We start with a team that fell off the face of the Earth last year after two straight winning seasons. Will this year bring about change? Read on.

SHAFTER GENERALS

Coach: Manuel Garcia (fifth year)

2007 record: 1-9 (0-5 SSL, 0-5 home)
Average points: 9.4
Average points allowed: 30.4
Average rush yards: 154.5
Average rush yards allowed: 264.5
Average pass yards: 90.8
Average pass yards allowed: 83.1
Best win: Shafter 17, HIghland 14
Worst loss: South 41, Shafter 12

Key players: Rene Medina, jr, WR/LB; Grey Gaffner, sr, QB/DB; Julio Espinoza, jr, OL/DL; Wyatt Wilson, jr, WR/DL; Eduardo Perez, sr, OL/DL

Key losses: Ty Thompson, WR/DB; Jeremy Couch, QB/DB; Joseph Ames, RB/LB; Nick Ballengee, QB/WR; Clint Kirschenmen, WR/LB; Felipe Limoones, OL/DL; Alex Thompson, OL/DL

Offense: Shafter, as Garcia will tell you, “wants to see the ball in the air.” The Generals employ a spread passing attack (think Mike Price at UTEP or even Paul Golla at Bakersfield High but with more passing). A big key here, of course, is to have the right quarterback throwing the ball. Two years ago, when Shafter was 7-4, Mickey Polley was definitely the right guy — he threw for 2,176 yards and ran for 619 more, accounting for 20 touchdowns. Last year, Jeremy Couch and Nick Ballengee struggled to keep to that pace. But Garcia thinks this year’s quarterback, senior Grey Gaffner, is smart and talented enough to be another Polley.

Defense: Ironically, Garcia runs a 4-4 defense designed to stop opponents’ running games first. That makes sense, considering the SSL’s longtime powers, Taft and Tehachapi, have been running it down the gullet fo ryears. But Garcia might want to come up with something different against Derek Carr and Bakersfield Christian.

Outlook: Even after hitting near rock-bottom last year, the Generals are very young. There aren’t many seniors, and Garcia readily admits that his juniors — mostly first-year varsity players — need to grow up fast. If that doesn’t happen, it’ll be a long year for a team that faces the gamut of North, Delano, South and Foothill in its non-league schedule and then has to deal with a league slate that includes three Central Section champions. Actually, I’ll amend that. With that schedule, it’ll probably be a long year even with improved skill and improved luck (injuries decimated Shafter last fall). The Generals’ passing attack will be fun to watch again, but the wins are still another year away.

Quotable: "We think (Gaffner) is the next Mickey Polly; that's what we're looking for."
— coach Manuel Garcia

Schedule: Sept. 5 at North
Sept. 12 Delano
Sept. 19 South
Sept. 26 at Foothill
Oct. 3 Woodlake
Oct. 10 BYE
Oct. 17 at Tehachapi
Oct. 24 Arvin
Oct. 31 at Bakersfield Christian
Nov. 7 Taft
Nov. 14 at Wasco

Prediction: 0-10, 0-5 SSL

HS FOOTBALL PREVIEW INDEX

July 29: Lighthouse Christian, Immanuel Christian, Maricopa
July 30: Boron, Burroughs
July 31: Desert, Rosamond
Aug. 1: Frazier Mountain, Kern Valley

Aug. 2: Mojave, McFarland

Aug. 3: César Chávez

Aug. 4: Delano

Aug. 5: New schools: Independence, Mira Monte, RFK