Members of the Coronado High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Dru Harris, La’Avionce Richard, Landon Rowland, Justin Balagna, and Tyler Chorens.
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 | 2 a.m.
Prep Sports Now
Football: There is no close second
Las Vegas Sun sports editors Ray Brewer and Case Keefer ring in the start of football season by discussing some of the valley's top storylines and teams, like Bishop Gorman, Liberty, Arbor View and Desert Pines.
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The first year was about implementing battle plans and preparing the troops. The second year is where it can all be set into motion with the familiarity breeding a higher degree of execution.
That’s the hope of Coronado coach Bill Froman anyway, as he anticipates a stronger campaign than the Cougars’ 3-7 season in his debut at the helm.
“The weights have taken a hold,” said Froman, one of the local high school football scene’s top strength and conditioning experts. “We think we’re in better shape. We think we got rid of some naysayers, some people that weren’t on board. That happens. The first year is always hard.”
Coronado dipped from seven wins in 2014, and the focus this season will be getting back to the upper reaches of the local rankings. The Cougars believe their strength makes that an attainable goal.
They should cause havoc up front on defense, where linemen Tyler Chorens and Dru Harris clear the way for hard-hitting tacklers like Justin Balanga, La’avionce Richard and Cole Grismanauskas.
“We just all have to buy in,” Balanga said. “We transformed our defense into a great new look that fits our personnel. I expect good things from us this year.”
The Cougars will be more measured offensively too, which is largely a luxury of returning starting quarterback Landen Rowland. The senior dedicated himself to extra film study after last year, and now is as knowledgeable on the offense as the coaches themselves.
“He was that last year but this year is exponentially (better),” Froman said. “All offseason, we’ve worked with him, talked to him. He knows the expectations.”
Rowland also understands how difficult it will be to reach those expectations. Realignment did Coronado no favors, as it landed in the loaded Southeast division.
That also makes almost every league game a rivalry against fellow Henderson competition, highlighted by “Rose Bowl” opponent Liberty, which decimated Coronado 51-0 in the playoffs last year.
“The key for us is to stay calm and we just have to execute our game plan,” Balanga said. “We can’t let the hype get to us. We just have to stay disciplined.”
The schedule may have gotten tougher, but so have the Cougars. They have no doubt that they’re better positioned for success in Froman’s second season.
“It’s a lot more comfortable this year from last year,” Rowland said.
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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