Size of offensive linemen will be a strength for Silverado

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 | 2:05 a.m.

When the Silverado High football team takes the field Thursday for its season opener against visiting Coronado High, Skyhawks coach Andy Ostolaza isn’t exactly sure what to expect from his team.

Ostolaza has shuffled several returning players to new positions and will start a quarterback who didn’t play football last year.

“We are going to gradually build to that first league game,” Ostolaza said. “I’m kind of curious to see how it pans out.”

While Silverado might have several new pieces at certain spots, its offensive line surely won’t resemble an inexperienced unit. At every position on the line, Silverado will start someone with above average size for a high school player.

“We’ll be as big as we have ever been,” Ostolaza said. “Our small guy is 6-1, 250 pounds.”

The line will be anchored by two returners — junior guard Nick Guzman (6-foot-2, 280-pounds) and senior tackle Zack Frank (6-foot-4, 285-pounds).

They’ll be blocking for quarterback Marquise Edward, who was out of football last year, and running back Alex Cater. Cater is also a key cog defensively at linebacker. Edwards’ top target is 6-foot-6 wideout Austin Hunt, a junior.

Defensively, Alejandro Colon, the Skyhawks’ leader tackler last year, returns at middle linebacker. At defensive end, converted tight end Jordan Turner and converted defensive back Ryan Contorelli — who blossomed to 6-foot-1, 205-pounds — will be counted on to make big plays.

Abdurahim Cravin returns in the secondary.

This will be Silverado’s first season in the Northeast League after playing in the Southeast (they went 2-4 in league last year and missed the playoffs) for more than a decade. The Southeast has been one of the state’s top leagues the past two years, while the Northeast was one of the worst.

With realignment, however, Ostolaza feels the Northeast will have plenty of challenges. Green Valley also changed from the Southeast to the Northeast.

“Playing in the Southeast got us ready to play tough games every week,” he said. “That’s the same deal we have now.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.