His entire starting offensive line is composed of juniors and his starting quarterback is a standout sophomore triple jumper, so longtime Biggs coach Mike Pena knows the Wolverines have a chance to look really strong — next season.
But he is excited about this year also. Pena senses that there will be improved results from last season. Biggs went 2-8 in 2008 after losing its final six games.
Pena doesn’t want to diminish the potential his senior group possesses, especially since the core member of the team is in that class. Emilio Marquez, a linebacker who boasted the top tackles total last year and a running back who will be featured more prominently in the offense this season, has been at the center of the Wolverine quest.
Handing the ball off to Marquez will apparently be the focal point of the Biggs offensive scheme initially. Controlling the ball effectively would help increase offensive success —?Biggs scored just two touchdowns during last year’s six-game slump — and provide a boost for the defense.
Marquez likely won’t feel as much pressure to make tackles on every down because Garrhett Milburn has shown the ability to be an athletic presence ready to make the Wolverines defense tougher to deal with. The 6-2, 185-pound senior is physically strong enough to play on the defensive line and quick to the point that he could be a productive linebacker. That’s why he’ll play both.
A similar assessment was given about Michael Torres. He will bring that quality to his post at defensive back, but Torres will hog more space in the box score as the team’s quarterback.
The fact that he hasn’t started in a varsity game yet doesn’t worry Pena for two reasons. In the winter, he watched Torres contribute on the school’s varsity basketball team as a freshman. When spring rolled around, Torres was making his mark on the track and field team, eventually posting triple jump marks that put him in the Northern Section small school championships.
Torres’ primary targets have been receivers Chad Wilkerson and Leslie Uribe. Tight end Kevin Hicks, a junior, has also emerged to help. And that junior-powered offensive line is inexperienced but has good size, which encourages Pena.
“We’re just better up front,” he said. “Last year we had a second string halfback fill in and have to play guard. (The offensive linemen) aren’t world beaters, but they are just like the rest of the junior class. They were a 4-4-1junior varsity squad that they really grew with hard work in the weight room.