Their dues have been paid.
The young Bishop Diego football players who have taken some lumps the past couple of years are ready to deliver some of their own.
The expectations are higher this year at Bishop, because the Cardinals have more experienced players than they’ve had since the CIF finalist team of 2007.
“We’re pretty excited,” Bishop coach Tom Crawford said. “We feel the past couple of years we didn’t perform very well. We were very inexperienced.
Brandon Gonzalez is one of several juniors ready to make big contributions for Bishop this season.
“Last year, four seniors played extensively, as a result a lot of kids, including a lot of sophomores, got a lot of playing time. Overall, the experience level is a significantly higher.”
The Cardinals should have a solid running attack with Brandon Gonzalez returning in the backfield after a productive sophomore year.
“I just thought he was so phenomenal last year as a sophomore when you think about the amount of work that we asked him to carry,” said Crawford.
Gonzalez has a familiar cast leading the way for him. Seniors Tyler Rogers and Dakota Smith return to open holes on the offensive line. Mike Winnewisser, whose older brothers Scott and Christian were star players at Bishop, has developed into a solid center. He’ll miss some early games while recovering from a broken hand. Another key returnee up front is senior Alex Ramirez.
The question mark on offense is at quarterback. Candidates Nolan Tisdale and Andrew Saucier are both up from the JV team.
Crawford has been impressed at how both players have picked up the varsity system.
“The thing that’s pleased me the most is to see two young guys come in and just commit themselves to learning the system. It’s really been rewarding for us and it’s allowed us to move things along fairly quickly.”
If the quarterbacks can move the offense inside the 40, the Cardinals are a threat to score with the leg of Mike Morando. The senior has a range of over 50 yards.
“What a positive when a high school team can get a kicker like that,” said Crawford. “He has so much potential. We’re pretty excited about what he’s capable of doing.”
On the defensive side, Vince Figueroa and Bruce Garcia spearhead the unit. They give the Cardinals toughness and experience at the inside linebacker positions. Garcia was an ironman for Bishop last season, playing fullback in front of Gonzalez, too.
“He never came off the field last year. There were one or two games where he literally played every down,” Crawford said of Garcia.
Jesus Valle and Jack Gregson give Bishop speed at the outside backer spots. Gregson started as a freshman last year.
Ramirez is a standout at defensive end.
Saucier is being counted on to be the leader in the secondary.
After two tough seasons in the Tri-Valley League and facing powerful Oaks Christian, the Cardinals are playing in the Frontier League. They figure to battle with Grace Brethren and Santa Clara for the title.
Crawford welcomes the move to the new Frontier.
“It’s one thing to tell your kids you have the ability to play for a championship and you should be competitive in every contest,” Crawford said. “And to be able to do that and your kids believe it and know it, that’s a good feeling.”
