The Atwater High football team graduated three of the top playmakers in the Central California Conference in quarterback A.J. Banks, receiver Sylas Austin and running back Durrell Morrison. All three have moved on to the college level. From the outside looking in, it might look like the Falcons’ cupboard is bare with the loss of three dynamic players.

 

“I feel like we're the underdogs now because A.J.'s gone, Durrell’s gone and Sylas is gone,” said Atwater senior Charlie Whitby. “It’s like who do they have, right? I feel like not a lot of people know about us, and we're definitely competitors. I feel we’re one of the worst teams for the CCC rankings. Honestly, we all like that. It gives us this chip on our shoulder. We're going to take it really personally.”

 

There are definitely opportunities for new players to fill prominent roles for Atwater this season. Whitby is one of those players after catching 33 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns last year. “Charlie's doing a great job for us stepping into more of a leadership role,” said Atwater head coach Seneca Ybarra. “I think he learned from the guys from last year.”

 

Senior Jayden Ybarra returns after earning second-team all-CCC honors as a safety last year, and will also replace Banks at quarterback as he takes on the role as a two-way starter. As a coach’s son, Ybarra can take advantage at home by taking a deeper dive into the playbook, watching film and asking questions. “I feel so much more comfortable knowing the offense, with my dad being the offensive coordinator and everything,” Jayden said. “I’m able to understand the plays more this season.”

Brayden Bettis played up as sophomore last year and will play a bigger role in the run game. Senior Isaiah Navarro will also contribute as a ball carrier. Ian Mackenzie, Easton Hart, Jaxson Pissaco will all contribute in the passing game and senior Mason Medeiros, who was an all-Central California Conference first-team selection last year, will help anchor the offensive line. Tyler Curtis gives the Falcons another threat at quarterback. 

 

One of the benefits of counting on so many young players on defense last year is that those players enter this season with experience. The Falcons will be counting on many of those same players, including Whitby, Ybarra, Bettis and Mathew Van Worth. With a roster of 60 players it gives the Falcons the luxury of depth that not a lot of teams in the area enjoy.

 

“Now that we have a deeper group, an injured guy comes out, it’s the next man up, and there's not a big drop off,” said Jayden Ybarra. The deep roster also creates competition for playing time, which helps drum up the intensity at practice. “People have to compete every day in practice because if you don't perform well, someone right behind you is going to come in,” Whitby said.

 

Despite the graduation of some key players this is a group approaching the season with confidence. It’s a confidence that comes after having success all through the program coming up. They hope to continue that success this year. 

 

“Our senior group was either first or second in the league their freshman and sophomore year,” said Seneca Ybarra. “Our junior group was either first or second in the league their freshman and sophomore year. I can tell just by the preparation and the way guys put the work in that there is a winning kind of feeling that surrounds them. They know they're going to win games and that kind of confidence is definitely imperative at practice.”

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.