Fresh from a strong Hell Week and what Head Coach Bud Mayfield described as "a tough scrimmage," the Coronado High School Football Team takes to the gridiron for real Friday evening at 7:30 pm, when they host Southwest High School. It will be the regular season opener for both squads.

The three-way scrimmage held last Friday was contested among Mission Bay, Rancho Buena Vista and Coronado. "We held up well," said Mayfield of his team. "We’re not far away. Mission Bay is probably the favorite to win CIF Division IV and RBV is a Division I school and they are always good. There won’t be anybody on our schedule as good as those two teams. The following morning after the scrimmage, two of Mission Bay’s 300-pound linemen were on their way to the University of Nebraska, where they are being recruited to play."

In a somewhat unusual turn of events for the Islanders, they will be able to field a stable of sizeable linemen of their own. Mayfield indicated that the defensive line would be one of the team’s strengths. "We got a great effort out of Ben Thorne, who is playing both ways at offensive guard and defensive tackle. Dusty West has come on and weighs about 260. He will be big for us on offense and defense. We have a lot of depth up front with Levi Lozano and Kyle McArthur. Sophomore Charlie Moore is trying to crack the starting lineup along with Ken Sexton. The center of the line is Ryland Gill. They go 260 (pounds) across the front, except for McArthur, who is 185-190."

The CHS varsity will consist of 33 players, which Mayfield said is the most in several seasons. "We also have 42 freshmen, which is the most we have ever had. We have 93 or 94 kids total and enthusiasm is high in the program. The freshmen did well in their scrimmage against Mission Hills and RBV."

From a purely aesthetic standpoint, one change for the worse is that the venerable ‘Harbor League’ appellation that has been part of the football landscape in Coronado for many years has been retired. In its place, the Islanders now compete in the Central League, which consists of the same teams as last year’s Harbor League – Clairemont, Crawford, Kearny, Madison, University City and of course Coronado, just under a lesser label.

"We’re a charter member of the Harbor League," said Mayfield. "We’ve been in the Harbor League for 15 years. But I guess we’re the only team located near the water. I really like the name "Harbor League." It sounds so much better. The ‘Central League’ sounds pretty bland."

Mayfield predicts that Crawford and Madison are the two teams to beat in the re-named league. "Crawford won it last year and until they are defeated, they are the team to beat."

During the scrimmage, the Islanders were only penalized once, which pleased Mayfield. "That’s the kind of football we play. It was hard to make headway offensively. We did move the ball against pressure defense, but I would like to see us be a little more scrappy, but we can teach that."

The offensive backfield contains senior quarterback David Loving, senior tailback Kelcey Fisher and senior blocking back Mike Baker-Denson. Fisher finished just shy of the 1,000 yard rushing plateau last season. Baker-Denson will also get a look at tight end during this week’s practice.

Mayfield explained the importance of the tight end position in the Islanders offensive scheme. "Tight end is a key position for us. They have to be strong enough to block line a lineman and fast enough to be a receiver. We use the tight end a lot. We’re a lot like the Chargers in that respect. That’s always a key player for us."

Mayfield is entering his 18^th season at the helm of the Islander football fortunes. He is joined on the staff by Assistant Head Coach Ed Shanholtz, offensive and defensive line Coach Keith Sippy, and defensive backs and wide receivers coach Corey Loomis.

In the larger picture, the CIF San Diego section has added an additional division, which means that Coronado now drops one notch into Division IV. That alignment now includes Mission Bay, La Jolla, San Marcos, Kearny, Madison, Valley Center, Clairemont, Palo Verde, Imperial and Santa Fe Christian.

Friday night against Southwest, Mayfield said the Islanders will be facing a new coach and a new system for the Raiders. "They run an ‘I’ formation and they have some good size. They try to confuse you up front with their defensive alignments and multiple fronts."

Islander grad J.T. Rogan (CHS ’04) made an auspicious debut at the tailback position for the USD Torreros last weekend. Rogan, a redshirt freshman, who owns both the CHS modern era single season rushing mark (1,669 yards) and the single season touchdown record (32), ran for 105 yards on 21 attempts and added two pass receptions for a total of 15 yards as USD defeated Azusa Pacific 30-6 in their season-opener.

"I didn’t think I would be the bruising back, pounding it up the middle," laughed Rogan. "That was something new and different, but it worked out well. I was pretty happy."

When asked the difference between football at the high school and the college levels, Rogan said that the complexity of the game has increased. "I’m involved in playing in a West Coast offense. The defenses we face are pretty complicated and elaborate. The blitzes are more complicated and we see different schemes and different fronts all the time."

Rogan listed Drake University and the University of Dayton as USD’s main competition on the national level this year. "Drake is in the preseason Top 25 in Division I-AA. We have Dayton on the road (Oct. 15) and Drake at home (Oct. 22) back-to-back."

Mayfield and several members of the CHS coaching staff were in attendance for Rogan’s university-level debut. "J.T.’s in a great place," said Mayfield. "He’ll play against Yale and Princeton, which is perfect for him. It was a nice start for him to run for more than 100 yards in his first game. I thought the whole USD team looked pretty good. They have a heck of a quarterback (Josh Johnson)."

USD is coached by Michigan alum, former San Diego Charger and Coronado Resident Jim Harbaugh.

CHS Head Cross Country Coach George Green checks in with a report on both the Islanders Girls and Boys Cross Country Teams. "The cross country season starts early in the San Diego section of the CIF. Friday a handful of boys got their feet wet at the Wolf Pack Invitational, hosted by West Hills High School in Santee.

After being boxed-in at the start, Coronado’s Ben Enowitz pulled away from all but one of the horde to place second in the sophomore race, followed by Islanders Michael Davies in 13^th and Jose Tijerina in 25^th. Because of misdirection on the course, everyone ran 200 to 300 yards longer than the planned 1.6 miles. Enowitz’s time of 12:15 was only 14 seconds behind the winner’s. In the senior Boys race, Jack Harms placed 21^st with a time of 12:46 for 2.1 miles.

The Girls team sat this race out to get in more training under Assistant Coach Jack Nash, but they’ll be ready for action in a couple of weeks. Returning from last year’s league championship team are: Katy Gomrick, Karolin Ivarsson, Marissa Nagler, Sarah Player and Anneke Nelson. New to the team are: Allison Cabana, who ran track last spring; Sammie Runyon, Sheila Braun, Kirsten Krock, Alicia Christianson, Sarah Parker, and Brigid Thomas. They look like a good squad that should contend for the league title.

In addition to the Boys squad covered last week, we’ve added Cotter Stacy, Jonny Poe, Jake McMahon, Ross Palmer, and Gronzalo Arozarena. There is still time to come out for both the Boys and Girls high school teams, as the first meet will be held October 4.

In middle school action Saturday, eighth grader Sallie Privett won the Girls 13-17 age group at the 41^st Balboa Cross Country 4-mile Run, hosted by the San Diego Track Club. Her time of 26:25 over the challenging, hilly course was 47 seconds faster than the division’s runner-up, who was none other than the defending CIF Division III high school girls cross country champion.

Speaking of middle school cross country, you can sign up for the team Thursday at 6:30 pm at the middle school. Their competitive schedule also begins in October."

With former CHS Girls Golf Coach Kari Weidner returning to her home in the Midwest earlier this year, there was an opening at the top of the program. CHS Athletic Director Sandy Ferguson needed to look no farther than the Coronado Girls in Golf Program for Weidner’s replacement. Carol Tessicini and Hanna Raine Cohan will helm the team as co-coaches this year.

Tessicini is in her seventh year as the head of the United States Golf Association/Ladies Professional Golf Association Girls in Golf program that teaches golf to 60 female players each year, from ages 6 through high school, in the spring through fall program. "Carol is the champion for the whole program," said Cohan, herself a three-year veteran instructor in the program. "The Coronado Girls in Golf program is one of the largest and the longest-standing programs in the nation. It’s always filled to capacity and Carol runs it like a tight ship. Her spirit is all about being for the girls."

This season the CHS team consists of seven players: Brooke Bower, Lexi Donovan, Ali Icenhower, Arrielle Luna, Chelsea Newson, Alexcie Sanchez and Sara Stillman. Bower, Icenhower and CHS grad Isabelle Sanchez (no relation to Alexcie) were all members of the Girls in Golf program, who played on the CHS varsity.

The format in Girls golf is that six players compete, with the best five scores counting toward the team total.

"Alexcie is probably our strongest player. She is dedicated to golf and takes lessons from professionals around the county. She plays golf year round. Ali Icenhower returns to the team and she is an up and coming player. She is dedicated to pursuing her excellence in golf."

Stillman, in addition to being one of the better returning players, is also team captain. The format in Girls golf is that six players compete, with the best five scores counting toward the team total.

This may also be the most organized team in the history of Coronado High School sports, but it’s all for a higher purpose according to Cohan. "What we’re doing is we’re creating a team this year. Our goal is to have an extraordinary team rather than an ordinary team. Everyone is going to have a responsibility."

Cohan elaborated regarding the specifics of the organizational plan. "We have a practice captain, a nutrition captain, and somebody who is in charge of uniforms and equipment. We want to have everything handled so that when we play our matches, nothing is dangling out there and they can focus on their match and on their game. It’s just what works. We’re a team. I just find that when you have synergy, the team is going to have more flow and it will show up in the results. The beauty of it is that they are all rising to their potential."

Team members are also required to record journal entries of their golf experiences. They also have to log 25 days of some type of physical workout, of at least 20 minutes in duration.

Cohan, who has played golf since she was 10 years of age, is also an all-around athlete, having competed as a mountain bike racer and as a water skier. But coaching is her thing. "My passion is coaching. I love coaching golf because it is such a nice parallel to life. I coached skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and have helped out a little bit in softball." Cohan also served as the Junior Varsity coach at Our Lady of Peace for the past two seasons.

The team begins their regular season schedule Wednesday with a match against Kearny at Coronado Municipal Golf Course. A total of 10 of the team’s scheduled 12 matches will be played at the Coronado Municipal course. Next week the team plays Mira Mesa Monday, Patrick Henry Tuesday and OLP on Wednesday.

For more information about the USGA/LPGA Coronado Girls in Golf program, you can visit www.coronadogirlsingolf.com. There is also a website for the CHS Girls Golf Team, which is www.coronadogirlsgolf.com.

Registration for the CMS fall sports programs will be held Thursday evening, Sept. 8 at 6:30 pm at the school’s Granzier Hall. The fall sports offerings this year include Cross Country for boys and girls, girls’ lacrosse, girls’ volleyball, and a new program, "Karate After School." Registration for sports is $90 per student, per sport.

To be eligible for sports at CMS, the student must have a current, completed athletic physical examination. The forms for the examination, plus other relevant forms can be downloaded from www.IslanderSportsFoundation.com.

Winter offerings include: boys basketball, girls soccer, girls softball and boys soccer. Spring sports include: boys and girls track, boys lacrosse, co-ed tennis, and girls basketball.