Sacred Heart Prep Gators
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Key newcomers: Tevita Moimoi (So., FB/MLB); John Willard (Jr., FB/LB); Joey Dahlkemper (Jr., DL); Jake Davison (Jr., DT/G); Jack Kirkham (Jr., OL); Jack Moultrup (Jr., FS/QB)
2017 opener: Fri. at San Benito-Hollister, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: While offense wasn’t exactly a consistent strength last season for Sacred Heart Prep — totaling just 207 points through 12 games — that Gators showed some firepower in their biggest win of the year, a 46-26 upset of previously undefeated Carmel in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division V playoffs.
It was the crowning achievement for last year’s offensive coordinator, Mark Grieb, as his offense gained 411 total yards while scoring its biggest single-game point tally of the season.
This year, with former head coach Pete Lavorato having resigned to take over the varsity football program at the King’s Academy, Grieb takes the reins at SHP with much of the same offense in tact, including senior quarterback Brad Yaffe.
Yaffe was an interesting case last season. Platooning with then-senior Thomas Wine, the 6-2, 190-pound Yaffe was the Gators’ best marksman, completing 57.1 percent of his passes. This he did while splitting time both sides of the ball, doubling as SHP’s starting defensive end.
This year, Yaffe is slated to concentrate all his energy on running SHP’s fly offense, as Grieb insists his senior QB will play exclusively offense.
Yaffe’s absence on defense figures to take a big bite out of an inexperienced line. But Grieb said he hopes a depth of linebackers will fortify the defense until the front-line personnel gets hashed out.
Seniors Jack Donnelly and Garrett Gavello each return to outside backer after showing flashes of greatness in 2016. Donnelly ranked third on the team with 8.1 tackles per game, while Gavello was SHP’s sack leader with five.
Add to the middle linebacker spot junior Tavita Moimoi — a CCS playoff call-up last season, and younger brother of the team’s leading rusher Isoa Moimoi — along with John Willard, and the Gators have a defensive foundation that can legitimately compete with the heavy hitters of the PAL Bay Division.
“We have a good group of linebackers,” Grieb said. “They’re flying around making plays. When they play well, we’ll play well.”
Back
Key returners: Brad Yaffe (Sr., QB/LB); Tommy Barnds (Jr., RB/LB); Garrett Gavello (Sr., OLB/TE); Dominic Cacchione (Sr., WR/CB); Jack Donnelly (Sr., RB/DB); John Carroll (Sr. RB/DB); Robert Thompson (Sr., OT/DE); Kyle Cody (Sr., RB/DB)
Key newcomers: Tevita Moimoi (So., FB/MLB); John Willard (Jr., FB/LB); Joey Dahlkemper (Jr., DL); Jake Davison (Jr., DT/G); Jack Kirkham (Jr., OL); Jack Moultrup (Jr., FS/QB)
2017 opener: Fri. at San Benito-Hollister, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: While offense wasn’t exactly a consistent strength last season for Sacred Heart Prep — totaling just 207 points through 12 games — that Gators showed some firepower in their biggest win of the year, a 46-26 upset of previously undefeated Carmel in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division V playoffs.
It was the crowning achievement for last year’s offensive coordinator, Mark Grieb, as his offense gained 411 total yards while scoring its biggest single-game point tally of the season.
This year, with former head coach Pete Lavorato having resigned to take over the varsity football program at the King’s Academy, Grieb takes the reins at SHP with much of the same offense in tact, including senior quarterback Brad Yaffe.
Yaffe was an interesting case last season. Platooning with then-senior Thomas Wine, the 6-2, 190-pound Yaffe was the Gators’ best marksman, completing 57.1 percent of his passes. This he did while splitting time both sides of the ball, doubling as SHP’s starting defensive end.
This year, Yaffe is slated to concentrate all his energy on running SHP’s fly offense, as Grieb insists his senior QB will play exclusively offense.
Yaffe’s absence on defense figures to take a big bite out of an inexperienced line. But Grieb said he hopes a depth of linebackers will fortify the defense until the front-line personnel gets hashed out.
Seniors Jack Donnelly and Garrett Gavello each return to outside backer after showing flashes of greatness in 2016. Donnelly ranked third on the team with 8.1 tackles per game, while Gavello was SHP’s sack leader with five.
Add to the middle linebacker spot junior Tavita Moimoi — a CCS playoff call-up last season, and younger brother of the team’s leading rusher Isoa Moimoi — along with John Willard, and the Gators have a defensive foundation that can legitimately compete with the heavy hitters of the PAL Bay Division.
“We have a good group of linebackers,” Grieb said. “They’re flying around making plays. When they play well, we’ll play well.”
Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12
