All that seperated Ontario from the playoffs last season? One point. While the Jaguars sat at home as four of the seven teams from the Mt. Baldy League journeyed to the postseason, Montclair made its first playoff appearance in eight years. In hindsight, it was a 7-6 loss to Montclair Oct. 22 that cost the Jaguars the coveted third-place spot and a tiebreaker with Garey that prevented them from claiming the fourth and final position.
One of two new coaches in the league, Ron Stocking hopes to make up the difference. The former Alta Loma assistant coach has experience in the Mt. Baldy League having coached at Colony. But his goals don’t just consist of making the postseason.
“We’re trying to win the league,” Stocking said. “Our goal is to have a winning season, try to get better and make the playoffs. But we’re not just trying to make the playoffs.”
Stocking’s plans won’t make it easy on opposing coaches as the Jaguars will run several different offensive sets, including wing-T, spread and pro-style formations. Ontario will alter its attack depending on the weakness of the opposition. Battling for the starting quarterback job behind an offensive line that is the strength of the team is junior Michael Hall and senior David Garcia, who split time as the junior varsity signal caller last season.
The defense will include multiple looks as well, including both a 3-4 and a 4-3. But in Stocking’s estimation, his job runs much deeper than how many linebackers he’s going to employ.
“I’m trying to change the culture here,” he said. “Not to say anything about the previous coaches, but of course I’m going to come in here with expectations of trying to be better. The biggest obstacle is our kids believing they can be the best.”
