Colony's Rice: We Always Feel Like Underdogs
Coach Anthony Rice's Colony Titans are 10-2 and top-seeded in the CIF-SS Central Division playoffs -- which they won a year ago.
But he says he and his staff approach every game feeling as if they are underdogs. Including Saturday's 7:30 p.m. matchup at Moreno Valley.
"It seems like all the papers pick against us," Rice said tonight. "We know not everybody wants us to win.
"And we always get every team's best shot, because we won it last year. We always feel like underdogs."
For underdogs, the Titans have done quite well. They are 10-2, after going 12-2 last year.
In an era of high-octane, multiple-receiver passing teams, Colony and Moreno Valley could bring back pleasant memories of simpler times, when they collide on Saturday.
Colony's base offense is the I-formation. Moreno Valley lines up in the even more venerable power-I -- with two fullbacks complementing the tailback.
"They're a pretty good team, well-disciplined," Rice said of Moreno Valley. "They do some good things. They come right at you in the power-I, then they do a lot of play-action. They've got a very nice tight end.
"We've just got to be ready to play."
Colony returned eight starters from its 2006 championship team, including quarterback Jeff Ginolfi, who has thrown for 1,825 yards and 17 touchdowns on 62 percent passing accuracy. "It makes a huge difference," Rice said of having a veteran quarterback. "He's a leader."
Another key returning player is tailback Daniel Simmons, a cornerback for the 2006 team who has run for 1,442 yards and 16 touchdowns on 189 carries.
Colony's surge into the semifinals isn't a surprise -- the Titans wouldn't be top-seeded -- but they are succeeding without the three versatile skill players who were the heart of last year's team -- Omar Bolden (now a starting cornerback at Arizona State), Maurice Shaw (a starting corner at Idaho) and Chris Givens (a corner at Boise State).
"It's a group that kind of relied on those guys last year," Rice said. "We weren't getting the blowouts early.
"This team is doing a good job now. In the beginning, it wasn't a comparison (to last year's team), because we were trying to find our identity. They found they've got to be resilient and they have to work harder than last year. A lot of teams are coming after them. Every game is a championship game ...
"It's a collective effort. We were coaching em' up last year, but we're working harder this year."
Simmons was Bolden's backup at tailback a year ago. "He's a different type of runner," Rice said. "He's not as fast as Omar but he has great vision and keeps his legs moving."
He said Simmons is recruitable, probably at cornerback. He had two interceptions in the Titans' 30-7 romp over Arroyo Valley last Friday.
Other key players include Elon Wyatt, the team's leading receiver (with 40 catches for 631 yards and three TDs), receiver Bobby Wagner (31 catches, 497 yards, nine TDs), linebacker/fullback Kyle Stefan and defensive end Jose Chairez.
Jonathan Norton is Moreno Valley's main man, with 814 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. The Vikings run the ball about 70 percent of the time.
Rice isn't taking them lightly. In fact, his team is the underdog, he reminds.
"If we don't play hard and play smart, it will be a long night for us."
Comments
Colony is very efficient on offense and has a great defense that stops the run week in and week out. I can't see how Colony's the underdog in the playoffs. There the #1 Seed and the defending CIF Champs. To me, they're the Best team in the Central Div. and one of the Best teams in So. Cal. The Colony coaches are doing a great job of keeping the players motivated and playing the underdog role will keep them on there toes. The "Us against the World" mentality, just might get them another CIF Title. Good Luck to the Colny Titans.
Posted by: Baldy | November 27, 2007 10:30 AM