Rim looking for line reinforcements

If there’s anything you can count on with the Rim of the World football team, its a physical, power-running offense that gets the most out of its personnel. It’s a formula that won the Mojave River League for the Fighting Scots in 2006 and has gotten them to the playoffs the last two seasons.

But if the Scots are going to continue their playoff streak, they’ll have to find some reinforcements up front. With Jacob Ringhoffer – a possible Division I prospect – ending his football career after a knee injury last season, Rim is going to have to depend on sophomores and juniors to lead the way.

“We are young and we have a lot of work to do,” Rim coach Bob Gradillas said. “We usually don’t have great numbers as it is, but we are going to have to mix and match up front and hope we can find some guys that can do the job.”

If the Scots can block, they should be successful, as they have plenty of talent in the backfield. Leading the way is junior Dillon Pretzinger, who was thrown in after Nick Toner was hurt in preseason camp last year. Pretzinger rushed for over 1,000 yards last year and will have plenty of support behind him, as Toner, fullback Dalton Dennis and Marcus Pesquera are all capable of running the ball. Corey Farley is also in his second full year at starting quarterback.

“We have some guys that can make some plays,” Gradillas said. “Dillon really stepped up for us when we needed him last year and he has the ability to really produce for us if we can block for him.”

Some players hoping to fill in the blanks up front are juniors Moises Bacio, Christian Gonzalez and Shane Docks and sophomore Kolby Keay. Gonzalez will also be expected to plug the line at defensive tackle. The Scots play two-way football because of low numbers, so guys like Pesquera (defensive end), Toner (linebacker), Pretzinger (cornerback) and Farley (safety) will see double duty.

Rim of the World’s schedule (Home games in CAPS, league games with *)

Sept. 4 – vs. Banning (Nicolet Middle School)
Sept. 11 – DESERT HOT SPRINGS
Sept. 18 – at Cathedral City
Sept. 25 – at Bishop
Oct. 2 – INDIO
Oct. 9 – GRANITE HILLS
Oct. 16 – SERRANO*
Oct. 23 – at Sultana*
Oct. 30 – APPLE VALLEY*
Nov. 6 – at Hesperia*

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