“We have one week to have an advantage on somebody like this without having any film (of us) exist. Hopefully, Charter Oak hasn’t found anything from the Northview years. (Charter Oak defensive coordinator) Roger Lehigh does a great job and he’s a big proponent of having film, so when he doesn’t have any film he gets frustrated. After next week, everybody will know what we’re going to do, but they (Charter Oak) don’t need any help.” — Glendora football coach Todd Quinsey
By Aram Tolegian, Staff Writer
As the Glendora High School football team’s Mayor’s Trophy game with Charter Oak nears, new Tartans coach Todd Quinsey is giving nothing away about his team the Chargers can plan for. Most area teams with Week 0 games scrimmage Friday night, but the Tartans will be sitting at home. And that’s just how Quinsey wants it.
“We have one week to have an advantage on somebody like this without having any film (of us) exist,” Quinsey said. “Hopefully, Charter Oak hasn’t found anything from the Northview years.
“(Charter Oak defensive coordinator) Roger Lehigh does a great job and he’s a big proponent of having film, so when he doesn’t have any film he gets frustrated. After next week, everybody will know what we’re going to do, but they (Charter Oak) don’t need any help.”
The Tartans visit Charter Oak on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.
Quinsey’s last local head coaching job in the area came at his alma mater, Northview. He had a successful run there, but so much time has passed since his last season in 2006 game film of the Vikings under Quinsey’s watch is hard to come by.
Meanwhile, Charter Oak will be scrimmaging against Chino and Quinsey said nobody should be surprised to see an interested Tartans onlooker or two in Cowboy country.
Adding intrigue to the Mayor’s Trophy game is the fact Quinsey spent last season as an assistant to Chargers head coach Lou Farrar. When Quinsey got the job at Glendora, he hired fellow Charter Oak assistant Roger Armijo to be his defensive coordinator.
Quinsey and Armijo have pretty intimate knowledge of Charter Oak’s talent and schemes, but the same can’t be said for the Chargers coaching staff, which has only Quinsey’s tactics at Northview several seasons ago to study.
“I don’t think there’s an advantage either way,” Quinsey said. “Armijo knows those kids pretty well, but Dom (Chargers offensive coordinator Dominic Farrar) does a great job with what they want to do.
“It’s no secret what they want to do. Travis (Santiago) is probably going to throw the ball 30-40 times a game and I would too if I had him.
“He’s the best quarterback in the Valley, I think, by far. No matter what you do, you can’t stop him.”
Quinsey’s variation of the Wing-T offense may take some time for the Tartans to get used to. But getting the team in pads has been much more helpful than summer passing games. Quinsey said the Tartans are concentrating on trying to be good at a few things rather than average at everything.
Quarterback Kyle Kianpour officially has been named the starter. Running backs Corey Victoria and Donovan Holmes should see heavy action and coaches are pleased with how fullback Sklyer Crall has looked doing the inside running.
Someone else to keep an eye on is receiver Charles Johnson, who may be one of the area’s fastest players.