Quarterback Matthew Williams runs for yardage in a game last season against Big Bear. He is back leading the Fighting Scots this season.
Joe Jurado wasn’t given the head coaching job at Rim of the World until last month. So he scrambling to make up for lost time.
The good news for Scots faithful is that Jurado has a vested interest in returning the school to its glory days. He played at the school under veteran coach Bob Gradillas and previously served on the staff of the popular coach.
And he still lives in the community.
But getting the job a little late hurt.
“If you’re here in the spring you have day-to-day contact with the kids,” said Jurado, who most recently served as an assistant at Citrus Valley. “We lost that line of communication. We lost a handful of kids because they might have thought the school was moving too slow to find a coach or that there wasn’t support so we’re working to build that trust back.”
Last year the team went 6-4-1 overall and 2-3 in San Andreas League play under Ernie Madrigal, who coached there for three years.
Not only did Jurado get a late start but he will be working with a roster of about 25 and many of those are underclassmen or athletes who are untested at the varsity level.
That too has been a challenge. He’ll be counting on several key players to contribute on both sides of the ball.
He plans to run a Power-I offense which has worked for the school in years past. Senior quarterback Matthew Williams is among the returning players which is a good start.So is senior Michael Hust who moves from more of a slot to running back and will also play some linebacker.
Others to watch are junior tight end-defensive end Andrew Wetzel, senior lineman Gilbert Najera, senior fullback-linebacker Fabian Perez, senior linebacker Isaiah Hansink, who manes a move from running back and junior inside linebacker Daniel Dulin.
While there appear to be some challenges, Jurado is still looking forward to contending in the San Andreas League which boasts a juggernaut at the top in San Gorgonio.
“We’re rebuilding a but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to compete. We just have a lot kids that are inexperienced,” he said. “We want to get this program back where it used to be and this year is the first step of that process.”
RIM OF WORLD SCHEDULE
Aug, 25 – Maranatha
Sept. 9 – At San Bernardino
Sept. 15 – Desert Hot Springs
Sept. 22 – At Woodbridge
Sept. 29 – Big Bear
Oct. 5 – Indian Springs
Oct. 13– At Rialto
Oct. 20 – Arroyo Valley
Oct. 27 – San Gorgonio
Nov. 3 – At Jurupa Hills
Share this
