Western’s football team looks to compete in a higher CIF playoff division, veteran coach says

Quarterback Anthony Luna leads Western’s football team in 2023. (Photo courtesy Victor Baltazar).

Western High School’s football team has had a successful summer season in preparation for its 2023 opener on Friday, Aug. 18 vs. Los Alamitos at home.

“We have played in four tournaments this summer winning three of them,” said Coach Dan Davidson. “We will finish summer with the Villa Park Tournament this weekend.”

“We have a very experienced team and are hoping to build on last year’s league championship and Division 7 semifinals run. As a program we want to continue to move forward and play in a higher CIF Division and complete the goal of becoming CIF champions.”

The Pioneers top players include quarterback Anthony Luna, who passed for more than 3,128 yards with 37 touchdowns last season; wide receiver/defensive back Qui’Mare Shemwell, who had 800 yards receiving and nine touchdowns along with five interceptions on defense; and running back/defensive back Josh Faulkner, who had more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 26 touchdowns.

All three have college offers but have not committed yet, according to Davidson.

Other standouts include Malachi Alatorre, who had 67 tackles; returning defensive linemen Dane Torrence and James Flores and Desmin Joshway Fairley,a two-year returning starter at defensive back and slot.

Davidson said the Pioneers have special goals this season.

“We do not want to play for just this year’s team, but all Western Pioneers teams before us.” he said.

“We have an amazing task to perform like teams led by Bobby Acosta, Dana Nafziger, Paul Charlton and Coach Jim Everett. These amazing Pioneer teams went to the CIF championship back to back years.

“These squads were followed with 33 years of outstanding coaching from Jim Howell and Toby Howell making runs to the CIF Title game with players like Andrew and Mike Iupati, Devonte Merrifield, Isaiah Gober, Mookie Cooksie, Anthony Ojelabi and Ruben Ortega.

“This is my 10th year here at Western and players like Nick Zarate, John Ojelabi, Cole Howard, James Mendoza, Jacob Domino, nation’s leading thrower Anthony Munoz (with) over 5,000 yards and 67 touchdowns and Caine and Cassius Savage and now Anthony Luna about to break 10,000 career yards and over 100 touchdowns.

“Drew and Josh Faulkner putting up 100 plus catches a year dozens of TD’s the standard for Western Pioneer football has incredible history and we simply want to just keep adding to it. I love being the head football coach here and am lucky I have such a wonderful staff to cover all my shortcomings.”

2023 Schedule

Friday, Aug. 18 (H) vs. Los Alamitos

Thursday, Aug. 24 (H) vs. St. Margaret’s

Friday, Sept. 1 (H) vs. El Toro

Friday, Sept. 8, at Banning

Friday, Sept. 22, at Garden Grove

Friday, Sept. 29 (H) vs. Magnolia

Thursday, Oct. 5, Savanna at Glover Stadium

Friday, Oct. 13, at Santa Ana Valley

Thursday, Oct. 19, (H) vs. Century

Thursday, Oct. 26, Anaheim at Glover Stadium

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—-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com