Canyon goes for second win in a row Friday facing Irvine, playing first game for new coach

Offensive tackle/defensive end Olawale Familoni is one of Canyon’s key players. (Photo courtesy Canyon football)

Irvine High’s football team, led by first year coach Tom Ricci, is preparing for its season opener Friday against Canyon at Irvine Stadium.

The Comanches are 1-0 and coming off a 41-40 victory over Spanish Springs of Sparks, Nev. in week zero.

Coach Mike Ogas’ team was 3-7 overall last year and 1-2 in the Crestview League last season.

“We have good skill players on our team, but only one returning starter on the DL and OL respectively,” Ogas said. “We have good senior leadership and we expect to do well this year. We are in a very tough league, and our expectations are to make the playoffs and see what happens from there.”

Among the returning starters are senior quarterback Vince Hourigan (6-1, 180). “We expect him to throw for 2,000 yards this year and lead our offense,” Ogas said.

Running back/strong safety Jeff Holey (5-10, 180) is another key player. “We expect him to average five yards per carry his year and close to if not over 1,000 yards,” Ogas said. “He averaged over 10 yards per carry in game one vs. Spanish Springs High School.”

Another player expected to make big contributions is wide receiver/free safety/kicker/punterJoey Rouly.

“We we expect him to have 1,000 yards receiving this year and be one of the best utility players in the Crestview League,” Ogas said.

Ogas said that offensive tackle/defensive end Olawale Familoni (6-5, 220) is another key player. He has received nine college offers so far, including ones from San Diego State, Fresno State, Air Force and Central Michigan, Ogas said.

“He’s one of the best natural talents I’ve seen and this is only his third year playing football,” Ogas said.

Ricci’s Irvine team will have many new starters but the Vaqueros have made progress in practice, Ricci said.

“Our team is coming along nicely,” he said. “We are continuing to learn the new systems.  It’s always difficult when you are playing teams that have been doing the same system for four years and you have been doing it for four months.  Our goal is to keep progressing and be where we want by league.”

Irvine’s offense will be led by junior quarterback Beck Moss, who replaces Marc “Bubba” Filia, the former QB who held many Irvine career passing records.

“Beck is looking great,” Ricci said. “I’ve been at a bunch of places where we had to make a guy into the QB, but Beck is a QB.  That’s all he works toward. He is a student of the game and a coach on the field, and he is exactly what we need right now.”

Other players are expected to step up too.

“Jacob Sears and Kade Zimmerman are two of our receiving standouts,’ Ricci said. “They catch just about anything thrown their way. They pair really well with Beck on the offense. “

Ricci said the Vaqueros have a lot of respect for Canyon.

“Canyon is a difficult matchup,” he said, noting that Canyon is in Division 8 for the CIF playoffs (Irvine is Division 11). “But that is the kind of challenge we need to prepare us for league play.  Coach Ogas always has his boys tough and ready to play, we want to match their quality of play.”

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