Quarterback Rocky Palacio (No. 12) leads the Portola offense this season. (Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Portola High School’s football team, with 12 returning starters, is looking to compete for another league title under Coach Peter Abe.
“In 2023, the Bulldogs will compete in the Pacific Coast League along side Northwood, Laguna Hills, and Dana Hills as part of the eight-team Pacific Coast Conference,” Abe said.
Portola moves up this year to the upper echelon of the conference, which includes defending CIF champions Northwood and Laguna Hills. Each team plays three league games.
“Coming off of a Pacific Hills League championship in 2022 (competing against Woodbridge, Beckman, and University), we return five players on defense and seven players on offense, with a ton of young sophomore and new-junior talent filling in some key roles this season on the line, at linebacker, and at the receiver/defensive back positions,” Abe said.
“We will even throw a freshman into the mix at times this year … Anything can happen in 2023; Especially when you take things one day at a time, one play at a time, and just focus on getting/doing better for your team each and every day. No excuses.”
On defense, senior end Asa Williams, a captain, leads the way. Williams is a “combination of strength, speed, and drive will be a tough task to handle for opposing offenses,” Abe said.
The coach expects big contributions from two other captains.
“Linebackers Marcus Sung and Diego Reyna will work to hold down the middle of our front, while also carrying the load on the ground offensively,” Abe said. “Protecting our flank and in the secondary, seniors Kamran Jahromi, Daniil Matso, Zain Alzobiedie (a captain), and Rider Cooper poses the overall athleticism and varsity experience necessary to compete with the super-talented receivers our conference will see this year.”
Senior quarterback Rocky Palacio leads the offense.
Abe said that Palacio “possesses everything a team could ask for in a leader and role model …. scholar-athlete, multiple sports, strength, sneaky fast/agile feet, big-arm, high-character, tough and a positive, team-oriented energy that’s truly inspirational.
“Rocky will have numerous weapons this year to throw to with senior receivers Davis Gurski, Kamran Jahromi, Rider Cooper, Myckel McDonald, and Jaedon Reyes who might have the most diverse skillset at the position we have seen in some time. Protecting the pocket and opening lanes for Marcus starts and finishes with senior Dylan Zagorski and returning junior starters Jayden Ramirez and Brayden Foreman … our big dawgs on the line.”
Portola was 4-8 overall but finished 2-1 in the Pacific Valley League last season to end up atop the league with Woodbridge which was 2-1. Portola defeated Woodbridge 13-10 in a key league game.
“This season, the Bulldogs are focused on consistency,” Abe said. “We believe we have the talent to compete with every team on the schedule, but talent is worthless if it’s not backed up by discipline (in collective minds, body, and spirit).
“Developing a junkyard mentality doesn’t happen overnight, but with what we’ve seen this off-season, spring, and summer, we are excited and encouraged by the competitive attitude and effort the Bulldogs have displayed thus far, as we work to write another chapter in the book of Portola Bulldog football.”
2023 SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 18 (H) vs. Irvine
Friday, Aug. 25, at University
Thursday, August 31, at Cerritos, Gahr High School
Friday, Sept. 8, at Sonora
Thursday, Sept. 14 (H) vs. Katella
Friday, Sept. 22 (H) vs. Woodbridge
Friday, Oct. 6 (H) vs. Beckman
​Friday, Oct. 13, at Northwood, Irvine Stadium
​Friday, Oct. 20 (H) vs. Dana Hills
​Friday, Oct 27 at Laguna Hills
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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