Uni football team looks to stay healthy and make strides under third year coach

Uni quarterback Koa Saito rolls out in a game last season. (Photo courtesy Jim Tomlin).

University High School’s football team is hoping a new strength and conditioning program results in success in 2023, according to Coach Vince Mesa, who enters his third season as the Trojans coach.

“Our main goal this season is to stay healthy,” Mesa said. “We have had injury riddled seasons the last two, but hopefully with our new strength program that will help.”

The Trojans have a number of returning players from last year’s team including quarterback Koa Saito.

“We are looking forward to Koa’s senior year at quarterback for us, he had a great junior year, and he will have all the skill guys back again this year from last year,” Mesa said. “He has made some really great strides this off-season and look for him to keep it going for the season.” 

Besides Saito, the Trojans ”return a number of players from last year particularly in our skills department …. Blaine Anderson, Brooks Beckmann and Jai Williams,” Mesa said.

Mesa said the line should be improved.

” I think what the biggest difference will be this year is our trenches returners with Eithar Takesh, Richard Bines, Michael Gasper, and Owen Chiou leading the way,” he said. “We finally have good numbers in each class, so it’s going to be fun to watch what we can do this year.”

University was 3-7 overall and 1-2 in the Pacific Valley League. The Trojans will again compete in the Pacific Valley League, one of two in the Pacific Coast Conference.

2023 SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 18, (H) vs. Dana Hills

Friday, Aug. 25, (H vs. Portola

Friday, Sept. 1 (H) vs Los Amigos

Friday, Sept. 8, at Loara , Glover Stadium

Thursday, Sept. 14, (H) vs. Savanna

Friday, Sept. 22, at Laguna Hills

Friday, Oct. 6, at Northwood, Irvine Stadium

Friday, Oct. 13, at Beckman, Tustin

Friday, Oct. 20, (H) vs. Woodbridge

Friday, Oct. 27, at Irvine

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