Cap hopes more players will equal more victories

There is only one number that counts when it concerns the Capuchino High football team: 41.

In fact, it's so important that Mustangs coach Adam Hyndman speaks of it not as a noun but as an adjective, repeating it over the phone for emphasis: "Forty-one."

That's the number of players on this year's roster, and Hyndman hopes it stays that way. The last two years the Mustangs have finished the season with less than 30 players. However, all signs point to a major spike in Capuchino's performance this season.

"The guys are really focused," Hyndman said. "It's like there's a light in front of them, and they haven't moved back. Depth plays a role in this game, and right now we have decent numbers. Hopefully, it stays that way."

It won't be easy. Capuchino, like any other Peninsula teams nowadays, has to deal with nagging ineligibility issues every year.

"And it's really scary for us," Hyndman said. "We started school early and we're on a six-week grading period. Our first grading period comes out right around our first league game."

In other words, brace for the worst. Having said that, the pieces are in place for the Mustangs to make a strong championship run. They return seven starters from a team that finished 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the stronger Bay Division, and an influx of talent promises to power the San Bruno school back to respectability. Among the key components: wide receiver Philip Zavala, tight end Scott Brady, quarterbacks Ricky Gonzalez and Kim Mitchell, running back-strong safety Jake Richardson, outside linebacker-defensive end Ramy Salah, fullback Mike Tupai, offensive tackle Kurt Rising, cornerback-receiver Darren Tagart, center Joey Hansen and running back Travis Stansberry.

Zavala, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior, was a first-team, Bay Division selection a year ago. Zavala is arguably the best wideout in the PAL, possessing speed, strength, explosiveness and great hands. He's fully recovered from a broken right leg injury he sustained during the soccer season.

Brady is the hardest worker on the team, and a gifted run blocker. Gonzalez brings leadership and makes smart decisions, while Mitchell is one of the fastest members on the team. Richardson and Salah are powerful, explosive and make things happen, while Tupai, Rising, Tagart, Hansen and Stansberry play with the hunger that every coach desires.

"Rising really attacks the ball," Hyndman said. "I don't have to tell him what to do; he just gets after it."

Capuchino won't be as big in the trenches as it has in year's past, but Hyndman said he feels good about the quality of talent he's working with. Besides, the Mustangs were demoted to the Ocean Division, where teams generally aren't as burly as teams in the Bay. Expect the Mustangs to pound the ball with the trio of Stansberry, Richardson and Tupai, and go up top with Zavala. It's no wonder Hyndman has an optimistic outlook - he's got plenty of tough Mustangs to make a title run.

Coach: Adam Hyndman

2004 record: 2-8 overall, 1-6 Bay Division

Returning starters: 7

Key returners: Philip Zavala (WR, sr.), Ramy Salah (LB/DE, sr.), Scott Brady (TE, sr.).

Key newcomers: Kurt Rising (OT, sr.), Joey Hansen (C, sr.)

2005 schedule (home game in CAPS): 9/10 WESTMONT, 1:30 p.m.; 9/17 at Menlo-Atherton 2 p.m.; 9/23 at Woodside, 7 p.m.; 9/30 at Sequoia, 7 p.m.; 10/7 at Jefferson, 7 p.m.; 10/14 HILLSDALE at Burlingame, 7 p.m.; 10/21 EL CAMINO 3:00; 10/28 at Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.; 11/4 MENLO SCHOOL, 2:45 p.m.; 11/11 MILLS, 7 p.m.