Cherokees cherish added team depth

The biggest downfall for the Sequoia football team in 2004 was a lack of bodies and turnovers.

The Cherokees hope to change both for 2005. Sequoia has roughly 40 players on the roster this season, a huge increase from the 18 the Cherokees carried last year.

"We've got a good number of guys. The last few years, that's been a factor," said offensive coordinator Sam Lopez. "This year we're looking for bigger and better things and with the numbers, we should have a chance to compete."

Sequoia has 15 to 18 playing on the offensive and defensive lines alone.

"We only have two guys going both ways," Lopez said, adding that sophomore Soni Lauese is one of those two-way players. "This year, it's about the offensive line and defensive line doing their jobs. Our lineman coach really has those guys working."

That should be music to the ears of starting quarterback Wade Reynoso, who was the starter last season and spent most of the season avoiding the rush. This year, it was not certain Reynoso would get the starting nod.

"It was a battle in the preseason. He didn't come in as a starter," Lopez said. "He knew he had to fight for that spot.

"He looks more crisp. He's dropped a little weight and gotten faster. If [the pass] isn't there, he's a natural running back."

Wide receiver Vince Hart and tight end Derek Standart will be two of the targets Reynoso will aim for.

The running game, however, will be the Cherokees' bread and butter and they had some success with it last season. Sione Tuivai will be the lead fullback and Frank Reed will get some time at that spot as well. But Lopez doesn't expect to have just one guy getting the bulk of the carries.

"We're not going to have one big-back runner. I want a committee. We probably have three or four tailbacks that we can switch throughout the game," Lopez said. "We're really going to lean heavily on the run and make sure we have fresh guys to do that. It's definitely a reality, looking at the offensive line this year. We're not really going to do anything on offense unless that offensive line does their job."

The other big factor is Sequoia's success this season is taking care of the ball. The Cherokees were competitive in a lot of games last year, but they turned the ball over an average of four times per game.

"We know we can't win that way," Lopez said. "If anybody came to the games at Sequoia, we didn't look like a 1-9 team. We'd go in and compete, but if you're averaging four turnovers a game, you're not going to win too many games."

Coach: Fine Lauese

2004 record: 1-9 overall, 0-7 Ocean Division

Returning players: 18

Key returners: Wade Reynoso (QB/LB, sr.), Sione Tuivai (FB/LB, sr.), Derek Standart (TE/LB, sr.), Vince Hart (WR/FS, sr.)

Key newcomer: Soni Lauese (OL/DL, so.)

2005 schedule (home game in CAPS): 9/9 PROSPECT, 7 p.m.; 9/16 HARKER 4-7; 9/23 HILLSDALE, 7 p.m.; 9/30 CAPUCHINO, 3:15 p.m.; 10/7 at Menlo School, 3 p.m.; 10/14 MILLS, 7 p.m.; 10/21 JEFFERSON, 7 p.m.; 10/28 at El Camino, 3 p.m.; 11/4 at Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.; 11/12 at Carlmont, 2 p.m.