Decatur hoping to turn the corner

The program has won six games in last 10 seasons.

— DECATUR - When the preseason polls came out this summer and the Decatur Bulldogs were picked fourth in the 4-2A Conference by the league coaches, second-year coach Shane Holland wasn’t surprised.

Perhaps everyone outside of Decatur might have turned their head a bit.

Afterall the Bulldogs, over the last 10 seasons have won a combined six games. Twice the Bulldogs went winless, and for two others seasons - in 2003 and 2009 - there was no varsity football altogether.

Decatur only won one game in 2011 - a 37-19 win against Hartford in Week 2. But yet there is optimism, genuine optimism, that the Bulldogsare turning the corner.

This year’s sophomore class has a lot to do with that.

As freshman last year, the Bulldogs’ 10th graders went 8-0 and several of the freshman finished the season with the varsity and saw significant playing time at the end of the year.

“I thought we’d be better (this year),” said Holland, a 29-year coaching veteran. “I thought we got better last year. We were ugly early, for sure. We were better at the end of the year. We could go out and execute some of the schemes on both sides of the ball. (Conference 4-2A coaches) saw our kids that were coming up. We may be a little more athletic in some placesthan we were.

“It can change in a year in 2A. You look at what Magazine did prior to the last four years.

They weren’t very good as I understand. They were a perennial doormat, and then all of a sudden they get a good class to come through and they’re playing for the gold ball.”

Magazine totaled five wins from 2005 to 2007, but then won seven games in 2008, 12 in 2009, 14 in 2010 and a Class 2A state title and 12 again last season.

To be sure, Holland isn’t predicting a Magazine-like turnaround for the Bulldogs, but he said improvement should be evident when Decatur opens the season Aug. 31 at Subiaco Academy.

“We’ll see what happens this fall,” Holland said, “but we think we’re well ahead of where we were.”

Decatur has 27 players on its roster, the most it has had in several seasons.

And part of the optimism is centered on sophomore twin brothers Victor and Mario Urquidi.

The Urquidi twins, as freshmen, helped fuel Decatur’s undefeated season in junior high.

Victor Urquidi (6-foot, 190 pounds) is likely to see the bulk of snaps at quarterback for the Bulldogs.

“He’s very strong,” Holland said of Victor Urquidi. “He’s a physical player. He’s a very good runner and becoming a betterpasser all the time. He’s very competitive and a 4.0 student - a very smart player.”

Mario Urquidi (6-3, 172) is built different than his brother, a bit taller and more lanky. He’ll start at wide receiver.

“Very good player,” Holland said of Mario Urquidi. “He can stand out here (in the gymnasium) under the basket and dunk it.”

Last year’s starter at quarterback, senior Evan Owens (5-9, 145) has been moved to slot receiver. Owens completed 56 of 119 passes for 399 yards and sixtouchdowns a year ago. He also rushed for 439 yards on 139 carries and four touchdowns.

Holland said he’ll still play some quarterback as well.

The Bulldogs also have senior wideout Nou Thor back after he led the team in receiving a year ago with 21 receptions for 177 yards.

Athletic senior Andrew Harris (6-2, 165) will play tight end and receiver.

In the backfield, sophomore Allan Castenada (5-6, 170) and senior Samuel Xiong (5-6, 165) will split time at running back.

The Bulldogs will operate in a spread, one-back set most of the time, Holland said.

Decatur does have some size on its offensive line and returns three starters.

Senior Elijah McIver (6-1, 218) starts at left tackle and has trimmed down thanks to basketball season and summer workouts.

Senior Logen Jameson (5-7, 225) started at tackle but has been moved to Center, Holland said.

Another starter from a yearago is senior Rigo Lara (5-9, 175), who plays offensive guard.

Junior Matt Lee (5-6, 200) will play the other guard.

An addition to the offensive line comes from the defensive side of the ball in senior Avery Clay (6-3, 297). Clay will play right tackle and is another player that has trimmed down.

“Avery moves better than he did a year ago at this time,” Holland said. “He weighed 340 pounds. Now he’s around 290.

He has worked hard. He was here nearly every day in the summer for summer workouts.

Maybe the best thing for Avery last year was he played basketball. He had to run up anddown the floor.

His feet are a lot better. Then he got in the weight room.

That helped Elijah. He was probably 235 (pounds) lastyear and he’s down around 215 to 220.”

Holland said senior Dalton Ward (5-8, 145) and sophomore Hector Aguilar (5-7, 175) provide some depth at offensive guard. However, he said the Bulldogs are thin at tackle.

On the defensive line, Mc-Iver and Lee man the defensive tackles, though Holland said there are four to five kids playing there so “we can get them off the field and catch a break.”

Senior Dakota Pitcher (5-7, 185) will play defensive endafter starting at center last year.

Pitcher also plays fullback on offense when the Bulldogs go to a two-back set. Ward is slated to play the other defensive end spot.

Victor Urquidi made 29 total tackles in just two varsity games last year. He’ll play an inside linebacker spot. Xiong will play the other inside linebacker spot. Castenada will man outside linebacker.

Owens is Decatur’s best cover man, and he’ll line up at one corner position. The other corner will be Harris.

The safeties will be Mario Urquidi and sophomore Terry Kell (5-9, 150).

The Bulldogs have not settled on a punter yet. Aguilar will handle the kickoff and extra point duties.

NOTES: Holland said therewasn’t any temptation to have last year’s freshman compete with the varsity. “I knew we had a chance to be pretty good in junior high,” he said. “We wanted to build something there.

You’ve got to learn how to win.

We knew we had a chance to be pretty good if we left all those kids down and let that group do that.” ... Decatur hasn’t made the playoffs since 1997 when it finished the regular season 6-4.

The Bulldogs went 4-4 in 1998 and 6-4 in 1999. Back-to-back seasons of two wins was followed by a 5-5 season in 2002.

In 2003 Decatur canceled its football season when participation numbers were affected by rumors of school closing.

Similar consolidation rumors caused by fiscal distress contributed to Decatur not having football in 2009.

Sports, Pages 40 on 08/29/2012