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It was a proud tradition forged through the years by the late Ray Andree and other talented coaches, along with a corps of hard-nosed players--the tradition of Del Mar football.
That tradition seemed to slip away during a few lean years at the turn of the decade, but now third-year coach Eric Buran is doing his part to bring it back.
Buran, who played for Del Mar during his high school years, has returned to the campus with every intention of turning the program around. So far, he's made great strides in that direction.
Buran took over a program that had posted a 2-8 record in 2001 and a winless 0-10 season in 2002. He immediately took the club back to a competitive level, playing close to .500 football in each of the last two seasons. His first club finished 3-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, and last year the Dons ended up 4-5-1 overall and 3-3 in the league.
This year Buran hopes things will be even better.
"We expect to compete at a high level," Buran said of the Dons, who last won a league championship in 1997. "Del Mar will look to compete in league with a strong senior class and players who are willing to work hard to compete on a daily basis."
Heading up that "strong senior class" are returning starters Emmanuel Sellu, Billy Burton, Ryan Conner and Mike Huynh.
Sellu (6-foot, 185 pounds) tops the list. The talented senior is a two-time all-leaguer returning to the offensive and defensive backfields for the Dons.
Burton (5-foot-11, 200) and Conner
(5-foot-7, 215) will anchor the offensive and defensive lines for Del Mar. Burton will play tight end with Conner on the interior line on offense, and Burton will settle in at defensive end with Conner inside.
Huynh (5-foot-6, 200) is a three-year varsity starter at linebacker for the Dons who doubles as a running back when Del Mar had possession of the football.
Josh Lucio, Nick Radar, Sandor Helderman, Chris Webster, Max Gallegos and Charles Helderman are other senior lettermen returning for line play with the Dons this fall.
Backs and receivers returning for Del Mar this year are seniors Nick Vermy, Michael Tilbury, Todd Myers, Chad Weilert, Emilio Hernandez, Ginikachi Ibe, Abed Faour, Neil Naidu and Fabian Diaz.
The Dons will open the 2005 season in a special night game at home when they host Lynbrook on Sept. 9 under portable lights at 7:30 p.m. Del Mar will face Fremont and Willow Glen in non-league games over the next two weeks before opening the West Valley Division season on Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. against Yerba Buena.
The Dons will play another home night game later in the season when they entertain Prospect on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. It will be homecoming for Del Mar, and the Dons couldn't have picked a tougher opponent for the occasion. Buran rates the Panthers as the team to beat in the division title race this fall.
Buran will be assisted by Carlos Velasco, Jim Marquez, Chris Pollard and Matt Weinbrock this season.
Key Returners
Emmanuel Sellu (6-0, 185), Sr., RB/DB
Billy Buxton (5-11, 200), Sr., TE/DE
Ryan Conner (5-7, 215), Sr., OL/DL
Mike Huynh (5-6, 200), Sr., RB/LB
Preview of Untitled Web Page
DELMAR 2005
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 9, Lynbrook, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16, at Fremont, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23, at Willow Glen, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30, at Yerba Buena, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 7, at Overfelt, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 15, at James Lick, 1:30 p.m.*
Oct. 21, San Jose, 3:30 p.m.*
Oct. 29, at Westmont, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4, Prospect, 7 p.m.*
Nov. 10, Andrew Hill, 2:45 p.m.*
*Denotes Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division game
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