The Sunnyvale Sun
Cover Story
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Fremont coach Ron Demonner goes over film with his players during a recent practice session. Demonner, the Fremont head coach for seven years, returns after a four-year absence since Andy Walczak left the sidelines to take a job in administration.
Fall Ball
Swoopes, Mena back for 'Birds--and Demonner, too
By MIKE BARNHART
With two days remaining prior to the start of August two-a-days, Fremont's football program had to go back to the future.
When Andy Walczak accepted a job as an assistant principal at Lynbrook, the Firebirds suddenly were a team without a head coach. As Walczak's education career path shifted from the classroom to the administration office, Fremont's football program was forced to change directions also.
Fortunately, Fremont principal Dr. Peggy Raun-Linde happened to have a teacher with head coaching experience kicking around in the physical education department. Ron Demonner, Fremont's head coach for the seven seasons prior to Walczak's four-year reign, agreed to take the job.
With the help of assistant coaches Tim Wadholm, Jason Barbeau and Cip Sena and the support of Dr. Raun-Linde, Demonner has not missed a beat. Although he was away from the high school game for four seasons, Demonner had remained involved with the Fremont culture (as a P.E. teacher) and football (as the defensive coordinator at Menlo College).
"I still love to coach kids," Demonner said. "I'm not real excited about being in charge of collecting insurance forms, making bus schedules or dealing with irate parents--I've done all that in the past. But I enjoy coaching and teaching football to the kids."
There has been much teaching going on throughout the Firebirds' pre-season practices, as Demonner and staff prepare the squad for the 2006 campaign. Following a scrimmage against Overfelt, Aug. 31, the veteran coach was excited about the team's defense, especially the efforts of outside linebacker Angel Valencia and free safety Shelton Swoopes.
"Angel stole the show; he performed the best," Demonner praised. "And Shelton is a very solid player; he is what you are looking for as a free safety. He stays deep and can really go up and catch it."
Swoopes, an all-league first team wide receiver in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League last season and a member of the basketball team last winter, will help fill the void in the defensive backfield left by the graduation of three-year starters Nathan Cathcart and Juan Arce, along with newcomers Joe Julian and Trestin Savoy.
Valencia, seniors Sonny Perez and R.J. Rivera and junior Donny Mena (5-foot-11, 225 pounds) have been the most impressive linebackers thus far, according to Demonner. Seniors George Tran (6-foot, 250), Gene Davis (6-foot-1, 250), Pat Murphy (5-foot-11, 230) and Luis Roa (6-foot-2, 235) likely will be the starters along the defensive front, the coach said.
Not surprisingly, the defense is further along than the offense heading into the season opener, Sept. 9 against visiting Willow Glen. The Firebirds will have a different look in 2006, trying to replace the firepower provided last season by running back Julius Mills, the league's Offensive Player of the Year, and quarterback Jason Custer.
Senior Daunti Mills, Julius' brother, has been installed as the quarterback, and he has a good feel for the newly-installed spread offense, Demonner noted. Mills and Swoopes will get their share of touches, but a player to watch out of the backfield may be sophomore Pat Washington. "He can make you miss," Demonner praised.
In addition to losing their top offensive playmakers to graduation, the Firebirds said goodbye in June to the anchor of the offensive line, all-league center and co-captain Mark Pariaszevski. But senior Ray Trevino (5-foot-11, 220) has stepped up and been the most impressive lineman so far. "He really takes to making the line calls and adjustments," Demonner said.
Fremont has three returning players who will share most of the playing time at the guard spot, Demonner indicated. The coach said he is leaning to sending the plays into the huddle with a messenger guard system, using Mena, an all-league pick last season, and seniors Mike Lolling (6-foot, 235) and John Magliule (5-foot-11, 210).
The key to offensive success for the Firebirds, though, may lie with the play and continual development of four offensive tackles, Davis, Murphy, Juan Escamillia (6-foot-2, 245) and sophomore Ed Yetso (6-foot-4, 230).
"The tackle candidates could be the hidden jewels of this team," Demonner explained. "If these guys blossom, our offense will be very solid."
Fremont, which put together a 5-5 overall record in 2005, placed third in the SCVAL's El Camino Division with a 4-2 mark. The Firebirds will use non-league games against Willow Glen, Del Mar and San Jose to get ready for the El Camino opener, Sept. 29 at Saratoga. Fremont will wrap up its non-league slate with an afternoon game at neighborhood rival Homestead on Oct. 6.
The second half of Fremont's schedule consists of five straight division games, home contests against Gunn, Monta Vista and Lynbrook and road tilts at Los Altos and Cupertino.
