Dynamic back, talented juniors have Wilcox thinking big in 2012

After a bumpy 3-6-2 year in 2011, the Wilcox High School football team is eager to erase some bad memories this season.

Head coach Dan Brown brings back a group that includes four players entering their third year at the varsity level.

If that depth isn’t enough, the Wilcox frosh-soph team went a perfect 10-0 last season. A hearty chunk of that perfect squad are now juniors, armed and ready to make their Chargers varsity debut this fall.

The overall depth and the stout junior class has coach Brown thinking about another Wilcox team that boasted some of the same traits–the 2009 squad that advanced all the way to the Central Coast Section championship game before falling to Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division rival Los Gatos, 20-19.

“It’s a really nice junior class coming up,” Brown said. “One of those players is going to play quarterback for us. We also have a few impact linemen that are also really good football players. It’s very exciting.”

Kenny Dipko (5-foot-11, 155 pounds) was a wide out at the junior varsity level as a sophomore, but has been taking all the snaps at quarterback this summer for the Chargers. The coaching staff has confidence in the young quarterback’s throwing ability, but still expects him to just manage the game, allowing the offense to run through a pair of game-changing tailbacks, Roland Luke (5-foot-10, 195) and Delshawn Mitchell (5-foot-11,175).

Luke and Mitchell have the potential to be all-league running backs, according to Brown.

Luke is the horse between the tackles while Mitchell, a 400-meter runner, has a major helping of speed to bring to the table.

This Chargers team, like many before it, boasts a strong running game, lots of size and a linebacking unit that could rival anyone’s in the section.

That group is led by three-year varsity player and Division I recruit Corbin Jackson (6-foot, 230). Jackson will start at inside linebacker alongside junior Sione Longani Finefeuiaki (5-foot-11, 215).

“Corbin is a student of the game,” Brown said. “He wants to know it all. If we install a new call on defense, he wants to know what the hand signal is that practice. His work ethic is off the charts.”

On the outside senior Mo Iese (6-foot, 200) and junior newcomer Benito Serrano (6-foot, 190) will start at the two outside linebacker spots.

Serrano has made quite a first impression in camp, rushing hard off the edge in the aggressive defensive scheme deployed by Brown.

Iese, Jackson and Serrano will all see time at tight end on the offensive side of the ball.

“Our receivers are very young,” Brown said. “This is a running back-driven offense. Our tight ends will have to be counted on a lot to make plays for us in the passing game, especially Jackson. He needs to contribute for us on offense. He’s been a defensive standout for the past two seasons, but he needs to do more on offense this year as well.”

The linebacking corps is deep and so is the offensive and defensive lines. Brown’s group definitely passes “the eye test” when people see this group hop of the bus.

Sefa Mikaio (6-foot, 265) is the best of the bunch, starting at both offensive and defensive tackle for the Chargers. The brightest newcomer to the starting unit is junior Jimmy Leatiota (6-foot-2, 255). Leatiota will start at offensive guard.

“We probably have 12-13 lineman-type that could play varsity football for most teams in the area,” Brown said. “This depth allows us to practice at a much faster pace.”

Wilcox gets a sizable test right out of the gates, a visit from West Catholic League power Serra on Aug. 31.

The Chargers begin league play on Sept. 28 at Saratoga. The game against the Falcons will be important, but the overall success of the 2012 team rides on how the Chargers fare during a brutal October stretch in the schedule. Wilcox plays at Los Gatos on Oct. 5, then faces off against Palo Alto and Milpitas the following two weeks.