Yuba can even record in home opener

The Yuba College football team hit the practice field this week feeling like it gave a win away in Monterey.

Coach Ted Hoal can live with that for now.

“I told them there is a big difference coming off the field and feeling like you gave the game away than coming off the field feeling you were soundly beaten,” Hoal said. “A huge difference.”

But the mistakes and miscues the coaching staff are writing off to inexperience and player rust last week, will be less well received if the 49ers (0-1) repeat them in the home opener against West Valley today.

And second-year quarterback Trevor Stoehr will be expected to carry more of the load this week.

For one thing, the former Yuba City High standout is healthier after a training camp injury, and has a game under his belt.

Secondly, there really is no choice.

Two offensive lineman, including Lindhurst High product Casey Jorgensen, are out with injuries.

“So we will try to put it more on Trevor's hands this week,” Hoal said.

Stoehr threw for a touchdown to sophomore Marcus Allen, but also had a pass intercepted and returned for a score in the 14-10 loss to Monterey Peninsula last week.

Hoal said the pick was a mistake by the receiver reading the defense, something that can be expected when starting seven freshmen on the offensive side of the ball.

“Most of that had to do with

us. We never got into a good rhythm. We would make two good plays and then a bad one,” Hoal said.

Still, Yuba had the lead until late when a blocked punt set up the winning score. So much of this week the players were reminded about the importance of making plays and limiting mistakes.

The Yuba defense also is young with eight first-year players in the starting line-up.

But that unit, led by linebacker Mike Reed, held Monterey to just 98 total yards.

“As a coach and a coaching staff we were very please with how the players played,” Hoal said.

That defense, who will be missing sophomore linebacker Brian Rasmussen (Wheatland) for the second straight week because of a concussion, will face a West Valley squad that wants to pound the ball right at its opponents.

“We are playing a team that is as good as the team we played last week. West Valley has some pretty good players. They are pretty conservative on offense and pretty aggressive on defense,” said Hoal, comparing the defensive mentality to that of Butte College.

Kick off is at 1 p.m.