A buzz at Williams

After finishing last season with a 6-4 record and a first-round playoff loss to eventual Northern Section champion Hamilton, the Williams High football team has reason to be optimistic heading into 2008.

The Yellowjackets return key performers at each of the skill positions, including senior quarterback David Covarrubias, who passed for nearly 500 yards and 12 touchdowns last season on a club that preferred to keep the ball on the ground rather than put it in the air.

"I think we'll be able to move the ball more through the air than in years past," said Williams coach Dan McDonald, who guided a team that went 3-7 before his arrival to back-to-back playoff berths in his first two seasons at the helm of the program.

However, the staple of the offense will still be its ground game, where third-year varsity slot back Ema Martinez and sophomore tailback Jesus Camarena will see a large share of the load. Both averaged more than 5.6 yards per carry last season playing behind workhorse running back Diego Velazquez, who graduated.

Martinez will also be a force in the passing game, where his 14 receptions and five touchdowns out of the backfield led the team last season.

Covarrubias, who has the ability to run the ball out of the option as well, will look for junior wide receiver Victor Navarro and senior tight end Humberto Guzman when the Yellowjackets go to the passing game to move the chains.

Senior captain Adam Ogaz and newcomers Peppi Leos, a senior, and junior Eduardo Velazquez will anchor the offensive and defensive lines, while utility player Pedro Barajas will be used in a multitude of ways.

However the strength of the team will be its defense, which returns several players from a squad that allowed just 15.5 points per game — aside from two losses to Hamilton.

Camarena and seniors Josafat Jimenez and Javier Valencio will get the nod at linebacker, while Martinez and Navarro will patrol the secondary.

"Our defense is going to rally to the ball and play swarming, Yellowjacket defense," McDonald said, noting the strength of his team. "Our weakness is our lack of depth in numbers. We have a lot of first-time football players."

Williams will compete in a reshuffled Mid-Valley League this year, where East Nicolaus, Colusa, Portola and Quincy take the place of Delta, Los Molinos, Mercy and Chester.

"There's not a weak team in our league — any team can upset someone," McDonald said. "Hamilton is as beatable as anybody else, and I heard through the grapevine that Portola is the real deal."

As for his prediction: "I'd say that Hamilton is the team to beat, with Portola, East Nicolaus and Esparto knocking on the door. The rest could be on the outside looking in."

McDonald is hopeful there will be lights at the stadium before Friday's season-opener against Durham. The lights were blown down after January's windstorm, but are expected to be up and running by Wednesday.

The Yellowjackets will need to get off to a good start with a tough preseason schedule consisting of Durham, as well as Colusa County rivals Maxwell and Pierce in the annual "Rice Bowl" game.

"The kids are looking forward to the challenge of a new league so it should be a lot of fun," McDonald said. "Who ever can sustain it over the long haul will come out on top."

Contact sports reporter Andy Arrenquin at 743-0512 or e-mail him at aarrenquin@appealdemocrat.com.