Alonso: Spring football capsule

By Keith Niebuhr, Times staff writer
In print: Tuesday, May 6, 2008

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Around the county in 30 days

A daily spring preview of every football program in the county.

Alonso

Coach: Mike Heldt (sixth season, 28-35)

Last season: 5-5

District: Class 5A-6 (Chamberlain, King, Sickles)

Key losses: Joe Clarke, WR; Jamal Crook, DL; Mike Frascello, LB; Fred Jackson, OL.

Who's back: Jonathan Armand, WR; C.J. Bennett, QB; Teddy Eumo, DT; Demonte McAllister, DL, right; Cory Strassberg, WR.

What's new: The forward pass. Now in the second year under its current offensive system, Alonso hopes to do more through the air this fall. The Ravens started 5-1 in 2007 but struggled down the stretch, largely because their offense had trouble finding the end zone. In Bennett, a rising junior who was the top backup at QB last season, Alonso believes it has a player capable of leading a unit that can put points on the board. Bennett has a lively arm, and in Armand and Strassberg, he has two solid receivers to target with his passes. Because Alonso should once again be sound on defense (which is led by McAllister), any improvement on offense could result in a playoff berth.

Audibles: "You win football games with defense. And for the most part, our best athletes are going to go on defense. But we should be able to score. That's going to be new for us. We're not just going to ride the laurels of our defense." — Heldt.

Did you know?: In its last four games of 2007 (all losses), Alonso scored a combined 17 points.

Keith Niebuhr, Times staff writer

Spring game

May 22 vs. Sickles (at Alonso)

2008 schedule

Aug. 29 vs. Clearwater Countryside

Sept. 5 vs. Robinson

Sept. 12 at Hillsborough

Sept. 19 at Blake

Sept. 26 vs. Leto

Oct. 3 at Freedom

Oct. 10 at King

Oct. 16 vs. Gaither

Oct. 24 vs. Chamberlain

Oct. 31 at Jefferson

Nov. 7 vs. Sickles.