Coaches: Frederick Gambrell (head coach, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/running backs), Matthew Acosta (defense coordinator/outside linebackers), Chris Collodel (offensive line), Ricky Holloway (inside linebackers), Oscar Montecinos (receivers/defense backs), Chris Parrales (defense line)
Top Returners: Will Brown (12), Caleb Chikosi (12), Justin Covarrubias (10), Felipe Ko (12), Madden Leasau (11), Grant Rabe (12), Devon Reynolds (12), Elias Vorathavorn (11)
Top Newcomers: McAnthony De Castro (10), Tate Garcia (11), Joseph Sanders (11), Pierrce Sandle (11), George Shelledy (11), Kamron Tonga (10)
Last Season: The Lancers started a new quarterback to run their offense and featured four returners like receivers and running backs to the team. This led the team to struggle, ending with a 4-6 record — winning only one Freeway League game against Fullerton Union High School (3-7). It has been two years since the team last made it to CIF playoffs.
Outlook: School officials hired a new head coach to replace social science teacher David Wilde, who resigned at the end of last season. In the spring semester, Gambrell was announced as Wilde’s successor.
Coming from San Clemente High School as a defensive coordinator, the coach said some of his main goals are to establish the players’ work ethic and to work on their character on and off the field.
“I really want to establish a culture of hard work, dedication and commitment; I also want to build leaders that are servants so that they’ll want to be there for their teammates, serve their teammates but also sacrifice for them,” Gambrell said.
To accomplish the servant attitude, he has started introducing a word of the week to his players.
“This week [Aug. 19-23] is sacrifice and so what does that mean and what does that look like,” he said. “One thing we have been talking about all summer and spring is servanthood, which is what leaders do because they’re not here to be served but to serve.”
So far, most of the players are buying into this new approach to the game.
“Coach Gambrell is amazing,” offensive tackle and defensive end Chikosi said. “He is a great coach who has engraved a winning mentality into the team, and he will accept nothing less.
Tight end and linebacker Ko also thinks that Gambrell is a good addition to the team.
“[I] love Coach Gambrell and it feels good to have a coach who believes and truly cares about us as players and men,” Ko said. “He believes in us and is a positive influence on us that makes us want to get better by being a good example.”
Quarterback Leasau believes that Gambrell can lead the team to victory.
“I believe that Coach Gambrell will turn this program around,” Leasau said. “He keeps the team focused and motivated, and he also believes that we have what it takes to win.”
On top of mentally preparing for the season, Gambrell said the Lancers started physically preparing in January. Since then, they’ve been conditioning in the weight room, practicing on the field and competing in summer games: passing and alignment competitions.
“We’re a spread offense – we’re throwing the ball around,” the head coach said. “It takes time for offensive linemen to learn how to pass block in a system like this.”
Despite an 0-5 start against non-league competition, with the most recent loss against San Dimas (4-1) being 10-44, the Lancers will aim for their first win of the season Friday, Oct. 4, when they play their first league game against Marina (5-0) at Buena Park High School Stadium at 7 p.m. This will kick off their new league called Lambda.
“Although it has been a really rough start, I believe we will come back from this,” Leasau said.
Chikosi said he hopes he and his teammates on offense will have adjusted better to the new offensive scheme by their league opener.
“I am certain this will showcase our talent differently than years prior and be successful as long as we do what we are supposed to,” he said.
Gambrell said he expects Marina High School to be the toughest in the league.
“They’re a good team that’s coached very well; they’ll be athletic and fast,” he said.
Wide receiver Sandle said he expects the season to be full of challenges, especially since Fullerton is the only school the Lancers are familiar with since the Tribe has been in the Freeway League with the Lancers for so many years.
