Stars hope to learn from past after 2-0 start in league
Agassi Prep’s football team has been in this position before.
The Stars won their first two Class 2A Southern League games last year, only to finish the season on a five-game losing streak and miss the playoffs.
Agassi Prep will have the chance Friday to prove this season can be different.
The Stars (2-1, 2-0) play Mountain View (2-3, 1-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Rancho in a 2A showdown that Agassi Prep coach Colt Goodman is calling one of the biggest games in school history.
“We’re not set on that we’ve played two good games,” Goodman said. “This (Friday) will be the deciding factor in our season. If we win the game, we’re almost mathematically guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.”
Agassi Prep has been impressive on offense, defense and special teams in winning its first two league games by a combined score of 100-0. Those victories, however, came against Laughlin (2-2, 0-2) and Calvary Chapel (0-4, 0-2).
Still, the Stars appear to have their most talent and depth since moving to the 11-man level in 2008, and Goodman is confident his team can break through to reach the 2A postseason for the first time.
“Back when they were freshmen, I said, 'It’s a maturation process,’” Goodman said. “Now they’ve matured. We’ve finally got the players.”
Among the players to emerge this season is dual-threat quarterback Terrell Kemp. The junior has completed 60 percent of his passes for 374 yards and eight touchdowns with only one interception, and has 99 yards and two TDs on the ground.
“The guy’s a weapon, and he’s making the plays,” Goodman said of Kemp. “He’s finding receivers downfield, and he runs as well as he (throws) at quarterback.”
The Stars also have a potent running game keyed by senior DeVonn Porter, who has rushed for 219 yards — averaging 7.1 per carry — and three scores.
LeShaun Sims (11 catches, 172 yards, four touchdowns) and Curtis Watson (five catches, 167 yards, four TDs) give Kemp a pair of explosive receivers.
Defensively, Agassi Prep’s success starts with a tandem of powerful linemen in Adrian Huling (6-feet-4-inches, 310 pounds) and Jamal Holmes (5-8, 260). Both are also standouts on the offensive line.
“If we didn’t have an outstanding line, none of this was going to happen,” Goodman said.
Mountain View, meanwhile, is coming off a 34-26 home loss to The Meadows in a battle between the league’s top two teams from a year ago.
The Saints gave up two quick touchdowns in the third quarter after heading to halftime tied at 12, and were unable to recover from two costly fumbles.
Mountain View coach Ray LeBoeuf said his team is still building to where he wants it to be.
“I look at a football field as an additional classroom,” he said.
One positive the Saints can take from their first five games is a rushing attack that is averaging nearly 230 yards per game.
Freshman running back Jacob Duldulao leads the way with 384 yards and four TDs, followed by slotback Justyn Anderson (323 yards, four TDs) and quarterback T.J. Engel (288 yards, five TDs).
Engel also has been efficient through the air, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 514 yards and five TDs with no interceptions.
LeBoeuf said it will be crucial for Mountain View to avoid falling to 1-2 in league play.
LeBoeuf said it will be crucial for Mountain View to avoid falling to 1-2 in league play.
“Every league game is extremely important,” he said. “The 2A, other than The Meadows, is a wide-open league. Every win you can put in your back pocket is very important.”
