Q & A: Moorpark High Quarterback Looks to Lead the Musketeers

Football is a tough sport. Have you been enjoying your three-week break?

Yes, I have. It’s always good to have a break, but I can’t wait to get back to football. It’s kind of hard being away for so long.

There are so many tough teams in the Marmonte League including yourselves, Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure, Westlake. Your thoughts?

Yeah, there are a lot of good teams. They’re all high-caliber teams with high-caliber players. Just like last year, it’s going to be a dogfight. We had so many close games last year, and I think there might be a lot of close games again all through the season. We could end up finishing fifth or finishing first.

You’re right. Last year, you had five games that came down to the very end. At least fans got their money’s worth, right?

I guess so. Even though there were some heartbreaking losses, we always made sure the fans were happily entertained. It makes it really fun, knowing you’re playing against the best, as hard as you can, and you can’t hold anything back or you won’t have a chance to win. It’s really exciting because there’s never any rest.

How are the skill position players looking? Are you going to score a lot of touchdowns this year?

Absolutely. We have a little more of veteran team, a little older and a little more experienced. They’re going to help us get down the field.

You’ve got Alex Tolliver back. He’s one of the league’s fastest receivers, and he got in for some action last year. How does he he look?

He looks really good. At the passing tourneys, he’s been one of our best guys. Plus, last year, Alex got in with the first group a lot.

Can you comment on some of the other receivers?

Kenny Fehy and Michael Mandic, they’re seniors like Alex, so we have all three seniors. Kenny is one of our taller guys, kind of our go-to guy in the red zone in the back of the end zone. He’s 6'5", and he high-jumps for the track team. He didn’t get that much experience last year, but this year he has done really well, and he’s worked hard in the spring. Michael Mandic is a big tight end, he’s about 6'4" and 215 pounds, and he’s a great route runner who makes great blocks, and he has great hands as well.

Any good receivers from last year’s JV team?

Yeah, we have Brendon Hodgson and Chad Hanson. They’re both going to be in the mix, too.

Your running back, Aaron Stanton, looked really good last year when he got a chance to see the football. How is he coming along?

He’s the main running back. He’s gotten a lot better. He’s only going to be a junior, and I think he’s going to be a force this year. Whenever he got in last year, he made it count, for sure.

It’s going to be a big week next week, the first week of full-contact practice where the helmets and pads come on. Are you pumped?

Oh, absolutely. It’s kind of a big moment when it first starts. Everything comes into place, everything we’ve been working for all spring and all summer.