Chaparral coach sees improvements in team’s attitude, talent

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

The Chaparral High football team will be just that this fall — a team.

Last year, in coach Donnie Davis’ first season with the Cowboys, he said they often relied on a few veteran skilled-position players and lacked contributions from all spots on the field. The end result was failing to win a game.

That won’t be the case this fall.

“The thing last year is that we had a lot of great skilled position players, but the overall team wasn’t the greatest,” Davis said. “We leaned on those skilled guys too much.”

That all changed in the offseason. The team logged hours in the weight room and Davis said that dedication would be noticed on Friday nights.

“Our guys are putting on their hard hats and getting ready to go out and fight,” Davis said. “The team has really worked as a family. We don’t have as many skilled guys now, so it is more of a collective effort. It has made us a better team.”

Senior quarterback Zach Luciano, who Davis said has made significant improvements, will lead the Chaparral offense. Last year, he was intercepted 18 times and only completed 45-percent of his passes, throwing for 892 yards and seven touchdowns.

“He understands the offense a little better,” Davis said. “He numbers are going to be up in both in the running and passing game.”

Luciano’s primary target will be junior Torue Williams, a relative newcomer to football who runs track for the Cowboys. Davis said the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder has opened some eyes with his performances in preseason workouts.

“He was a real nice surprise,” the coach said. “He’s going to able to stretch the field for us, and he has some real good hands, too.”

Chaparral’s top defensive player is linebacker and center Ishmael Olo, a 5-foot-10, 240-pound senior who could be one of the Northeast Division’s top defenders.

“He’s definitely a leader for us,” Davis said of Olo. “He will be a key on both sides of the ball.”

Olo brings a physical-style of play Davis hopes is contagious with teammates.

“Most of the kids were kind of thrown into the fire last year,” he said. “Now they know what it takes to win a ball game. Their attitude is getting better. It is getting nastier. They don’t want to take around and take punishment. They want to give it.”