Strong junior class expected to carry Rancho

By Ray Brewer (contact)

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

The Rancho High football team will start mostly underclassmen this year.

The junior class led the Rams’ junior varsity team to an 8-1 record last year and coach Elvin Dick is confident the success can translate on Friday nights.

“Our junior class is pretty strong,” Dick said “Them having a little bit of success last year is a good thing for their confidence. Obviously, they are going to have to take it to another level.”

Rancho defense will specifically be inexperienced with three sophomores expected to start. Also, all of the starting linebackers — Melvin Robinson, Casey Holmes and Derick Eliason — will be juniors.

Eliason is just 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, but Dick expects him to make big plays.

“He plays like he is 250 pounds, the coach said.

Offensively, senior tailback Shamel David (6-foot, 180-pounds) will get several carries, and Angel Gomez (6-foot-1, 265-pounds) will be a leader on the line. David had almost 300 yards and three touchdowns last year against Chaparral, one of two wins for the Rams.

David, Gomez and defensive back D'Andre Mason will be Rancho’s senior leaders. While the Rams have an underclassmen dominated team, Dick said his senior class would also be key to the success.

“We don’t have a lot of seniors, but the ones we have, this is their fourth year in the program and they are good leaders,” Dick said.