‘The leadership is there.’ Le Grand High football counting on veteran players for guidance

The physical demands of football make it extremely tough for kids to make the jump to the varsity level as freshmen in high school.

So it’s rare when you see four-year varsity players.

The Le Grand High School football team will have three of them this year in tight end/receiver Reyes Diaz and offensive linemen Hector Fregoso and Nayen Lua.

“That leadership is big all the way around,” said Le Grand head coach Aaron Martinez. “Then we’ve got (running back) Alexis Granados, who is playing his third varsity season. These guys are all lead by example type of guys.”

That experience will only help when the Bulldogs compete in the Southern League with quality teams like Orestimba and Ripon Christian.

All four of those seniors were sophomores on the Le Grand team that won a Sac-Joaquin Section championship in 2021.

“I’d like to win another section title in my last year,” Diaz said.

Martinez says the strength of the Bulldogs is up front on both sides of the ball, including those two four-year guys, Fregoso and Lua.

“That’s where we have our depth,” Martinez said. “We try to platoon those guys, and that helps us get a good look in practice.”

“I feel we’ll be balanced, but I think we’ll be a strong running team,” Diaz added. “We have five senior offensive linemen and a senior running back. We should be able to run the ball well, and that will open up our passing game.”

Diaz and Granados will be counted on heavily on offense. Diaz hauled in 39 catches for 637 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Granados finished with 869 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Diego Martinez, who is the son of the head coach, will be asked to orchestrate the offense.

Martinez follows in the footsteps of his older brother Aaron, who also played quarterback for their dad at Le Grand. Aaron Martinez, who is playing baseball at Modesto Junior College, is also serving as the Bulldogs quarterback coach.

“They really have a tight bond,” said the elder Aaron Martinez about his two sons. “Diego was always paying attention and trying to mimic Aaron when he was growing up. He was a ball boy since he was 7 years old.”

“It’s fun watching them together,” he added. “They work out together. They play catch, they hit together. They’re used to it.”

Granados says this team can’t help but have a close bond, especially since a lot of them are related. Granados said between players and coaches, he has seven or eight cousins out there with him.

“We have a big family,” Granados said.

Diaz remembers that when he was a freshman the older players would take him under their wing. He remembers going out to the middle school and running routes with teammates.

“Now I’m in that role,” Diaz said. “I want the younger players to feel comfortable.”

That’s what the coaching staff wants to see. They would like those veteran players to speak up more and become vocal leaders.

“We want to make it back to sections,” Granados said. “The leadership is there, the talent is there, we just have to go out and do it.”

Here’s a look at the other Southern League teams in Merced County.

Gustine

Senior Zander Leyva moves from running back to quarterback for the Reds this season after amassing more than 800 all-purpose yards last year.

Gustine should be strong up front, with three starters returning on the offensive line in center Isaiah Prado, guards Gurvikram Khaira and Esteban Chavez. Junior Austin Etheridge joins the unit up front at right tackle.

Gustine head coach Collin Lane will be short in numbers, with just 24 players in his second season as the Reds coach.

With Orestimba leaving the Southern League next year because of realignment, this will be the last year Orestimba and Gustine will play for the Wooden Chief in the final week of the season.

Delhi

Senior quarterback Alek Fuentes returns after leading the Hawks to a playoff appearance last year.

Fuentes is more of a running threat, rushing for 561 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

Junior Antonio Gutierrez should be more involved with the offense after rushing for 164 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore last year. Gutierrez led the defense with 79 tackles last season.

Linebacker Diego Cardena, defensive back Hector Lua and defensive lineman Jose Flores will also be counted on to contribute defensively.

Mariposa

Chase Pometta takes over as head coach for the Grizzlies, who begin the season with just 18 varsity players.

Mariposa will be young, with eight sophomores, including four on the offensive line. The Grizzlies do have good numbers at the junior varsity level with 40 players.

Senior quarterback Ryder Boldroff returns after throwing for 641 yards and six touchdowns in five games last year.

Senior Kenneth Rutledge will help anchor the defensive line, and Thomas Sandoval will be one of the few veteran players on the offensive line. Sophomore Carmine Sandoval will be counted on right away at middle linebacker.

Schedules

Le Grand

Aug. 18 vs Livingston

Aug. 25 at Esparto

Sept. 1 vs Hoover

Sept. 15 vs Orestimba

Sept. 22 at Waterford

Sept. 29 vs Denair

Oct. 6 vs Ripon Christian

Oct. 13 vs Gustine

Oct. 20 at Delhi

Oct. 27 at Mariposa

Mariposa

Aug. 18 at Yosemite

Aug. 25 at Minarets

Sept. 8 at Stone Ridge Christian

Sept. 15 vs Gustine

Sept. 22 vs Delhi

Sept. 29 at Orestimba

Oct. 6 vs Denair

Oct. 13 at Ripon Christian

Oct. 20 at Waterford

Oct. 27 vs Le Grand

Delhi

Aug. 18 vs El Capitan

Aug. 25 at Ceres

Sept. 1 vs Big Valley Christian

Sept. 15 vs Waterford

Sept. 22 at Mariposa

Sept. 29 at Gustine

Oct. 6 vs Orestimba

Oct. 13 at Denair

Oct. 20 vs Le Grand

Oct. 27 at Ripon Christian

Gustine

Aug. 18 vs Summerville

Aug. 25 at Stone Ridge Christian

Sept. 1 at Rio Vista

Sept. 15 at Mariposa

Sept. 22 vs Denair

Sept. 29 vs Delhi

Oct. 6 vs Waterford

Oct. 13 at Le Grand

Oct. 20 vs Ripon Christian

Oct. 27 at Orestimba