Pacifica's Whitney provides an obstacle for St. Bonaventure's physical offense line
His role has shifted from offense to defense. His focus has shifted from outside to inside.
Consistent, incremental growth has made Jordan Whitney a central pillar of the Pacifica High football program.
“His sheer aggression and speed have made him a key player for us,” Pacifica head coach Mike Moon said.
Especially ahead of one of the most anticipated non-league games of the fall.
Whitney’s shift to middle linebacker as a senior may give the Tritons their best chance to somehow slow St. Bonaventure’s road-grading running game Friday night at Ventura College.
“He always does the right thing, and he plays at 150 miles-per-hour every single play,” Moon said of the 6-foot-2, 204-pound senior.
St. Bonaventure running back Delon Thompson, the reigning Marmonte League MVP, piled up 265 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in last week’s 41-34 loss at Inglewood.
“They’ve got to stop Delon and that will be their focus,” said St. Bonaventure coach Joey Goyeneche.
The path to the Pac-12
Four years after scoring a touchdown in a state semifinal in his first taste of varsity football, Whitney is now an experienced leader on a team full of glittering young stars.
“We got so many young guys that have so much potential,” Whitney said. “You know they're going to make good.”
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Whitney gives them a path to follow to the next level.
He’s a 4.0 GPA student-athlete who has earned himself more than 10 scholarship offers. Earlier this year, he committed to play for the University of Washington.
"It's been a crazy experience for me,” Whitney said. “I started off (last) season and no one really knew who I was... Coach Moon always just told me to be patient. I trusted him and, throughout the season, I just got more and more exposure. I got my name out there a little bit by little bit.
“Eventually, everything worked out.”
Primarily a running back as a freshman, Whitney moved to outside linebacker last fall.
“Even when the team struggled, he was one of our most consistent players,” Moon said.
Over the past year, the coaching staff realized Whitney was better suited inside, where his body type made him a prospect for the next level.
“Right now, a fast, 6-foot-1 athlete is what they’re looking at next level for inside linebacker,” Moon said.
One of the biggest moments in his growth as a potential Division I player came on the track, when he ran a 11.24-second 100-meter dash in February.
“That’s elite speed for a linebacker,” Moon said. “But he’s still aggressive, still tough, still very much a physical kid. So he kind of checks all the boxes.”
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His first offer came from Arizona. San Jose State and Boise State followed. He was even recruited by Princeton, before committing to the Huskies.
“I didn't know how to feel,” Whitney said. “You're happy. You’re surprised… it was crazy.”
Generating a push
St. Bonaventure returned three players from the offensive line that helped Thompson run for 1,078 yards and 18 TDs a year ago.
Center Elijah Acosta and guards Jack Sloniker and Robert Hernandez are returning starters.
“Acosta … is a smart kid and a good senior leader,” Goyeneche said. “Jack is kind of the big, physical presence. Robert Hernandez is probably our best, technique-wise.”
Six-foot-5 junior Shaun Torgeson grabbed the starting left tackle position in the offseason, when he added more than 30 pounds of strength.
“Shaun really had the best offseason,” Goyeneche said. “He worked his butt off, ate well and has something to show for it.”
Despite some opening-night nerves, Torgeson played well in his first varsity start last week on the road.
“I was pretty nervous,” Torgeson said. “But I had been taught really well. I knew what I was supposed to do every play. I practiced hard and played well in the game.”
The Seraphs know what can happen if they give Thompson room to run.
“He’s amazing,” Torgeson said. “If we give him just a little bit of a push, he can find a hole and just go.”
Junior Edgar Jovel is the right tackle and senior Frankie Cardenas is the sixth man.
“The most important thing is you’ve got five really smart kids on the offensive line,” Goyeneche said. “That’s always a bonus. They do a really good job of communicating.
“They’re versatile, and we move them around a lot in practice, so they know different spots.”
Revenge game?
The Tritons know what can happen if they don’t match St. Bonaventure’s mettle up front.
Last year’s 70-7 loss to the visiting Seraphs remains the biggest loss, by margin of victory, in Pacifica history.
But Moon doesn’t want his team to look at Friday night as an answer to 2021’s “butt kicking.”
“Anybody with any pride in themselves wants to redeem themselves,” Moon said. “But this is not a revenge game.”
Moon pointed out that Pacifica only has two games to prepare for what is now a nine-team Channel League.
“I know it’s two solid West County teams,” Moon said. “The community will get behind it, but I refuse to get lost on that and get caught up on social media.
“This is our last tune-up for league. We have to focus on ourselves and continue to grow day to day… We really think this team can be special down the stretch, so we don’t want to lose a week of growth.”
Pacifica hosts Santa Barbara next week in its Channel League opener. St. Bonaventure’s Marmonte League opener doesn’t arrive until Sept. 30, when Bishop Diego visits.
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WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
Friday, 7 p.m.
Pacifica at St. Bonaventure
Camarillo at Rio Mesa
Agoura at Ventura
Hart at Oxnard
West Ranch at Buena
El Camino Real at Newbury Park
Calabasas at Oak Park
Channel Islands at Santa Paula
Castaic at Royal
Simi Valley at Knight
Westlake at Crespi
Oaks Christian at Sierra Canyon
Moorpark at Saugus
Hueneme at Canyon-Canyon Country
Fillmore at Burroughs
Nordhoff at Dos Pueblos
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Pacifica's Whitney provides an obstacle for St. Bonaventure's offense
