After two historic 10-win seasons that included a Moore League championship and its first CIF semifinal appearance since 1991, Wilson struggled last year with only four returning starters. The Bruins went 5-6 with a disappointing 40-0 loss to Paramount in the playoffs.
This season will prove if that rebuilding process was worth it, and with 14 returning starters, Wilson has the talent to turn it around again.
“We’ve got to get back to our ways of winning,” fourth-year coach Mark Ziegenhagen said. “I think we can compete with everybody. I really like our junior class a lot. They remind me of the senior class that went 10-3. They played a lot last year, and got good experience.”
The most important returning starter is quarterback Ryan Pettway. The junior completed 60% of his passes in eight games last year. He passed for eight touchdowns and five interceptions while averaging 154 yards per game.
Pettway’s biggest target on the outside is receiver Zechariah Dolphin. The 6’2” 175-pound senior only had five receptions last season, but he grew two inches since then while waiting his turn.
“I learned to stay humble last year,” Dolphin said. “The (growth spurt) really came out of nowhere. It was in the offseason, so I was sleeping a lot and chowing down.”
Because of summer baseball commitments, Pettway wasn’t able to attend all of the summer passing league practices with his team. However, Dolphin said that he and his quarterback are hanging out as much as possible, and staying after practice to run routes, in order to build their chemistry.
“I learned last year that playing quarterback is a lot more mental than it is physical,” Pettway said. “It’s rather similar to baseball in that way.”
Ziegenhagen knows Pettway can throw the ball, but he wants his team to be run-first on offense with a stable of capable running backs. Junior Dillon Harris and seniors Marcos Nottingham and Marcelino Ramos will all share time, and could be in the backfield together with Pettway. The trio combined for 30 carries, 142 yards and a touchdown last season.
The Wilson offensive and defensive lines don’t have much depth, but have more than enough experience. On offense, returning starters Christian Conrad, Adrian Tejada and Terren Monette will be joined by Jaylen Ferrera and Rayden Tuaua. On defense, junior nose guard Ferrera will be flanked by returning starters Angel Guzman and Giovanni Fiderio.
Ziegenhagen is coaching the linebackers this year in an effort to solidify his defense. Wilson gave up an average of 28 points per game last year.
“We’ve always had the bend but don’t break mentality,” Ziegenhagen said. “But I think we need to be a little bit more aggressive on defense and tackle better. We kind of lost that last year.”
Returning junior starter Ethan Moxley, who had 88 tackles last year, will lead the linebacking corps with Brett Dowgiewicz and Logan Ziegenhagen. Like Pettway, Moxley and Dowgiewicz missed some practice this summer while they finished their season with Belmont Shore Rugby Club.
“I want them to play those sports and be multi-sport athletes,” Ziegenhagen said. “But at the same time, it puts a little pressure on us as we wait for those guys to come back so we can actually practice as a full squad.”
Wilson was moved down to Division 6 this season, and that just so happens to matchup with their preseason schedule. Mayfair (Aug. 17) and Huntington Beach (Aug. 31) are in the same division.
“If we can have a good preseason it could set us up for a pretty good playoff run,” Ziegenhagen said.
If the Bruins finish above .500 it will be just their fourth winning season in the last 15 years.
Long Beach Wilson Football Season Preview 2018
Read more about the Wilson Bruins: https://stage.the562.org/2018/08/10/wilson-bruins-football-season-preview/
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Offense
QB Ryan Pettway, Jr.
RB Marcos Nottingham, Sr.
RB Dillon Harris, Jr.
RB Marcelino Ramos, Sr.
WR Zechariah Dolphin, Sr.
WR Kevin Sperry, Sr.
WR Andrew Garcia, Sr.
OL Christian Conrad, Sr.
OL Adrian Tejada, Jr.
OL Terren Monette, Jr.
OL Jaylen Ferrera, Jr.
OL Rayden Tuaua, Sr.
Defense
DL Angel Guzman, Sr.
DL Giovanni Fiderio, Sr.
DL Jaylen Ferrera, Jr.
LB Ethan Moxley, Jr.
LB Brett Dowgiewicz, Jr.
LB Logan Ziegenhagen, Jr.
DB Dillon Harris, Jr.
DB Rasaan Moore, Sr.
DB Jacob Shaw, Sr.
DB Zechariah Dolphin, Sr.
DB Soloman Bowie, Jr.
K Mason Delrosario, Sr.
SCHEDULE
WEEK 1 AUGUST 17
Wilson vs. Mayfair
WEEK 2 AUGUST 24
Wilson vs. Sam Dimas
WEEK 3 AUGUST 31
Wilson @ Huntington Beach
WEEK 4 SEPTEMBER 7
Wilson vs. St. Anthony
WEEK 5 SEPTEMBER 14
Cabrillo @ Wilson
WEEK 6 SEPTEMBER 21
Long Beach Poly @ Wilson
WEEK 7 SEPTEMBER 28
Jordan @ Wilson
WEEK 8 OCTOBER 5
Wilson @ Lakewood
WEEK 9 OCTOBER 12
BYE
WEEK 10 OCTOBER 19
Wilson @ Millikan
WEEK 11 OCTOBER 26
Compton @ Wilson
*All games 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
