EDITOR’S NOTE: Herald sportswriter John Devine is spending most of this month visiting schools in Monterey County to get a glimpse of their football teams. This and other
Previews are available at www.montereyherald.com
CASTROVILLE – The culture change did not happen overnight. The groundbreaking was interrupted by a lost year during the pandemic.
These challenges were perfectly acceptable for head coach Juan Cuevas, but that is no longer the case for the North Monterey County High football coach, who has been on the job for four years.
“I hate excuses,” Cuevas said. “But the reality is we don’t have any kids living anywhere near our campus, so we have to rely on parents to bring our kids here during the offseason.”
Last season, 18 kids came for off-season training. Last summer, 35 to 40 players came to the weight room and for conditioning exercises every day.
“They’re starting to hear my message,” Cuevas said. “The kids are passing the message on to each other. We’re empowering leaders. I don’t have to be the only voice in the locker room.”
The Condors took steps in the right direction last fall, improving their record to 4-6 and even reaching 4-1 at one point to secure a spot in the postseason race.
But the obstacles that have kept them out of the postseason for 14 consecutive years remain. To overcome that stigma, you must first reinforce the mindset of believing in one another.
“We felt sorry for ourselves last year when the divisions were changed,” Cuevas said. “We didn’t embrace it. This group isn’t afraid of the challenge. We saw it.”
The next step in becoming a playoff-ready team is to prove that they can not only compete against top teams, but also play football for four quarters.
Four of the Condors’ six losses last year came against playoff teams, two of which reached the Central Coast Section finals in their respective divisions and another of which won a league title.
“We have a lot of trust in each other,” said quarterback AJ Gomez. “The attitude toward conditioning has changed. This group understands that the weight room has to be taken seriously. We are humble and hungry.”
North County actually led in the first half against Seaside last fall, allowing just 14 points to a 9-1 Scotts Valley team in a defense-dominated, physical battle.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to get into a big game,” Cuevas said. “Those were games that were really, really important. The lights were maybe too bright.”
The Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division North was strengthened by the addition of Central Coast Section Division III finalist Alisal, which reached the postseason along with Seaside and league champion Scotts Valley.
“Our effort has increased tremendously,” Cuevas said. “This was the best offseason I’ve ever had. Now it’s about acting in decisive moments and avoiding mistakes. There will be adversity. We’re not afraid of it.”
The Condors’ preseason schedule will bring its challenges as they will face Sobrato as well as state champions Palma and their Gabilan Division nemesis Alvarez.
“We have to get through the first wave of our preseason,” said Cuevas, whose program has suffered five losses in the last two years in which it led in the second half.
There were enough glimpses of the offense last fall to see the potential, especially with the return of Gomez, who is entering his third year at quarterback.
“I have a connection with this group because they are my age,” said Gomez, a multi-sport athlete. “They trust me as the leader of this team.”
Gomez grew into his position last season and provided an aerial attack that produced nearly 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns.
“I think last season we saw some maturity and leadership,” Cuevas said. “AJ steps up and has the team in his hands. He holds the kids accountable. He knows the playbook.”
Reducing turnovers will be crucial to Gomez’s development, especially as he needs to develop good chemistry with his new receivers, including Kenji Mellin, who developed into one of the region’s best basketball players last winter.
“AJ brought in some kids from the basketball team who can run and catch,” Cuevas said. “I see the chemistry developing. We have some athletes on that court.”
The presence of Christopher Rassmussen and Marcos Mendoza in the backfield should take some pressure off Gomez at the start of the season.
Rassmussen is a 6-foot-1, tenacious tailback with tremendous speed who rushed for 801 yards and eight touchdowns last year, while Mendoza rushed for 528 yards.
“Marcos’ body has changed,” Cuevas said. “He looks like a man. He and Chris will get a lot of time. Both guys are an important part of our defense, too.”
With the return of All-Mission Division offensive linemen Arnulfo Jimenez and Hector Pantoja, some gaps should appear for the running game to perform better.
Jimenez spent the offseason improving his speed and endurance in a 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame, giving the Condors a powerful run blocker.
Considered one of the stronger players on the team, Pantoja will help protect Gomez’s blind side when the Condors play down the court as he has the ability to go down the court and lay down another block.
“Because we’ve developed a decent weightlifting program, we’re pretty damn strong,” Cuevas said. “We may not be the most talented. But we have kids who are in good shape now. We have a decent rotation.”
As much potential as the Condors’ offense has to score points and conduct long, time-consuming attacks, the defense needs to reorganize.
The defense kept the Condors in check in most games last fall, holding five teams under 20 points.
“I called the defense last year,” Cuevas said. “We settled on a 3-4 base. We know who we are now. The kids trusted the assessments. We lost some key players. But we are faster and will be more athletic.”
Jimenez is too talented to stay off the field. The senior will likely have to spend his time as a pass rusher on defense.
Rassmussen was a threat on the Condors’ defense last fall, but after losing 20 pounds, he will move to the strong safety position this fall, reducing some of the abuse his body endured last year.
While the Condors’ playoff drought is the second longest in the country, the program’s history paints a different picture.
North County has the second most league titles in county history behind Palma with 13. The pride of the graduates remains undiminished as their children are accepted into the program.
Cuevas is bringing back some of the tradition by returning the 1981 logo to the helmets and jerseys.
“The tradition is there,” Cuevas said. “But we have not been good for the last 25 years. That is the reality. We know the history. But this is a different generation. Give these kids their time. They deserve to have their names called and not their uncle’s. We are starting to climb again.”
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