2014 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #5 Eastlake Titans

 

#5 Eastlake Titans

Location: Chula Vista, CA

School Colors: Royal Blue, Kelly Green, & Silver

Division: I

League: Metro-Mesa

Championships: 2 (Section), 9 (League)

Head Coach: Lee Price (1st Season)

2013 Recap: 10-2 (4-0 Metro-Mesa League Champions)

 

After dropping it's season opener, Eastlake rolled to a 10-game win streak going into their Open Division semifinal contest against Oceanside. With a 30-7 halftime lead, it looked as if the Titans had a trip to the Open Division Championship in the bag. Unfortunately the Pirates rallied back with a 26-0 second half run including a game-winning field goal with four seconds left to play, putting an end to the Titans' championship hopes and a stellar season.

Early Outlook

 

After 14 seasons as Eastlake's head football coach, John McFadden decided to step aside and hand the task over to Lee Price, who served as his assistant throughout the entire tenure. Under the direction of McFadden, the Titans earned nine league titles and its only two section championship wins in program history.

Price will be without eight all-league selections from last season, including the Metro-Mesa League's offensive and defensive players of the year (Isiah Olave & Keifer Graham). On the bright side, the offense returns it's quarterback (Izzack Morales) and two rushers who went over 1,000 yards last season (Isaiah Strayhorn & Traylon Reed).

The biggest concern will be the lack of experience on the offensive and defensive lines. With over a dozen senior linemen moving on, young players will be asked to step up and fill those voids.

 

Impact Losses

 
LB Nasser Ali
OL Wes Braddock
LB Keifer Graham
OL/DL Mathieu Lao
DB/RB Isiah Olave
DL Emilio Rodriguez
DE Issak Santos
LB Mason Saurer
 

Impact Returners
 
Senior DB Santiago Andujo 6'0" 176lbs
- 2013 Metro-Mesa League First-Team Defense

Junior RB Traylon Reed 6'0" 205lbs 
- 2013 Metro-Mesa League First-Team Offense
- Rushed for 1,063 yards & 10 touchdowns.

Senior RB Isaiah Strayhorn 5'8" 180lbs
- 2013 All-CIF San Diego First-Team Offense
- 2013 Metro-Mesa League First-Team Offense
- Rushed for 1,273 yards & 14 touchdowns last season.
 
Junior DE Nate Sweat 5'11" 190lbs
- Recorded 57 total tackles (37 solo) & six sacks last season.
 

2014 Schedule

 
August 29 vs. Desert Ridge (Mesa, AZ)
September 5 @ Vista
September 11 vs. Los Alamitos (CA) at Long Beach
September 19 vs. #9 Madison
September 26 @ #2 St. Augustine
October 3 vs. #4 Cathedral Catholic
October 17 @ Chula Vista*
October 24 vs. Bonita Vista*
October 31 @ Olympian* (#)
November 7 vs. Otay Ranch*

* League Opponent
(#) Rivalry Game
 

Sources

Cal Preps
East County Sports
Max Preps
Partleton Sports
U-T San Diego