Wednesday, August 10, 2016

2016 Prep Football Preseason Rankings: #7 LCC Mavericks

La Costa Canyon field art via Google Maps

#7 La Costa Canyon Mavericks

Location: Carlsbad, CA
School Colors: Green, Midnight Blue, & Gold
Division: I
League: Avocado
Championships: 1 (Section), 6 (League)
Head Coach: Sean Sovacool (7th Season)

2015 Recap: 7-4 (2-2 Avocado West, T-2nd)

A 5-1 start included wins over eventual state champion Rancho Bernardo and then-undefeated El Camino, but a five-game win streak was ended with a double overtime loss to arch-rival Carlsbad. En route to their second Open Division playoff bid in team history, the Mavericks went on to earn another signature win by knocking off 8-0 Westview, but their season ended with an opening round shutout by Mission Hills.


2016 Outlook

Offensively, La Costa Canyon's roster will feature top tier athletes with serious home run potential.

For the third straight season, duel-threat Tanner Clark will get the starting nod at quarterback for the Mavericks.

He’ll be assisted by some great depth at running back, namely senior fullback Victor Epstein, and Zach Goodkin, a three-year varsity starter who racked up over 1,100 total yards as a rusher and receiver last year.

Clark will also have an explosive target in 6-foot-2 wideout Jake Cashman.

Offensive line play and depth could be an issue. While LCC returns senior Evan Atkin, he’ll be the only returning starter up front.

“There are some other seniors and underclassman that will need to develop in a hurry,” head coach Sean Sovacool says.

Reigning team defensive MVP Harper Engemann will anchor a secondary that is also lacking depth.

“We have a solid starting group, but next to no experience behind them,” says Sovacool. “We’ll need to have guys from last year’s undefeated JV and freshmen teams to step up and fill roles.”

Fortunately for La Costa Canyon, the defensive front seven won’t have those issues. The linebacking corp returns three seniors that will be backed up by three juniors who played on the 10-0 JV squad.

The Mavericks also possess a solid defensive line that is expected to rotate up to six guys.

“Not a ton of size, but we will get after it on defense,” Savacool assured.


* League Opponent
(R) Revenge Game
(#) Rivalry Game

Impact Losses

OL Jake Cesear
LB Cade Jackson
LB Jett O’Brien
OL Carson Sutherland

Impact Returners

WR Jake Cashman
Averaged 15.9 yards per catch in 2015

Senior QB Tanner Clark
1,257 yards passing, 466 yards rushing, & 18 total TDs in 2015

Senior FB Victor Epstein
Started every game in 2015

Senior WR/RB Zach Goodkin
1,107 all-purpose yards & 8 total TDs in 2015
Ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash

Senior FS Harper Engemann
4 total tackles, 4 INTs, & 4 pass breakups in 2015

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