Delta League includes former league foes, Cypress, Tustin

It will be a reunion of sorts for the Western High football team as they venture into the new season in the realigned league structure. The Pioneers were placed into the Delta League, with former Empire League foes Cypress High and Tustin High.

The Pioneers had a solid run in the Orange League, winning four straight league titles before re-alignment. The Pioneers also won a CIF-SS League Championship in 2018. Recent trends have Head Coach Dan Davidson excited about the new challenges in what should be a tough Delta League race.

“The new league is going to have a playoff atmosphere every game,” Davidson said. “You will have to be playing your best football every night just to compete.”

The Pioneers have some solid experience returning, including on the line, where seniors Joel Perez, Carlos Chavarria and Brandon Solloy are expected to anchor the front. Perez has offers from New Mexico State and Portland State.

They will be the front line protection for sophomore quarterback Chance Thomas, a newcomer who brings a duel threat to the attack. He will be offset by a run game that has returning senior RB Malachi Alatorre, who is looking to build off last year’s 696 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He also had 18 receptions with another five touchdowns. Two key receiving threats will be Julian Amezcua and slot receiver Jaden Reyes. Amezcua had 55 receptions for 847 yards and 11 touchdowns. Alatorre and Amezcua were both key contributors on defense.

Senior defensive tackle James Flores will anchor the defensive line and senior linebacker JoJo Klein should be a major factor for the defense. Junior linebacker Jacob Taylor is also expected to help shore up the linebacker corp.

Although just a sophomore, Thomas is already getting attention at quarterback, from colleges. The Pioneers have some other young newcomers who could be impact players, including wide receivers Christian Rojas and Maxwell Young.

Tight end Mark Williams and RB Maikai Hayes could also contribute to what Davidson expects to be a tough offense to contain.

“I believe we are going to have a high-powered fast pace offense that is going to try and attack defense with speed and pace,” Davidson said.

Williams will also be called upon to help shore up the defense at the safety position. The line and linebackers also have experience and know how to play as units.

“Team speed and playing as a unit will be our strength,” Davidson said of the defense.

The Pioneers open the season with a tough game against Los Alamitos High of the new Alpha League. The game will be Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. at John Barnes Field, on the Los Alamitos High campus. The Pioneers will open Delta League play on Oct. 4 at Capistrano Valley High, a team that went 7-3 last year, with all three losses coming in the South Coast League against Mission Viejo, San Clemente and Tesoro.