Here’s a position-by-position look at the Eagles, who start the season at Aquinas of San Bernardino on Friday at 7 p.m.
Quarterback: Estancia has last year’s starter back. Radames Gutierrez still had to earn the job even after helping the Eagles reach the playoffs.
The senior signal-caller still had to beat out junior Alek Kirshner, who Bargas described as more cerebral.
“He’s a senior. He’s had a half a season and a playoff [game] in him,” said Bargas of Gutierrez, who threw for 496 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions, and collected second-team, all-league honors. “Hopefully he’ll take command.”
One thing Bargas learned during his first year is to make sure the backup is ready, or backups.
Gutierrez went down with an ankle injury following Mike Morley’s elbow injury.
“We even tried an outside linebacker,” Bargas said. “We’re bringing up a sophomore in Jonathan Diego. I wouldn’t be that afraid of putting him in there as well.”
Running backs: Does Carlos Mendez have another record-breaking season in him?
The 5-foot-7, 162-pounder ran for a school-best 1,584 yards as a junior. Not too bad for a player missing his sophomore season due to being academically ineligible.
“I never expected to break records,” said Mendez, the league’s Co-MVP. “I think I was a surprise. I think [opponents are] going to be ready for me.”
The workload might not be as high as last year’s 283 carries.
Bargas plans on Mendez giving up carries to juniors Alan Gutierrez and Alex Avalos, a transfer from McLane of Fresno.
