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Published on 08/31/1998 All articles from this issue

Foothill has speed, but lacks experience

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By Pete Borello

Town Crier Staff Writer

College football preview

There won't be a need for speed at Foothill College. The school's football team seems to have plenty of that this year.

"We have some of the best team speed we've ever had here," said seventh-year coach Marshall Sperbeck.

Sperbeck hopes speed can help make up for inexperience. The Owls return just eight starters - four on each side of the ball - and 20 players in all.

The rest of the 65-man roster consists of freshmen, many of whom will have a hand in Foothill's fortunes this year.

Heading the freshman class is quarterback Travis Cole. The Oregon native watched from the sidelines last year as a red shirt. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he's among the biggest quarterbacks in the Coast Conference.

"He's a very good athlete and has a strong arm," Sperbeck said. "But he still needs to learn the position."

One of three freshmen will set up behind Cole at halfback: Johnny Gray (of Gunn High), Donte Fairley or Peter Harris.

"That position is still up for grabs," Sperbeck said last week. "Each player has his own kind of style."

The offensive line is bigger this year, the coach said, especially with 6-foot-7, 310-pound George Casey at tackle.

"He's a solid player," Sperbeck said. "He's got a lot of good football ahead of him."

The receiving corps boasts talented returning players Errol Johnson and T.C. Everett. Johnson, a Palo Alto High grad, was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 1997. Among those providing depth at receiver is David Gaskins, a standout at Mountain View High last year.

Defensively, the Owls are led by linebacker John Noga. The brother of former NFL player Al Noga, John made the all-conference team a year ago.

Sperbeck said other key players on defense include end Bo Gerth of Homestead High and safeties Tyler Kemhus and Jason Stumpf. Also keep an eye on tackle Luke Young, end Branch Nautu and linebacker Antoine Youngblood - "a real speed guy," Sperbeck said.

While the coach said he likes the talent on this year's squad, he wouldn't guarantee a better record than last year's 6-5 mark.

"I hate to say it, but we have to take it one game at a time," Sperbeck said. "This is a good group of kids who have the right attitude and work really hard, which is definitely encouraging. But we're going to go through some growing pains. We'll just have to see how they progress."

The Owls will face their first test of the year at 7 p.m. Saturday when American River comes to Foothill for the season opener.