2016 Rancho Football Capsule

RANCHO

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: Stan Davis, first season

2015 record: 3-6 (Independent)

Returning lettermen: Nine

Returning starters: Four offense, five defense

Base offensive set: Pro set

Base defensive set: 4-3

Top offensive players: RB Angel Walker (Sr.); OG Gabriel Dorantes (Sr.)

Top defensive players: MLB Jordan Betts (Sr.); S Eddie Samano (Sr.)

Outlook: Davis takes over for Tom Pletsch, who won three games in his lone season. The Rams had lost 30 in a row prior to a 34-14 victory over Valley.

Davis said the team is trying to replace the leadership of its graduated seniors.

Rancho played an independent schedule last season, but jumps back into the state’s largest classification this year. But the Northeast League isn’t a terrible spot to break in. Among the league’s five teams, only Las Vegas High won more than three games last season.

Davis hopes the team can battle this season, but his eye still is on building the program for the future.

“The kids will be competitive this year, but it’s still a long way to go,” Davis said. “We’ve still got a long way to go as far as the culture, the numbers. It’s going to take a minute. When you’re building a program like Rancho from the ground up, it’s a three-, four-year project.”