2017 Rancho Football Capsule

RANCHO

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: Gary Maki, first season

2016 record: 0-9 (0-4 Northwest League, fifth)

Returning lettermen: Seven

Returning starters: One offense, three defense

Base offensive set: Spread

Base defensive set: 3-4

Top offensive players: OL Adrian Brown (Sr.)

Top defensive players: DL Adrian Brown (sr.); Alex Bramasco (Jr.); Mauricio Coya (Sr.): DL Ethan Overson (Jr.)

Top newcomers: RB Jeremiah Bell (Sr.); QB Kendrick Nieves (Sr.)

Key losses: Ed Samano; Jordan Betts

Outlook: Maki returns to Rancho after coaching Del Sol for the past four seasons. He was head coach at Rancho from 2004 to 2007, and looks to add some stability as he becomes the fourth head coach in four seasons for the Rams.

Maki’s goals are simple. He’s looking to improve and field teams at all three levels (varsity, junior varsity and freshman).

There’s nowhere to go but up for Rancho, which was outscored 401-50 last season. The Rams scored in double digits only once, and were shut out three times.

Last year’s team finished the season with only 17 players, and the Rams have gone 3-42 over the past five seasons.

“In changing the culture, we’re working hard to field three teams, which has only been done once here in the last five years,” Maki said. “They cannot get better if they aren’t playing.

“After that, we hope to win a few games to make Rancho Rams football relevant once more.”