High Desert Football Preview: Sultana has sight set on competing for the Mojave River League title
Entering his second season as head coach at Sultana, Terry Cleveland said he’s not holding anything back.
Ending last season in third place, going blow-for-blow with both Apple Valley and Oak Hills as well as making the playoffs for the first time since 2018 sounds like a successful first season at the helm.
That's not how Cleveland sees it.
“We don’t see that as success,” Cleveland said. “With all due respect to everyone in our league, all we want to do is win league this year. That’s our goal, there’s no holding back. Yeah, those games against Apple and Oak were close, but I feel we could have played those games better. We weren’t used to playing those kinds of games like we did last year. But having that experience now, it gives us the confidence to know that we aren’t playing just to hang, but playing to win.”
Once in the playoffs, the Sultana offense had its way with Ontario Christian in the first-round game, scoring 55 points. But Sultana’s defense coughed up 57 points.
“Anytime you score 55 points in a playoff game you shouldn’t lose,” Cleveland said. “But that’s what happens when you can’t stop the run. We gave up about 400 yards on the ground to Ontario Christian that night. You don’t deserve to win a game giving up 400 rushing yards. Last year all we did was practice against ourselves, and we didn’t have a running game. Not too many schools pass like us so we weren’t prepared to stop the run.”
The return of David Booth, currently Sultana’s baseball head coach, to the team as defensive coordinator will be key, Cleveland said.
“In the past, with David leading the defense, Sultana was always solid and able to stop the run,” Cleveland said.
Such a potent offense
The offense is in good shape for the foreseeable future with Jacob Higgs back for his junior season. Higgs, who was named the offensive Daily Press Player of the Year last year, completed 153 of 283 passes for 2,854 yards, with 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
A dual threat, Higgs was essentially Sultana’s ground game as well, taking 110 carries for 923 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“Man, Jake is really progressing and is ready for this year,” Cleveland said. “He’s stayed grounded after his last two great seasons. And after the way last year ended, I know he wants to do more. If he’s anywhere close to what he did last year, that would be great, but if it’s more than what he did last year, that would just be crazy.”
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Corey Cabriales, who earned a spot on the All-MRL First Team, along with Elijah Crook and Alexander Hastings each graduated from the school back in May. The trio of receivers combined for 1,741 yards last year.
But Higgs' top target in LaMason Waller III is also back for his junior season. Waller caught 64 passes last year, which went for 1,057 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Over the last two seasons, the two have connected for 1,542 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Despite losing three key receivers, Cleveland believes Sultana might be stronger at the position with the additions of brothers Cameron and Jordan Ortega, transfers from Apple Valley, along with the progression of Joey De Leon, a junior who is listed at 6-foot-2.
“Those guys are so athletic and I don’t think teams will really be able to double team Waller this year,” Cleveland said. “Offensively, I feel we have grown this offseason. We’ve been working on our running game. We don’t want to be in that situation where Higgs is our actual running game.”
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Sultana will rely on two returners to the offensive line to protect Higgs, but there are two holes at right guard and center as Angel Juarez and Matthew Estep both graduated.
Donovan Shaw returns to man the right tackle, Higgs’ blindside, while Caleb Pele will anchor the left tackle position.
“They are both agile guys. Shaw is one of those under-the-radar guys that is simply a beast. He’s been starting for us since his freshman year. And Caleb is just as big and quick on his feet. We’ve got those holes on the line. Like a few other positions we have guys that will be playing under the lights for the first time. So we tell them when the lights turn on, they gotta turn up.”
Team schedule
Aug. 18 — Sultana at Lancaster, 7 p.m.
Aug. 25 — Liberty at Sultana, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 — Sultana at Poly (Riverside), 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 — La Quinta at Sultana, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 — St. Francis at Sultana, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 — Sultana at Apple Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 — Burroughs at Sultana, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12 — Serrano at Sultana, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 — Sultana at Oak Hills, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 — Hesperia at Sultana, 7 p.m.
Editor's note — The Daily Press is putting together a comprehensive High Desert high school football preview for the 2023 season. This is the ninth story in a series that will continue until the start of the season.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Sultana has sight set on competing for the Mojave River League title
