HS football preview: California
Expectations haven鈥檛 changed at California
Consistency has been a key to Ed Woods鈥� high school coaching career.
That鈥檚 how he likes it and it remains the cornerstone of his and the California Trojans鈥� success.
鈥淢y expectations are the same every year,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淚 mean, I expect us to win the conference and I expect us to have success in the playoffs as well. I mean expectations don鈥檛 change, only players do.
鈥淚鈥檒l tell you what I鈥檓 very excited about the group this season. The kids are working hard in the weight room and we鈥檙e going to (continue). I saw some nice results in there this year, and on the field the kids are working hard.鈥�
The Tri-County South Conference will again feature Avella, Bentworth, Beth-Center, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene, in addition to the Trojans.
In 2024, California finished 8-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play. The Trojans finished as the TCS runnerup after a narrow losslate in the regular season to Jefferson-Morgan.
The Trojans upended Laurel in the first-round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs before bowing out in the quarterfinals.
California had a high-powered offense, averaging 37.5 points per game. The Trojans allowed 18.2 points per game.
The Class A playoff system remains the same as last season. Sixteen playoff spots are available. Playoff berths will be based on team records using conference games, the top three teams in each section qualify for a playoff spot plus four at-large bids, determined by the football committee.
The Trojans are expected to again battle Jefferson-Morgan for the top spot and last season鈥檚 loss to the Rockets is a huge motivation.
鈥淲ell, it鈥檚 definitely motivation,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been discussed already.鈥�
California鈥檚 roster isn鈥檛 huge but it is dotted with talent and possibilities.
One of the main attractions is senior Malachi Peak (6-0, 231), a running back-defensive end. Peak was a complimentary running back a year ago to the Trojans鈥� Lee Qualk, a 2,000-yard rusher. Peak ran for 436 yards and averaged 8.9 yards per carry. He should get a larger workload this fall.
鈥淢alachi has been known for defense but he鈥檚 on both sides of the ball now,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淗e played some fullback last year and played a little tailback. So far, his strength has been defensive end but I think that he鈥檚 going to have a breakout year as a tailback this year for us. He looks great and is working hard.鈥�
Others who could shine for the Trojans are sophomore fullback-linebacker Brayden Crockett (5-9,205), junior wide receiver-linebacker Elijah Carpenter (6-1, 212), junior offensive lineman-linebacker Colton Lowden (6-1, 212), senior fullback-linebacker Landon Abercrombie (5-10, 191), senior quarterback-defensive back Logan Hartley (6-3, 190) and senior offensive lineman-defensive end Noah Layhue (6-5, 240).
鈥淣oah has really come a long way in one year in the weight room,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淗e put on a lot of weight and he鈥檚 a wrestler, too. So, it鈥檚 kind of tough for him, with his weight. I think he really decided that he wants to try and play college football. It shows by the way that he鈥檚 taking care of his body. I鈥檓 looking for big things from him on both sides of the football.鈥�
Hartley had to attempt only 71 passes a year ago in the Trojans鈥� run-oriented offense. Nine of those attempts went for touchdowns.
Woods also identified junior running back-linebacker Chase Shemansky (6-0, 165), sophomore running back-defensive back Alan Dennis (6-0, 180) as potential key contributors this season and beyond.
Woods pointed to Abercrombie, who plays fullback and inside linebacker. And to Hartley, the Trojans鈥� quarterback as plays who could take on larger roles.
鈥淚鈥檓 expecting Abercrombie to have a solid year on both sides of the ball, and then we have our returning quarterback back, Logan Hartley, and we鈥檙e expecting him to improve this year,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淐hase Shemansky is another guy who has played a lot of slot receiver but also plays an outside linebacker position. I think he鈥檚 going to have a nice year. Eli Carpenter, another receiver-outside linebacker kid who played a lot last year. We鈥檙e expecting a lot out of him. Colton Lowden, who we moved from tight end to offensive tackle, is also playing linebacker.鈥�