Experienced Quarterback, New Head Coach Lead Wilson High Football

Any time a high school football team returns its star starting quarterback and nearly every offensive linemen, it's considered a good thing. Wilson High has such an advantage, and it hopes that strength can lead to bigger and better things in a tough Moore League that includes Long Beach Poly and Lakewood.

With four out of five offensive linemen and third-year starting quarterback Brett Harper all returning this season, Wilson will look for better protection in its shotgun spread offense – and a playoff berth.

With only one other returning skill player this season, wide receiver Chris Jiannino, protection will be even more vital to a Bruins team that finished fourth in the Moore League at 3-3 (5-6 overall) last season. Long Beach Wilson lost 63-34 to perennial powerhouse Mission Viejo in the first round of the CIF-SS Pac 5 Division Playoffs. The Bruins came within a dropped touchdown pass in the end zone in the final minute from beating Long Beach Jordan and taking third place in league.

“They’ve played all the big dogs,” said first-year head coach John Janzen, who was the offensive coordinator under former head coach Mario Morales, who resigned this past spring in part due to layoffs at the school. “Last year we got our butt kicked a couple times. That motivated us all… I like what we’re doing up front on both sides of the ball … (but) up front, we didn’t always protect our quarterback. That’s something we’ve been working on all summer.”

The Bruins also hired a new defensive coordinator, Carlos Lara, as Scott Meyer left to become the new head coach at Corona del Mar. Lara, a former coach at Long Beach Poly, is the brother of Raul Lara, the head coach at Long Beach Poly. Wilson is going from a three down linemen, five-linebacker attack to more of a multiple-front, 4-3 or 5-2 front.

However, the group is untested, with middle linebacker Chase Allred and cornerback Marcus Rausch, both first team all-league players, as the only two returners. Allred led the team with six sacks and he was second on the team with 88 total tackles (Former senior Jede Fue led with 126 total tackles), and Rausch had 54 tackles with a team-high three interceptions.

“They’ve had a great offseason,” Janzen said of the defense. “They’ve bought into what we’re doing.”

Harper missed two games last season and considerable time in games against Cabrillo and Millikan, with a fractured hand and an injured left shoulder. He was still able to throw for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions, and 320 rushing yards with two touchdowns, in nine games started. His best game was against Jordan, as he went 17-for-32 with 367 yards with five TDs and two picks.

“Our offensive line is all coming back,” Harper said. “I was disappointed. I thought we could have done a little better. We’re always that average team that can do better. Our run game looks a lot better and we’ve got depth at receiver.”

Janzen is also expecting big things from Harper.

“He’s the leader of our offense,” Janzen said. “I like our athletic ability from our skill positions. We’re kind of unproven under the Friday night lights.”

Garion Manning is a huge loss, as he caught 61 passes for 1,143 yards and 13 TDs, including three TDs and 11 receptions for 219 yards against Mission Viejo. Malcolm Smith, a transfer player, and Jiannino, who saw limited time last year, will start at receiver.

The four returning offensive linemen include all-league honorable mention left tackle senior Colby Wiest, center Austin Lyse, a first team all-league player, right guard Jake Armstrong and right tackle Jeff Gray.

Sophomore left guard Bruce Yun, who will also play defensive tackle, is a key newcomer. Wiest will play defensive tackle, Gray will play defensive end.

Last season was the first year starting for many of the linemen.

“We’re experienced, but we’re also inexperienced,” Wiest said. “We’ve got to help him (Yun) pick up the slack. I love run blocking. Pass blocking is not our strongest suit. If they (the skill players) do the little things, we could easily be 10-0, guaranteed. Nothing prepares you for that level unless you play at that level.”

Other two-way skill players include Tony “TJ” Lindsay as a running back and cornerback, along with Damon “DJ” Wade as a competitor for the starting running back job, and he’s the starting strong safety.

Louis Smith is the tight end.

The defense also includes defensive end J’Quan Hawkins at defensive end, Taylor Griswold and Jordan Maxwell flanking Allred as the outside linebackers, and Derrick Norman at free safety.

“We’re doing pretty well,” Allred said. “We have a good defensive line. We switch it up, but it’s still just defense, it’s pursue and kill.”