The high-profile running back, the playmaking wide receiver, the lock-you-down cornerback—all have taken their talents to the next level.
It’s a new season for the Newbury Park High football team, a year of significant change sprinkled with optimism, anticipation and chest-pounding pride.
While the Panthers won’t be able to replicate supreme talents such as Cameron Roberson, Phillip Muscarella or Nelson Duarte, a new crop of senior leaders is rapidly emerging.
“We lost a lot of seniors, but our JV and freshman teams both did really well last year, and we have a lot of those players up now,” said senior quarterback Jake Geringer, a three-year starter.
“To me, we’re looking as good as we ever have. We might not be as experienced, but when some of the guys get used to the varsity level, we’re going to be just fine, as successful as ever.”
Make no mistake, this is Geringer’s team. He is, with all due respect to Reggie Jackson, the straw that stirs the drink in Panther Land.
Following a junior campaign in which he completed 159-of- 248 passes for 2,229 yards with 21 touchdowns and a mere four interceptions, Geringer’s name is on the short list of top signal-callers in Ventura County.
His career record as a starter at Newbury Park is 17-6, and a hodgepodge of college recruiters have already honed in on the 6-foot-3, 200-pound gunslinger.
Geringer realizes, of course, that the 2010 squad’s ultimate success depends not so much on his right arm but on how the big boys along the offensive line hold up when the bullets start to fly on Friday nights.
“The whole season depends on them,” the quarterback said. “We can’t do anything if the line doesn’t play well. We can’t run the ball and we can’t pass the ball. I’m hoping those guys can play like others have in the past.”
Which brings us to a pair of senior linemen—offensive tackle Andrew Gessler and center Robert Chen.
At 6-foot-5, 305 pounds and sporting a 15 ½ size shoe, Gessler is a mountain of a man.
A two-year varsity member, Gessler is expected to start at left tackle. If need be, he can also slide over to the right side.
“I’m sort of a quiet, shy guy,” Gessler said. “But I’m very protective. I always want to make sure (Geringer) is safe and that he doesn’t get hurt. If you’ve seen the movie “The Blind Side,” that’s pretty much what I do.”
Although somewhat undersized at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, Chen is a critical two-way starter for NPHS. In addition to his role at center, Chen also competes at defensive end along the Panthers’ base 3-4 front.
Survey the players and coaching staff and it’s difficult to find someone that doesn’t enjoy being around Chen. He’s one of those guys that teammates radiate to, often because of his side-splitting sense of humor.
“You have to be approachable,” Chen said. “You don’t want to be that guy that people don’t want to talk to.”
Chen and Geringer often work together after practice, taking snaps and getting their timing down. Hoping to build a rhythm for the fall, the center accompanied the team’s skill players to a slew of summer passing camps.
If Gessler is the soft-spoken big man and Chen the outgoing overachiever, senior defensive end/running back Calvin Carter may very well be the Panthers’ pit bull.
Carter, who tallied 18 tackles and a pair of sacks while starting as a junior, could be poised for a monster year. A speed rusher by nature, the 6-foot, 200-pound lineman salivates at the thought of putting opposing quarterbacks on their keisters.
“My goal is to be faster than every offensive lineman out there,” Carter said. “I have a defensive attitude 24/7. I beat them with speed.”
Last but certainly not least is senior Dakota Dunlea, a wide receiver/safety/kick returner/possible kicker.
The team’s third-leading passcatcher a season ago when he hauled in 28 receptions for 440 yards and three scores, Dunlea brings the type of self-confidence every football team longs for.
Does Dunlea consider himself Geringer’s go-to wideout?
“Absolutely,” Dunlea said. “And I love every bit of it.”
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 185 pounds with a long, flowing mane, Dunlea relishes the challenge of competing against top-ranked programs like Westlake, St. Bonaventure, Oaks Christian and Thousand Oaks.
Talking with him, in fact, one senses the sentiment that anything short of an undefeated season, CIF-Southern Section title and state championship would be a sour disappointment.
To shock the county and get Newbury Park to the top of the pack, Dunlea knows he’ll have to develop into the ultimate leader, both on and off the gridiron.
“I feel like I’ve been leading physically by setting the tone with things in the gym,” Dunlea said. “But I’m going to get in guys’ heads more as the season comes along, as we put the pads on. As the season changes, I’m going to change a lot, too. . . .
“Offensively, I feel like we can move the ball on anybody. And defensively, we fly around and get after people. We have a lot of talented guys, and I know we can compete with anyone.”
Different personalities with similar goals. Newbury Park’s season kicks off in three weeks. Buckle your chinstrap. It’s going to be a wild ride.
