Vikings could be improved

The summer yielded good returns and the fall could prove to be another stepping stone for the Marina High football team, which begins its second year under Coach George Pascoe.

The return of several skill players has the veteran coach feeling optimistic about the 2011 season, which begins Friday with a trip to north San Diego County to face La Costa Canyon in Carlsbad. The Vikings have a powerful rusher in senior Alex Waked and several talented athletes on each side of the ball.

Below is a capsule look at the 2011 Vikings:

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League: Sunset

Head coach: George Pascoe (second year, 3-7; lifetime 69-76-2)

Coaching staff: Daniel Falkenstein (defensive coordinator); Anthony McLawyer (inside linebackers); Billy Uren (outside linebackers); Andy Bonsall (defensive line); Matt Brennen (quarterbacks); Turill Engleman (running backs); Andrew Swett (offensive line); Paul Brown (wide receivers).

2010 record: 3-7

2010 league results: 0-5 (sixth)

2010 CIF playoffs: Did not qualify

Type of offense: Spread; off-balance run/pass

Type of defense: 3-4

Returning starters: 4 offense/4 defense

Returning with honors: Alex Waked (first-team all-league); Izak Faoa (second-team all-league); Brayde Hill (second-team all-league).

Players to watch: Deshon Champion (QB, Jr.); Shane Green (QB, Soph.); Cory Robb (QB, Jr.); Alex Waked (RB/DB, Sr.; rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2010); Adam Anunciation (RB/DB, Jr.); Nate Asoau (RB/OLB, Sr.); Logan Surace (RB/LB, Sr.); Nathaniel Gonzalez (RB, Soph.); Casey Coffman (OL, Jr.); Mike Abdelmalek (OL, Sr.); Rick Merchant (OL/DL, Sr.); Izak Faoa (OL/DL, Jr.); Dan Pantuso (OL/DE, Sr.); Brayde Hill (WR, Sr.; 200-plus yard game last year vs. Huntington Beach); Andrew Prichard (WR/CB, Sr.); Eli Cabaccang (WR/CB, Jr.); Luke Fragale (TE/LB, Sr.); Scott Reed (WR/DB, Sr.); Dominic Surace (DL, Jr.); Tucker Olivito (MLB, Jr.); Austin Soika (S, Soph.); Cooper Davies (transfer from Huntington Beach; frosh/soph track champion).

Coach’s outlook: “We had a good summer, no injuries,” Pascoe said. “We competed hard in all areas of the game, from the weight room to the field. Practice is and was the hard part of their day. We have many skill players returning and should be able to move the ball. If both lines develop, we should win a few games. Our defense continues to get better and may keep us in games.”

Nonleague look: “We start with a long trip to La Costa Canyon and they are very good,” Pascoe said. “Then, we return to play O.C. power Kennedy, followed by the ‘Black and Blue’ game with Westminster. We finish (nonleague) with Warren and Aliso Viejo. There are games we should win and games that will be hard to win; either way, it only makes us better as we enter league play.”

Season opener: 7 p.m. Friday at La Costa Canyon

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2011 Schedule

Friday: at La Costa Canyon, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: at Kennedy, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: at Westminster, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23: Warren, 7 p.m.

Sept. 30: at Aliso Niguel, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: at *Huntington Beach, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: *Edison, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28: vs *Fountain Valley, 7 p.m.

(at Huntington Beach High)

Nov. 3: vs. *Newport Harbor, 7 p.m.

Nov. 10: vs. *Los Alamitos, 7 p.m.

(Home games played at Westminster High)

* Denotes Sunset League game