Western Christian enjoys turnaround (sgvtribune.com)
Posted October 16th, 2008 in Athletics, High School Comments Off
By John Sherrard, Correspondent
SGVTribune.com Article Launched: 10/15/2008 11:43:33 PM PDT
COVINA – Coaching changes, field changes and an old oak tree are the symbols of the football team at Western Christian High School, where a new on-campus football field goes hand-in-hand with the Lancers’ sudden turnaround.
The infamous tree sits along the eastern sideline and gives a warm feel to a team enjoying surprising success after going 3-7 a year ago.
The Lancers are 5-0 and off to their best start in more than 20 years heading into Saturday’s 11 a.m. showdown at home against undefeated Riverside Christian (5-0).
Western Christian, ranked No. 7 in the CIF-Southern Section East Valley Division, has lopsided victories over Gladstone (45-27) and Bloomington Christian (49-14). It also beat Sierra Vista (35-28).
Riverside Christian, however, is No. 2 in the CIF-SS Northeast Division, and the game marks the beginning of a brutal stretch of games for the Lancers.
Following Saturday’s game, top-ranked East Valley Division opponent St. Margaret’s visits the Lancers. The final three games finish out the regular season in the tough Christian League.
Those five teams have a combined record of 22-4.
“The rest of the games are all big games for us,” said Rob Castaneda, the Lancers’ first-year coach who was quarterbacks coach at St. Paul last year.
Everyone is discussing football these days at the nine-acre campus, a converted middle school since 1980 located adjacent to Royal Oak Intermediate School in Covina.
The oak tree was trimmed after it was hanging over the field of play. The hill it is on had to be partially cut back to make room for the field.
A new state-of-the-art scoreboard, donated by a school booster, stands in the northeast corner of the field on a storage container.
“It’s a great feeling to be here right now,” Castaneda said. “It’s almost a sense of innocence on campus. A small-town feel to the campus … a family atmosphere.”
Western Christian’s last league title came in 2001, when it finished 9-2-1 and reached the divisional quarterfinals.
Castaneda had hoped to change the culture at Western Christian and was hoping to lead the Lancers into contention for a league title. It appears Castaneda has his team headed toward those goals.
Assisting Castaneda is his son Tim, who heads up the offensive line.
Another big reason for the Lancers’ success is sophomore running back Ryan Salausa, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound transfer from Rowland.
Salausa has 835 yards and 13 touchdowns on 118 carries. He also has 19 tackles and 15 assists at linebacker.
“Ryan is a coach’s dream,” Castaneda said. “Anything you ask him to do, it’s 110 percent. He’s an explosive runner and he is so smooth in his transitions.”
With Salausa’s emergence, junior quarterback Alex Beaton hasn’t been as busy. He’s thrown for 478 yards and five touchdowns a year after throwing for 2,200 yards.
“It takes a load off of me,” Beaton said of Salausa’s success. “On any play he can take it to the house.”
Beaton’s favorite target last season was receiver Reed Covington (16 receptions).
Covington, a senior, has five catches and a touchdown. He’s also a defensive back and has one interception, which he returned 58 yards for a touchdown. He also brought back a punt 82 yards for a score.
“This year we have all new coaches and they have taught us how to win.” Beaton said. “It feels great to be part of the excitement.”
