Brandon Harris has coached long enough in San Diego and three other states that when the Poway High head football position opened up, he immediately applied. He recognized the potential.
Now he can hardly wait to get going.
“Let’s line them up, let’s go,” said the 55-year-old Harris, who was named the head coach last winter and immediately set out to establish a standard of excellence, from the weight room to the film room to the classroom.
“Good coaches establish their own culture. We can’t get there without everybody buying in — players, the coaching staff, istration, teachers, even the dining hall staff.
“Any time you have change, there’s always going to be some pushback, but we are now 100 percent unanimous on what we want and how to get there. We’ve instituted a lot of enthusiasm, and everybody has bought in.
“The players are hungry, willing to do the work and enthusiastic. I thought we were competitive in 7 on 7 this summer and now I can’t wait to see the result.”
Mind you, Harris is aware that the Titans a year ago went 3-8 — losing seven straight games toward the end of the season. Those aren’t the numbers he’s looking at, though. That’s ancient history.
He likes the fact that the weight room program he instituted right after he arrived has produced bigger, stronger players up front to go with experience at key skill positions like quarterback, running back and wide receiver.
All-League quarterback Ty Hurst is a good starting point after he ed for 1,161 yards, completing 75 of 160 attempts, including 11 touchdowns against just six interceptions. At 6-foot-5, 190-pounds he is strong and durable.
It won’t hurt that No. 1 receiver and another All-Avocado player, Jake Davy, returns for his senior year after catching 25 es for 370 yards a year ago, a half-dozen of which went for touchdowns.
Even giant target James Clifford, a 6-7, 215-pound tight end, got in the act as he grabbed 14 es for 185 yards as a sophomore.
Varsity wide receivers Colin McCann (6-0, 185) and Jake Asdal (5-9, 175) are available to lend their experience along with newcomers Trevor Trimble and Mathew Thomas.
Opponents won’t be able to focus on an established ing attack, however, as last season’s leading rusher, junior Luke Jorgensen, who gained 728 yards on 131 carries, scoring eight times, returns and at 6-foot, 185-pounds, is tough to bring down.
Focus on Jorgensen and you just might see Jake Tsay carry the ball, as he did for 325 yards on 25 carries — six of which ended up in the end zone.
Oh, and when the Titans score, a fifth All-Leaguer and 5-star recruit, kicker Tyler Hughes, may be the best in the section. All he did was convert 18 of 18 extra points and all seven field goal attempts, with a long of 46 yards.
A lot will depend on how the line, offensively and defensively, comes around, but there to anchor the group both ways is 6-4, 230-pound starter Bobby McKay as well as newcomers like Thomas (6-4, 275), Jake Jaworski (6-4, 265) and Hillery Delonte (6-2, 265).
Starting linebackers Trey Lagoy (6-0, 200) and Peter Wiedeman (6-3, 220), a second team All-Avocado player, are ed by tight end Clifford while strong safety Eli Alsop (6-0, 185) leads the DBs who include good-sized newcomers Ryan Crafton (5-9, 170) and Ryan Posada (5-11, 175).
With 60 penciled in for the varsity, 45 for the junior varsity and 60 freshmen, the numbers are there.
Some felt going from the Palomar to the Avocado League was the reason for the 3-8 record in 2023, but Harris brushes that off.
“Just put the ball down, I don’t care who it is,” he said. “The name on the jersey doesn’t matter. The kids play the game, and my job is to prepare this team.”
Ask Harris, who has coached in New York, Florida and Arizona after playing in college at Idaho, not to mention making the training camp of the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins, about what offense he’ll run, and his lengthy experience comes to the front.
“The right one on offense…and defense,” said Harris, chuckling. “You could say we’ll run the single wing if you want.”
Not much chance of that, but Harris is plenty upbeat, adding, “We have good players and a lot of options. I’m excited.”
The team’s first game is against Rancho Bernardo in the Rotary Cup game, 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 23.
