2015 Rancho Football Capsule
RANCHO
League: Independent
Head coach: Tom Pletsch, first season
2014 record: 0-9
Returning lettermen: 16
Returning starters: Four offense, three defense
Base offensive set: Spread
Base defensive set: 4-3
Top offensive players: RB Robert Howard (Sr.); QB Dion Southern (Sr.): RB Javion Mickel (Sr.); WR Jonathan Davis (Sr.)
Top defensive players: OLB Angel Walker (Jr.); MLB Jordan Betts (Jr.); DT Luc Scott (Sr.)
Top newcomers: QB Dion Southern (Sr.); RB Javion Mickel (Sr.): RB/LB Marquel Alexander (Jr.); OT Frank Rodriguez (Sr.); NG Loran Jackson (Sr.)
Key losses: OL Kwansi Cooper
Outlook: Pletsch takes over a team at the very bottom, having lost 29 consecutive games.
Over the last three seasons, the Rams have been shut out nine times and opponents have outscored them 1,451-187.
But Pletsch has experience rebuilding programs at Rancho. He took over the baseball program in 2006, and the team played in the state final 2010.
He expects new players to make an immediate impact, and the program has enough players to field teams at all three levels (B, JV and varsity) for the first time since 2011.
Howard rushed for 900 yards and five TDs last season, and closed out the year with a 308-yard performance against Del Sol.
He should be a building block on offense along with newcomers Southern and Mickel.
The defense has the most ground to make up, as the Rams allowed an average of 49.7 points last season. And that was better than the previous two seasons.
"The Rams are in the midst of a 29-game losing streak, but the past is just that; the past," Pletsch said. "The Rams look to be competitive in every game this year."
