Barons
Season preview by Alex Crawford
season preview
Head Coach: David Gutierrez
Head Coach David Gutierrez is entering his second season as the Head Coach of the Barons. Coach Gutierrez has previously served as the Head Coach at Costa Mesa High School and coached for several seasons at Servite High School. This is his second stint at Fountain Valley, having previously held the positions of Running Backs Coach, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator and Head JV Coach during a four year span from 2010-2013. Coach Gutierrez is a dedicated Physical Education teacher at Fountain Valley High School. Coach Gutierrez embraces the storied history of Baron Football in the community, and looks forward to the opportunity to build on the Baron tradition that is the pride of Fountain Valley.
Coaching Staff:
- Trevor Martin Offensive Coordinator
- Latrell Flowers Running Backs
- Emerson Alava Offensive Line
- John Na Tukia Offensive Line Assistant
- Evan Huahula Defensive Line
- John Tukia Offensive Line
- Gordon McCall Wide Receivers
- Dakota Lambert Corners
- Russel Washington Safeties
- Ryan Washington Quarterbacks
Key Departures:
- Tyler Nowicki (Wide receiver & Defensive Back)
- Richard Do (Wide receiver & Defensive Back)
- Nick Mendez (Linebacker & Running Back)
- Ivan Benitez (Offensive Line & Defensive Line)
- Drew Reyes (Wide receiver & Defensive Back)
Key Returners:
- Caine Elroy Senior (Linebacker & Fullback)
- Ben Pham Senior (Linebacker & Fullback)
- Abdel Habibeh Senior (Running Back & Safety)
- Scott Peshke Senior (Tight End)
- Owen Tomko Senior (Quarterback/Safety) Matt Mena Senior (Lineman)
- Michael Rocha Senior (Defensive Line)
Key Additions & Impact Players:
- Nolan Olivares Sophomore (Wide Receiver, Safety & Boundary Corner)
- Noa Banua Junior (Quarterback) (transferred last year from Marina)
Can’t Miss Game:
Friday, October 21st, 2022 vs. Edison Known as “The Bell Game” , this great rivalry between Fountain Valley and Edison is one of the most celebrated annual games in all of Orange County and Southern California. A game that spans generations in the communities of Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach. It is steeped in tradition and is a must see contest between two great schools, both with rich Football traditions and histories.Outlook:
The Barons look to rebound after a challenging 2021 campaign. They are a highly spirited and motivated group that will certainly learn from last season and continue to improve on a weekly basis. Their pre-season schedule has them playing several quality teams that match up well with the Barons and look to be great opportunities for Fountain Valley to gain momentum heading into Sunset League play. Coach Gutierrez will continue to instill the core values of what it is to be a Fountain Valley Baron - “Blue Pride, Courage, Faith, and Physical Football” is what Fountain Valley is all about. The Barons will be ready and well prepared for their Sunset League schedule this upcoming 2022 campaign.Offense:
The Barons return eight different starters on their offense. This bodes well for Fountain Valley as they’ll continue to develop Coach Guitierez’s hard-nosed, run-heavy offensive attack in 2022. Look for last year’s Team MVP, Ben Pham, to make a significant impact on offense for the Barons at Full back. He will share the backfield with Running Back Abdel Habibeh who will provide different looks out of the backfield. Caine Elroy will also lend his blocking and running abilities to the offense when he lines up at Full Back for the Barons. A fun, R.P.O. style offense should prove quite effective for a much improved Fountain Valley Football team.Defense:
Physical defense is what Coach Guitierez’s team hangs their hat on. Fountain Valley will look to play a 3-4 style front with mixed coverages in the secondary. With seven starters returning, the Barons are poised to continue their tough defensive play from 2021. The Defensive Line will look to break through Offensive Lines with some effective stunts, while holding their ground on run defense. The Barons could cause some problems for opposing offenses with some high intensity defensive play. Look for the Linebacker unit led by Caine Elroy and Ben Pham with Michael Rocha on the D-Line to be physical and aggressive, especially when given the opportunity to blitz opponents. Abdel Habideh will be the leader in the Secondary, and will get some quality help defending opposing receivers from Nolan Olivares, who can play either Safety or Cornerback. Look for the Baron defense to do some good things this season.Special Teams:
With a good kicking game led by Kicker Nolan Olivares, the Barons Special Teams could make some key contributions to the team this year, while putting some points on the scoreboard. Luke Crosby is a solid Punter who will give the Barons a definite advantage when it comes to the battle for field position.Additional Information about the Fountain Valley High School Barons Football Program:
Home Stadium: Huntington Beach High School Game Broadcasts: HUDL Livestream Athletic Director: Roger Holmes Principal: Paul Lopez School Enrollment: 3,530
September 9th - 07:41 am@ Cap Sheue Field
September 23rd - 07:41 am@ Cap Sheue Field
September 29th - 07:24 am@ Cap Sheue Field
October 7th - 07:43 am@ Cap Sheue Field
October 14th - 07:43 am@ Davidson Field, Newport Harbor High School
October 21st - 07:44 am@ Cap Sheue Field
October 28th - 07:19 am@ Boswell Field, Westminster High School
