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When the West Catholic Athletic League football coaches handed out their all-league honors after the season ended last fall, there were only two juniors on the first team--Saint Francis quarterback Richie Scudellari and teammate Matt Taufoou, a two-way starter at linebacker and running back.
Well, they're back. Scudellari (6-foot-3, 187) and Taufoou (6-foot-1, 210) will be looked to to provide senior leadership as the Lancers try to improve on last year's second-pace finish in the WCAL and get back to the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Scudellari passed for 934 yards and nine touchdowns and threw just one interception in 2004, as the Lancers joined Serra and Saint Ignatius in a three-way tie for second place with 4-2 records, just one game behind league champion Valley Christian's 5-1 mark.
Overall, Saint Francis was 9-3, including a first-round CCS Open Division victory over Leigh and a 21-0 semifinal loss to league rival Valley Christian.
Taufoou, who ran the ball 120 times for 692 yards and 11 touchdowns and earned the title of Junior of the Year from the league's coaches, again will be called upon to work both sides of the ball.
The first of four non-league tests was Sept. 2 against Leigh. The Lancers go on the road Sept. 9 to play Oak Grove and travel to Los Gatos a week later, before closing out the pre-season slate against visiting Salinas on Sept. 23.
Archbishop Riordan visits the Mountain View campus to oppose the Lancers in a WCAL opener on Sept. 30. Saint Francis also will have home games against Serra and Bellarmine. The Lancers go on the road to challenge Archbishop Mitty, Valley Christian and Saint Ignatius.
The CCS playoffs begin a three-week run on the weekend of Nov. 18-19.
J.J. Kulusich, a second team all-WCAL pick last season, has transferred from Saint Francis to Valley Christian, but coach Mike Mitchell's Lancers will have several returning lettermen, including senior linemen Mark Boskovich (6-foot-4, 277) and Joe Fakalata (6-foot-3, 285), and senior running back Ryan Perry (5-foot-11, 175 pounds). Perry ran for 401 yards and six touchdowns in 2004.
Senior wide receiver Desmond Howard (5-foot-10, 165) will help fill the void left by the graduation of all-league receivers Ekahi Casino and Robert Sedin.
Saint Francis also will have several players up from last season's junior varsity team, which claimed the league championship with a 6-0 record.
KEY RETURNERS
Richie Scudellari (6-3, 187), Sr., QB
Matt Taufoou (6-1, 210), Sr., RB/LB
Mark Boskovich (6-4, 277), Sr., OL/DL
Joe Fakalata (6-3, 285), Sr., OL/DL
Ryan Perry (5-11, 175), Sr., RB
Desmond Howard (5-10, 165), Sr., WR
ST. FRANCIS 2005
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 2, Leigh, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9, Oak Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16, at Los Gatos, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23, Salinas, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30, Riordan, 7:30 p.m.*
Oct. 7, at Mitty, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14, Serra, 7:30 p.m.*
Oct. 21, Bellarmine, 7:30 p.m.*
Nov. 4, at Valley Christian, 7:30 p.m.*
Nov. 12, at St. Ignatius, 1 p.m.*
* Denotes West Catholic Athletic League game
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