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![Northwood’s seven seniors include (from left) Spencer Fitzgerald, Jason Pontillas, Lincoln Cameron, Michael Coleman, Alex Aviles, Hayden Tran and Towne Allen. Photo courtesy Northwood football]()
Northwood’s seven seniors include (from left) Spencer Fitzgerald, Jason Pontillas, Lincoln Cameron, Michael Coleman, Alex Aviles, Hayden Tran and Towne Allen. Photo courtesy Northwood football
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![Pete Mitchell is Northwood’s new football coach. Tim Burt photo]()
Pete Mitchell is Northwood’s new football coach. Tim Burt photo
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(Fourth in a series of articles previewing Irvine’s high school football teams. Previews on University and Beckman, who open next week, will be published next week).
Northwood’s first year football coach Pete Mitchell said he is excited to be leading the Timberwolves.
“It’s a great place to be,” he said. “The administration and the entire staff has been very supportive. The booster club is wonderful. It’s been a great experience so far. We haven’t played any football yet so that could change.”
Mitchell takes over for Phil Roh, who resigned after one year as head coach to spend more time with his family. The Timberwolves were 1-9 overall and 1-4 in the Pacific Coast League last season.
“I’m just trying to get these kids to make football a big priority in their lives,” Mitchell said. “That’s the biggest challenge. We’re trying to create a football mentality and a football atmosphere here. We’re definitely going to take one game at a time, baby steps.
“I expect us to play good, physical, hard-nosed football, execute well and hustle and never give up. Those are all the things that we can control. The wins and losses, you can’t control those. We do not look past the next game.”
Northwood opens the season Saturday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. hosting Saddleback Valley Christian at Portola.
Mitchell knows the Pacific Coast League will be a challenge for his squad.
“Everybody is coached well, it’s going to be tough,” Mitchell said. “Every game is going to be a battle.”
The Timberwolves will look to two seniors: Michael Coleman, who will be the starter and Trevor Littlejohn, the backup, at quarterback.
“Michael Coleman is new to quarterbacking; he’s been a wing and a defensive back so he’s had to learn the veer,” Mitchell said. “Littlejohn is a baseball kid who is also new to the quarterbacking position. They’re picking up the game quite well so far.
“We’re going to try and take advantage of what the defense will allow us to do.”
The running backs include seniors Jason Pontillas, Alexander Aviles, Lincoln Cameron and Spencer Fitzgerald.
“There is some experience there,” Mitchell said.
The receivers will include senior James Mazzeo, a returning player; senior Towne Allen, junior Seth Locke, a transfer from Woodbridge; juniors Lucas Demaio and Nicholas Demaio and senior Connor Vejsicky.
The offensive line will include senior center Moses Shin and the guards will be sophomore Xavier Cousar and senior Jake Simonian. The two tackles will be senior Eric Lo and senior Matthew Squires.
On defense, the cornerbacks will be Mazzeo and senior Hayden Tran. The safeties will be Aviles, Locke and Lucas Demaio and Nicholas Demaio.
The linebackers will be Pontillas, who was named to the all-city squad on defense last year, Cameron and Fitzgerald.
The defensive line will include Lo, Cousar and senior Mustafa Salaway.
On special teams, the placekicker will be sophomore Ethan Duong and the punter will be Vejsicky.
The punt returners and kickoff returners will be Locke and Avilles.