Sierra Canyon Football Looks to Returning Blockers

With most of its top skill-position players back from last year’s East Valley Division finalist team, Sierra Canyon High has lots of momentum heading into the new football season.

Tyler Stewart is back after passing for 2,861 yards and 39 touchdowns, running backs Xavier Menifield (1,014 yards, 15 touchdowns) and Danny Jordan (837 yards, eight touchdowns) are back, and receiver Julian Brooks 34 receptions, 858 yards, 18 touchdowns) is back, too.

But what’s really helping Sierra Canyon is the return of all five starting offensive linemen, and if the blocking unit performs as well as expected, the Trailblazers might have just enough oomph to get past rival Paraclete, the opponent that defeated Sierra Canyon twice last season – once for the Olympic League title, then again in the section championship game.

“The offensive used to be our one weakness, and now for the first time, it’s one of our biggest strengths,” coach Jon Ellinghouse said. “It’s going to the same five kids who’ve gone from being freshmen and sophomores to being juniors and seniors. They’ve grown up.”

Andrew Terry, a 6-foot-5, 264-pound tackle, is a 4.0 student who is being recruited by Ivy League colleges such as Harvard, Yale, Brown and Columbia.

“He’s a good football player,” Ellinghouse said.

Abe Roca, a junior, is a 6-1, 270-pound guard who has started every game since his freshman season.

“He’s started both ways, and he’s a big, strong, physical kid,” Ellinghouse said. “He plays the game well, and he has a lot of experience under his belt for a junior, and that kind of makes him an interesting story. For the next two years, he is going to be force to deal with.”

Jesse Janes is another big blocker, a 6-1, 255-pounder whom Ellinghouse calls “a very, very physical, tough-nosed kid.”

Overall, Sierra Canyon averages 260 pounds across the front line. That’s big for any school, but for a small school that was playing eight-man football two years ago, it’s especially impressive.

“I love it,” Ellinghouse said.

Sierra Canyon is coming off a three-week break Monday, and the Trailblazers still have some passing-league tournaments to sharpen things up.

“We’re really trying to get the whole package together,” Ellinghouse said. “We want to incorporate the linemen and get ready for the season, and we’re really excited about that.”

Sierra Canyon opens Sept. 3 against visiting Horizon of San Diego at Granada Hills High.

CHATSWORTH BASKETBALL ON ROLL

After winning the City Section Division III boys basketball championship this past winter, Chatsworth is gearing for another successful season, and the Chancellors have looked good this summer – particularly returning standout Terrell Funchess, who’s been scoring a lot of points including 27 in one game.

“We’re looking pretty good,” Funchess said. “We’re all good friends on and off the court, and we play well together. We’re a quick team, we get up and down the court.”

Quickness is key because no one is taller than 6-3.

“We’re not the tallest, but we’re pretty fast,” Funchess said. “And you know we have some shooters.”

SC HOOPS IS BUSY BUSY BUSY

Sierra Canyon won a boys basketball section championship this past season, defeating Montclair Prep in the Southern Section Div. V-A championship, and the Trailblazers are trying to be even better this coming season.

“We’ve played 19 straight days – we’re really working hard,” coach Ryan Silver said. “We’re continuing to try to get better.”

Sierra Canyon plays Monday at Taft in Woodland Hills against Calabasas at 5:30 p.m. and against Harvard-Westlake at 6:30 p.m.