Pictured L-R: Claremont quarterback Nathan Giles, and running back/defensive back, Caden Campuzano
Football:
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
On Friday night, there will be no one more ready to drop their shoulder into an opponent quite like Claremont.
The Wolfpack had a week-zero bye, and were scheduled to face off with Norte Vista last Friday.
On Monday, however, CHS got a call saying COVID-19 cases made it impossible for the Braves to compete in the week-one showdown with the Wolfpack.
Needless to say, the Claremont staff and their players were thoroughly frustrated and upset.
Unlike any other high school sport, every Friday shaves off 10 percent of the season, and it’s the reason that all 10 games are so highly coveted by coaches and players alike.
There was nothing CHS coach Shane Hile and his staff could have done to remedy the situation, so the Wolfpack spent last week busting their asses in the hopes of being a better and more prepared program tomorrow than they were the day before.
CHS has now put the Norte Vista disappointment in their rear-view mirror and they’re taking care of things within their own control.
And that means getting ready for this Friday’s home and season opener against Tustin.
Claremont has every reason to be both optimistic and excited about 2022.
The Wolfpack return many key players from the 2021 squad that made an appearance in the semifinal round of the CIF-SS Division 9 playoffs.
Offensively, quarterback Nathan Giles, and the CHS workhorse (running back), Caden Campuzano, are back, as is most of the offensive line.
Campuzano, who Hile calls ‘Mr. Everything,’ carried the ball over 300 times and tallied 20 rushing TD’s in 2021.
Campuzano is also a star in the defensive backfield for the Wolfpack.
Giles ran a 2021 offense that was run heavy, but he still threw for over 800 yards and 12 TD’s.
The lean CHS signal caller is expected to throw the ball more in 2022, and he’s one of the few SGV area quarterbacks that can beat you with his arm and legs.
Zack Leeper, who plays both receiver and outside linebacker, is someone that Coach Hile and his teammates expect huge things from this season.
Another guy to look out for in 2022 is an athletic Brandon Cole, who is expected to get significant touches at running back and the CHS linebacker will continue to drop the wood on every opposing offense that Claremont faces.
To a man, members of the Wolfpack offense want to do their part in taking pressure off the defense by being more balanced and productive.
Last year, Claremont went 6-2 over their last eight games, including a 38-7 quarterfinal round beatdown of top-seeded Laguna Beach.
During that stretch, the CHS defense allowed an average of just eight points per game, including three shutouts.
The Wolfpack blanked El Monte, 12-0, in their opening round playoff game.
Brandon Cole, Zack Leeper and Julian Zacarius, members of that stingy defense, are all back for CHS.
Aside from the return of so many of their key contributors, another reason for optimism is a natural team chemistry that you can’t buy.
You either have it or you don’t.
And the Wolfpack have it.
As a result, everyone in a Claremont uniform is pulling in the same direction, and that makes the Wolfpack a dangerous team to play as they work themselves into midseason and postseason form.
Coach Hile and every player I interviewed on Monday night at CHS say they expect big things in 2022, including a deep playoff run, but they also acknowledged that it’s a one day at a time scenario.
The program also wanted to encourage their student body to make Claremont a tough place to play for visiting teams, not to mention the andrenaline they get from a large and boisterous crowd.
Below are interviews with Coach Hile and CHS players Nathan Giles, Caden Campuzano, Zack Leeper, Carson Mowbray and Brandon Cole.
Up next: The Wolfpack will host Tustin on Friday night at 7.
The Tillers (0-2) dropped a week zero contest to Capistrano Valley (45-13), and last week, Foothill edged Tustin by a score of 9-7.
2022 Claremont Schedule:
9/2: Tustin at Claremont
9/9: Claremont at Colony
9/16: Claremont at Alta Loma
9/22: Bonita at Claremont
9/30: South Hills at Claremont
10/7: Claremont vs Covina at Covina District Field
10/14: Claremont at Chaffey **
10/21: Don Lugo at Claremont **
10/28: Claremont at West Covina **
** = San Antonio League Games
2022 San Antonio League Football Standings:
Chaffey (2-0 overall, 0-0 in league)
West Covina (1-1, 0-0)
Claremont (0-0, 0-0)
Don Lugo (0-2, 0-0)
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