Vacaville Christian High School's head football coach doesn't know how his Falcons will fare this season. But he does know how they could perform.
"We have talent ... we've never been as athletic as we are this year," said Smith, who begins his 12th season with the Falcons on Saturday when VCS plays at Damien Memorial School of Honolulu. "These kids are going to be able to do a lot of things that can't be coached.
"This is the best we've been in a long time."
It's easy to see why Smith is smiling. He figures the Falcons have the potential to return to their winning ways of 2006-08, when they made three straight Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII title game appearances and the 2007 championship.
The Falcons weren't bad last year, posting a 7-5 record and reaching the Section Division VI semifinals.
But VCS struggled in the Sierra Delta League, losing its final three SDL games in a row before bouncing back in the first round of the playoffs.
The Falcons lost to Rio Vista by 19 points, Highlands by 23 and Bradshaw Christian by a whopping 48 (62-14).
Bradshaw went on to win the section title. The Pride has been a nemesis for VCS, going back to a controversial win over the Falcons in the 2008 section title game.
The two schools open the SDL season against each other on Sept. 21.
"It's difficult to play them the first game, but I believe the winner of our game is going to set the
tone for the league," Smith said. "They have been very tough, but I believe this is our year. Sports go in cycles, and this is our time."Smith has good reason to be confident. His starting offensive line averages 6-foot-1 and 248 pounds, and four of the five projected starters for Saturday are back from last year's team.
Add in a solid feature back in senior Peyton Osborne -- "He's probably the fastest back we've ever had here," Smith said -- and another group of running backs, and Smith can't wait to get going.
Most of the main players on offense will star on defense as well, but Smith also has some depth with a roster that should settle around 36 ... a solid number for a Division VI program.
"We'll see," Smith said. "The last few years have been tough for us, but we're ready to get back to where we've been."
Specifically, Smith would like to see the Falcons return to their form of 2007.
"That's the last time we went to Hawaii ... and that's when we won the title," he said.
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