The faces have changed, but the offense has not.

A new cast of characters will feature in Sierra’s spread offense, and much of the experience will come from the offensive line. The Timberwolves are coming off back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearances, improving their records — from 4-7 in 2023 to 6-6 — after winning just four games the previous three seasons.

“We were pretty senior heavy last year,” third-year coach Jeff Abrew said. “Right now, we have three sophomores pulled up. We’re still running the same offense. We want to spread it out and do what we do. It’s something we’ve done for years is run the spread, and it’s been good to us. Hopefully we’ll continue to have success.”

Two-time All-Valley Oak League first-team quarterback Zak Willson is among the heavy graduation losses. He’ll be replaced by Jaysen Martinez, who quarterbacked the freshman team last year.

Darien East got a head start as a freshman when he took over for all-league running back Brock Felt, who went down with a season-ending leg injury. East was elevated from the JV team and immediately showed he belonged, starting five games including two in the playoffs.

“East has had a great offseason,” Abrew said. “He gained some weight and has gotten faster. Looking forward to what he can do this year. He’s a dynamic playmaker, and we want the ball in his hands as much as possible.”

The Timberwolves will lean on their big and experienced offensive line. Third-year center Benjamin Davenport heads battle-tested interior that includes Teagan Nazzisi.

Receiver A.J. Chapman helps as a downfield blocker and pass catcher with his 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame. He is being recruited as a tight end and holds two NCAA Division I offers.

Ryan Reyes takes on a different role in the offense at receiver after previously playing running back. Junior DJ Parras emerged over the summer as another threat in the passing game.

“I think we’ll do great this year,” Nazzisi said. “With me and Ben, our line is going to be strong. We have A.J. Chapman and Reyes as receivers, and East is looking really strong. He’s going to be really productive for us.”

There may be more inexperience on defense, where Sierra gave up 37.4 points per game and 60-plus on three occasions.

Nazzisi returns at defensive end, and Reyes is an All-VOL second-team defensive back. Chapman split time between free safety and defensive end last year. Middle linebacker Damian Densmore and lineman Jaed Alcauter solidified their spots after gaining valuable varsity experience as sophomores late in the season.

“Defensively, we have to get back to fundamentals and tackle better no matter who is in there,” Abrew said. “We have to get that tenacity to match the people we play against in the VOL, because we’re going against some monsters.”

Sierra has not topped any of the three VOL powers since knocking off Oakdale in the 2019 SJS Division IV championship game. The T’wolves were throttled by top-seeded Twelve Bridges 63-7 in the second round last year, but that has not discouraged the leaders of the pack.

“Expectations are pretty high,” Davenport said. “I know guys on our team who have played with each other for years. We understand what we can do. Even though some guys have graduated and moved on, we can improve from last year.”

Senior linemen take the lead in spread offense

By JONAMAR JACINTO

With most of its top skill position players lost to graduation, Sierra is putting it all on the line.

The Timberwolves are looking to seniors Benjamin Davenport and Teagan Nazzisi to pave the way for underclassmen put in key positions on both sides of scrimmage.

“Both of those guys are the heart and soul of the team,” Sierra coach Jeff Abrew said. “They set the tone in practice, and we’re going to rely heavily on those guys up front this year in order for us to be successful.”

The 6-foot-2, 265-pound Davenport enters his third varsity season and starts at center. The 6-1, 240-pound Nazzisi will get to work alongside him, sliding from right tackle to guard.. He’ll also spearhead a young defense at defensive end.

The two have become close friends on and off the field since their freshman year. They’re even co-workers.

“It helps us evolve and improve as players,” Davenport said of their tight-knit relationship. “Outside the team, we’re friends in school and work together. It helps us bring our unit together as leaders on the team.”

Both earned All-Valley Oak League honorable mention last year and are striving for more. Sierra qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs the past two seasons, the first two under Abrew, and made it past the first round in 2024.

“Now that I’m a senior, I just want to see peak performances from myself, my fellow classmates and all of the underclassmen,” Nazzisi said. “I look forward to seeing what we can do this season. I think we can make playoffs for a third year in a row and go even further.”

Sierra traveled to Yuba City for the Nos. 8-9 game in the SJS Division IV playoffs and came away with a 26-20 win despite a size disadvantage in the trenches. Now, the T’wolves have the girth and the confidence and experience to go with it.

“In past years, we’d look at these other teams and think we didn’t have a chance, because we didn’t’ look like that,” Davenport said. “Now, we can look at ourselves and say we’re big enough and strong enough to perform against any opponent.

Junior tackle Angel Land adds to the unit’s overall bulk. Jaed Alcateur got his feet wet as a sophomore at the varsity last year as a late-season call-up to help fortify the defensive line.

“I’m confident because I know our guys are good, we’re strong and we have good technique,” Davenport said. “We know the game plan and know what to do to get it done. We’re the anchor of the team.”

More will be put on their broad shoulders this year, with sophomores occupying starting spots at quarterback and running back.

Darien East was was promoted to varsity as a freshman last year after two-way standout Brock Felt went down with a serious leg injury but proved to be up to the task. He rushed for 292 yards and four touchdowns in his five appearances.

Without the improvisational playmaking of graduated QB Zak Willson, Sierra rely more on its running game. The Timberwolves showed off the power-running side to their spread offense in a 44-32 win over rival East Union, rushing for 364 yards. Felt did much of the damage behind his dominant line, and East made his varsity debut a month later when he rambled for 102 yards and three scores against Patterson.

“I believe we can pull that off again,” Nazzisi said. “When we played that game against EU, our line was so happy to kind of put the team on our back and (Felt) ran for so many yards.  East has the speed and strength to do that this year and in the future.

“I think this year’s line will be the best we’ve had in a while. We have great size and strength this year, and we’re looking to dominate.”