Merida: Key to Paloma Valley's football season is discipline

Running back Justin Dean goes through preseason workouts Monday at Paloma Valley. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Paloma Valley High football team is prepping for the upcoming season, having started practice in pads on Monday.

Along with two other high schools in the city, the Wildcats are being led this season by a new head coach, Juan Merida. He said his goal moving forward with this program is to produce winning records and solid individuals.

“Discipline on the field, off the field and in the classroom all tie together,” said Merida (left). “I’m trying to produce great young men and leaders and future husbands and productive citizens. That’s what it’s all about for me, and discipline is a key part of that.”

The athletes led by Merida say his discipline has made quite the impression.

“I think we have more drive, and with the new coaching we don’t mess around this year,” said linebacker Jacob Hornbeak, one of the team’s captains. “I think we could go All-CIF this year. We’re going to need the stands filled because we’re going to have a great season.”

“We’re all holding each other to higher levels of accountability,” said senior quarterback Brady Nelson, who passed for 2,389 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. “The coaches know each of our potential and help each of us reach that.”

Last year, Paloma Valley posted a 9-3 record – 3-0 in league play -- and lost in the second round of the CIF playoffs. The Wildcats are looking for even more improvement this fall.

For Nelson, a great season would include a few key things:

“With this being my last year, I want to win state, the Menifee Bowl, and win league,” Nelson said. “I want to just do better than we did last year.”

Athletes and coaches alike look forward to a Paloma football season that improves on their record from last year.

Nelson and Hornbeak will be components to that success, Merida said, as well as senior wide receiver Jefferey Blalock, a transfer who is showing all the right signs in practices.

“He came in last year and joined track and did phenomenally on our track team, winning league in a couple events,” Merida said. “He’s looking good at receiver, doing all the right things so far and we’re expecting him to be one of our main threats out there.”

Nelson, who has been working on Merida’s new offense since last season, is also showing great results in practices, according to his coach.

“Brady has adjusted really well,” said Merida. “He’s doing a good job delivering the ball and learning the new concepts and going through the reads and different stuff that we have in our offense. I think he’s going to have a phenomenal season.”

Another contributor to a phenomenal season for this team is the commitment shown by the athletes still showing up to practice. Merida said he originally had 140 student athletes at practice but that number is down to just over 80.

“I told them this isn’t for everybody; football takes what it takes,” Merida said. “Trust the process, show up, and good things will happen.”

But wins and losses won’t be the only indicator Merida is looking for. His main concern is producing young men with high morals to take into the community.

“Of course you want to win them all,” said Merida. “But, for me, the main goal is to produce a great product that the community can be proud of and that the school is proud of -- young men that represent us positively on campus and in the community. By doing all those little things right, the wins on the field take care of themselves.”

In their first shot at one of those wins this season, the Wildcats will start off with a home game on Aug. 18 against Temescal Canyon.

Quarterback Brady Nelson passed for 2,389 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Lineman Eddie Cortez prepares to block a defender during Monday's preseason practice. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Practice with the tackle dummy is one of the fundamental parts of workouts. (Photo by Rick Rowell)