116 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
Coach: Ed Woods
2019 record: 7-4, 6-1 in Class
A Tri-County South
All-time record: 424-431-14
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 at Bentworth* 7
9.18 West Greene* 7
9.25 at Mapletown* 7
10.2 at Avella* 7
10.9 Jefferson-Morgan* 7
10.16 at Carmichaels* 7
10.23 Monessen* 7
TRI-COUNTY SOUTH • CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA LINEMEN
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Ryan Cochise*
38-84, 652 yards, 8 TDs
Receiving Malik Ramsey*
13-305, 3 TDs
Rushing Cochise*
113-800, 18 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• California dropped four contests
in 2019, falling to Washington,
Laurel, West Greene
and California.
• California is a merger with
East Pike Run. That merger
occurred in 1948.
• California was a WPIAL
champion in 1949 when it
defeated Dormont, 38-6, to
win the Class A title. California
finished as the runner-up
in 1965, losing to Leechburg,
37-7, and in 1986, falling to
Farrell, 28-0.
• The Trojans have made 22
WPIAL playoff appearances,
going 7-21. In 97 seasons,
California has had one perfect
season. CALIFORNIA ADEPT AT
WORK OUT THIS SUMMER
JAEDEN ZUZAK
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Ed Woods is in his second season
as football coach at California High
School.
It’s been a difficult two seasons
in the terms of preparing his
squad.
He was hired late in the process
before the 2019 season, and the
coronavirus has cut into his preparation
for the 2020 season.
“I have yet to have a full season
with these players,” Woods said.
“I’m still learning a lot about them.
I’m starting over new again this
season.”
Woods, 57, coached 19 seasons
at rival Beth-Center. He’s still employed
at the school as dean of
discipline for kindergarten thru
eighth grade.
Despite the late hire at California
in 2019, the Trojans still managed
to go 7-4 overall and 6-1 in the
WPIAL Class A Tri-County South
Conference. California lost its
first-round playoff game to Cornell,
32-23, after starting quarterback
Ryan Cochise left the game
with an injury.
Replacing Cochise is one of many
tasks Woods must accomplish.
He also must replace wide receiver
Malik Ramsey and running back
Lucas Qualk, who were among the
15 seniors to graduate.
Junior fullback Damani Stafford,
sophomore Cole Wolpink and
freshman Jake Layhue are battling
for the quarterback spot.
Stafford, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder,
has picked up things well according
to Woods.
“He’s a good athlete,” Woods said.
“He’ll also play defensive end.”
Senior Jaeden Zuzak, who was
injured most of last season, will
take over at running back. Stafford
did rush for 455 yards and scored
six touchdowns in 2019.
“When Jaeden did play, he ran
the ball well,” Woods said. “He’s
quick and runs with power.
“We have a lot to replace. When
you graduate as many seniors as
we did, overall varsity experience
lacks, especially in Class A. But we
were fortunate to play junior varsity
games and play a lot of backups
when games got out of hand.”
The offensive line with be new.
Woods is counting on Donovon
Davis, Tanner Pearce and Seth
Rerricha to be stalwarts up front.
Wide receiver Nathan O’Savage
and tight end Matt Trunzo look to
be the quarterbacks’ top targets.
Kwondrea Porter, Ethan Fike and
Anthony Haschets are other possible
targets.
Defensively, Woods will count on
Zuzak, Porter and O’Savage in the
secondary, Rerricha and Stafford
on the defensive line and Trunzo at
linebacker to carry the load.
“The players just need to play
and get varsity experience,” Woods
said. “We’ll learn a lot about
them in our scrimmage against
Beth-Center.”
As for the conference, Woods
feels West Greene is the team to
beat. He also expects Carmichaels
to be strong.
He’s not sure how the rest of the
competition stacks up.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Woods
said. “I’m just glad we’re getting a
chance to play.
“It’s been a lot different the past
year.”
by PAUL SCHOFIELD