RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Cordova Lancers have been hard at work all offseason in preparation for those upcoming Friday night lights and are ready to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Coming off an up-and-down season a year ago that culminated in losing their final four Metro League games to ultimately miss out on the postseason, the Lancers feel they are ready to hit the ground running under head coach JP Dolliver, who is entering his fourth season at the helm. Dolliver feels that his team will have as good a chance as anyone to compete this fall due to how well his team has bonded the past several months as the group has prepared for everything that comes along with a rigorous football schedule.

The Lancers have been hard at work this summer. Photo by Rick Sloan

“I’m pretty confident in the group of guys we have because of the time they put in this offseason,” Dolliver said. "The kids generally like each other and get along really well. There’s good team chemistry, and those are all important as you go through a challenging season.”

Offensively, the team will once again rely on the legs of senior Trey Wallace, who split time at quarterback and running back a season ago. This year he will primarily be utilized in the backfield, but don’t be surprised if he takes some snaps from under center to keep defenses guessing. Wallace, who has led the team in rushing each of the past two seasons, will be accompanied by a strong group of running backs who can help carry the load. Fellow senior running backs Zach McIntire and Omari Harrell will be given plenty of opportunities on the ground, along with junior Gino David. The focus of the offense will be its ground game according to Dolliver.

At quarterback, the team will be transitioning to senior Terryn “TK” King, who has been a four-year playmaker on varsity at multiple positions. Dolliver says King is potentially the strongest pound-for-pound player on the team at 5’10” and 163 pounds and is in a good spot to help lead the team as its signal caller.

Head coach JP Dolliver (center) breaks down the team during practice. Photo by Rick Sloan

“The great thing about that kid is he has a tremendous amount of humility even though he’s an outstanding player,” Dolliver said. “He’s a four-year starter on varsity. Seeing his growth throughout the four years – he’s not the biggest guy but he’s one of our strongest football players pound for pound. He’s always trusted the process and bought into what we're doing. He’s not the loudest voice on the team but his leadership by example has been outstanding.”

Defensively, the team saw standout defensive lineman Julian Drahn graduate last spring, leaving some big shoes to fill along the defensive line. Dolliver referenced seniors Emilio Abilez and Antonio West as players he feels can step up and contribute in a big way this season along the Lancers’ defensive front. Additionally, aforementioned junior defensive back Gino David is someone the team is very excited about as someone who will play a hybrid safety/linebacker role.

“I think Gino is going to have a breakout year this year,” Dolliver said. “He’ll play defensive back for us. He’s smart back there, he can cover guys, he’s fast and he can come up and hit and make tackles.”

The Lancers going through drills during recent practice. Photo by Rick Sloan

Additionally, a trio of cornerbacks,senior Raymond Epps along with juniors Cohen Chounlabout and Ethan Benitez,will be called upon to contribute on the back end of the Cordova defense.

The Lancers will have to contend with another tough slate of Metro League opponents the likes of West Park, Grant and McClatchy this fall, but Dolliver feels it's more about how his team plays that will determine their success down the stretch.

The Lancers appear ready to perform under those Friday night lights. Photo by Rick Sloan

"We want to play a lot more mistake-free football," Dolliver said. "We don't want to put ourselves in a position where we help the other team. We need to make sure we're in it. We play in a tough league. Just minimize the penalties. Why it matters so much for a team like ours is that the league we play in is very stacked, and the other teams in our league don't need any extra help. We have to play really smart football."

The Lancers are hosting a scrimmage against River City on Friday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. inside Lancer Stadium. Their regular season opener will be at home the following week when they host Sheldon, with kickoff scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

The Lancers will host River City in a scrimmage inside Lancer Stadium on Aug. 21. Photo by Rick Sloan