High school football: Enterprise gambling on new offense

FILLMORE — Enterprise coach Barry Jones already looked exhausted, and Enterprise's team camp at Millard High School had only just begun.

On the drive up to Fillmore in mid-July, one of the vehicles in the caravan got a flat tire, followed by Jones' truck starting to leak diesel fuel. Already several hours late to the team camp he'd coveted, things weren't exactly going swimmingly right off the bat.

Ironically enough, it might've been the perfect beginning for what Jones set out to accomplish. Enterprise had never participated in a summer team camp, something the second-year coach pushed heavily for, believing it would build team chemistry and discipline. Those early hiccups, no doubt, helped bond the team even more tightly.

Enterprise spent much of that team camp trying to learn the spread offense.

During last year's 7-5 season, the Wolves were more of a power offensive team and it led to a semifinal appearance.

Personnel is forcing Jones to change the approach in 2008.

"We ran more of a power offense last year, but we don't have the guys to run the power game this year," he said.

Jones is hoping that the spread offense, something he's never used before, helps keep Enterprise competitive this year despite limited depth or strength on the lines. The Wolves have the experience back in necessary places to have a chance to be effective with the spread offense.

"We feel like our passing game will be pretty good if we have time to protect the quarterback," said Jones, whose team has fared well in 7-on-7s this summer.

Leading the way for Enterprise is returning starting quarterback Slade Moyle, who's just a sophomore.

"He'll be good, we just need to get everybody else on board, and I need to pick this spread game up because I'm not a spread offensive guy," Jones said.

Wide receivers Jonathan Cervantes and Ryan Jones, along with tight end Austin Moyle are also expected to have solid years in the spread offense. The absence of a true fullback will force Enterprise to use a running back by committee in the backfield.

Defensively, the Wolves have their work cut out for them despite returning six defensive starters. The team lost its stud middle linebacker, but there's no one this year capable of stepping up and filling in his shoes.

"This year we have a bunch of 160-pound, 165-pound guys that are very talented but just aren't big enough to play inside," said Jones.

They'll be forced to play inside anyway, and Jones said it will be important for the team to fly to the ball all season and tackle as a team.

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