Football Opens Season Saturday at Santa Ana, Games To Be Streamed LIVE Online

After nearly three weeks of preseason training camp, the Allan Hancock College football team opens the season Saturday, Sept. 6, at Santa Ana College. The game kicks off at 4 p.m. The contest will be the first meeting between the two programs, as well as the first time since 2007 the Bulldogs do not play rival Santa Barbara in a season opener.  Both teams went 3-7 last season.

"I am very pleased with how the preseason is going. We did not have any serious injuries," said head coach Kris Dutra, who returns for his 14^th season as head coach of the Bulldogs. His overall coaching record is 78-59 (.569).  "I expect Santa Ana will be very aggressive on both sides of the ball," said Dutra. "They run a pistol, spread offense and are very good at it." Santa Ana is ranked No. 20 in the Southern California Preseason Poll, while the Bulldogs are sitting just outside the top 20. "I think it'll be a wild game."

The 2014 season opener, as well as every football game this season, will be streamed live to fans on the athletics website. There is no charge to watch the live video and play-by-play provided by C.J. Silas and Irv Kiger. Fans can go to athletics.hancockcollege.edu, click on the gold Watch Live button near the middle of the screen and tune in to a live video and audio stream. The pregame show on Saturday starts at 3:50 p.m. or ten minutes before kickoff.

Freshman Curry Parham (St. Joseph High School) has earned the team's starting quarterback position. He beat out four other quarterbacks, including sophomore Ricardo Castro, a transfer from Bakersfield College.

"Curry is talented, intelligent and brings things to the table physically that others do not with his size, accuracy and arm-strength," said Dutra. "I've been working with college quarterbacks for a long time and he is at the top of the charts. But that being said, he is going to have to learn how to handle being in the heat of the moment at the college level very quickly."

Sophomore starting wide receivers Tristen Jeffries and Breon Briggs, as well as tight end Ryan Mediano (St. Joseph HS) will be among Parham's primary targets. The three combined for 48 receptions 649 yards and six touchdowns last season. They'll have to try to replace Shane Henderson who set nearly every Hancock receiving record during his historic career, including 74 catches for 1,069 yards last season.

Freshman Lauina Futi, one of six Bulldogs from American Samoa, will likely start at tailback for the Bulldogs. Sophomores DeSean Dillard (58 carries, 253 yards in 2013) and Jaylin Amerson (23 yards in 2013) will also see plenty of snaps in the backfield. "All three are tough runners," added Dutra. "We will see how everything shakes out once DeSean is completely healthy."

Linebacker Willie Iribarren (Lompoc HS/ 59 tackles, 2 interceptions), free safety Deonte Barnes (Atascadero HS/ 59 tackles), cornerback Logan Sprouse (Atascadero HS/ 8 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), and nose tackle Aaron Pringle (29 tackles, 5.5 tackles for lost yardage) return to anchor the Hancock defense. Righetti High School graduate Eric Wilson, who suffered a season-ending injury in the Bulldogs' second game last season, will start at linebacker after receiving a medical redshirt. Lompoc graduate Rafael Arellano is also expected to start as a freshman at strong safety.  Former Brave and All-State selection Jose Morales, a freshman, will handle the team's field goal kicking duties, while Sprouse will handle punting duties.

The Bulldogs host Santa Barbara City College on Saturday, Sept. 13, in their home opener. The game will start at 4 p.m. at Righetti High School.