East Union coach Mike Kuhnlenz should have a starting quarterback named by now — the 2021 season is about to kick off, after all.
He was hoping to have this settled a week ago, but Dylan Lee and Luke Weaver have made it difficult for their new coach. Kuhnlenz did make it clear at the start that he wasn’t going to base his evaluation of returning personnel on stats and game film from last season, so every spot on the field has been up for grabs.
“It pushes both of us to be better, and if we push each other it just makes the team better as a whole,” Weaver said. He’s the incumbent senior starter who
It’s a good problem to have for a young head coach looking to re-establish himself as an up-and-comer in the area. Just hours before the coronavirus-shortened spring season opened last March, Tracy Unified School District decided not to renew its contract with Kuhnlenz, who was then head coach for Kimball High. The Jaguars went into Kuhnlenz’s third season armed with one of the most exciting offenses in the region and finished 3-2, averaging 39.2 points while going toe-to-toe in losses to Valley Oak League heavyweight Manteca and Hughson of the Trans-Valley League.
He’d love to replicate that type of production with East Union right away but realizes it will take some time.
“We haven’t installed everything yet and I don’t think we will by Week 1,” Kuhnlenz said. “It’s going to be a process going from a run-based offense to a pass-based offense. As each week goes, we’ll just build on top of what we’re doing. There has definitely been some growing pains, but we’re working extremely hard.”
Lee has been on board with the changes so far, even if his positon in the offense had been undecided up until this point. If Weaver wins the starting spot behind center, Lee is likely to return to a receiver spot where he played in his varsity debut as a sophomore last spring.
“The offense, I think, fits our team very well,” Lee said. “We’re picking it up, we just have to make sure we continue to work hard and try and get better each day. I think the transition is going well. I like the way (Kuhnlenz) runs practices. He’s a great coach who pushes us to the limit and expects great things for us. All of our coaches put in extra time and put us in the right spots.”
Kuhnlenz said both players are going to play defense — Lee at linebacker, Weaver at free safety — regardless of who is QB1. Weaver is experienced, a refined passer and has the ideal size at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. Lee, a basketball standout who has started on the varsity team since his freshman year, also has a big arm and isn’t exactly small at 6-1, but he offers more as a playmaker on the run.
What they do have in common is between the ears. Kuhnlenz lauds their football IQ and adaptability, so they are too valuable to keep off the field. On top of learning a new offense, Weaver is also getting back into the groove defensively.
“I haven’t played much defense in a while, but it has been fun,” Weaver said. “It’s been good so far. Obviously, change takes time but we’re working to make it as smooth as possible. Every day is a learning experience.”
One of the few players on the team to have a starting spot locked up is a bit of a surprise — first-year senior receiver Jacob Toste, one of the school’s top baseball players. Kuhnlenz said he has stood out with his route running, pass catching and downfield blocking.
The Lancers were competitive in the spring, finishing 2-2 with blowout wins over Ripon and Weston Ranch and single-digit losses to Kimball and Oakdale. They didn’t get to play their season finale against Manteca because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
With an expected full season ahead, East Union is hoping this is the start of a new trend for football at the school. The Lancers have not won a Valley Oak League title since 1989 and made three postseason appearances in the past 27 years.
“You look just in this city, and the other two schools (Manteca, Sierra) both won section championships the last year we had a regular season,” Kuhnlenz said. “Rome wasn’t built in a day, so it’s going to take some time, but if we keep building and working one day at a time eventually the pieces will fall into place. What better league to see if you can make it happen than in the VOL?”
AT A GLANCE
EAST UNION LANCERS
HEAD COACH: Mike Kuhnlenz (first year)
STAFF: Nick Ortiz (DC), Barry Keith (OL/DL), Corey Norwood (RB/S), Dakota Anderson (WR), Louis Smith (CB), Don Duenas (LB), Mike Barber (JV head coach), Ted Anderson (JV assistant), Curtiss May (JV assistant), Trinidad Diaz (JV assistant), Eleazar Salcedo (JV assistant), Jake Serrato (freshman head coach), Dylan Afoa (frosh assistant).
KEY RETURNERS: QB/FS Luke Weaver (12), Dylan Lee QB/LB (11), OL/LB Zane Salgado (12).
KEY NEWCOMERS: RB/LB Davis Flores (11), TE/LB Nickolas Luna (11), WR/DB Jacob Toste (12).
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 at Ripon
Aug. 27 vs. Windsor
Sept. 3 vs. McNair
Sept. 10 vs. Atwater
Sept. 17 at Oakdale
Sept. 24 vs. Sierra
Oct. 1 at Manteca
Oct. 8 BYE
Oct. 15 at W. Ranch
Oct. 22 vs. C. Catholic
Oct. 29 vs. Kimball
