Despite a tumultuous three-year run, Sierra’s seniors are going into their final season with a positive mind set.

Jeff Abrew, the Timberwolves’ third coach in as many years, wants nothing more than for the seniors to be rewarded for their persistence. They’ve gone 1-9 the past two seasons, and their development was stunted as freshman because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, COVID cases forced the varsity and junior varsity teams to begin official practices more than a week later than all other teams, as players quarantined for 10 days. The JV team, which included much of the current seniors, folded before the third game of the season because of low numbers.

“They’ve had a rough go,” Abrew said. “We’re definitely trying to win some games for these seniors. They didn’t have a freshman year, which was the COVID year. Sophomore year, their team got dismantled. They’re trying to end their high school career on a higher note, that’s for sure.”

Sierra has won just a total of three games since claiming the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV title in 2019. The T’wolves went 1-4 in the pandemic-shortened spring 2021 campaign, and 1-9 in each of the following two.

“After the last two years, we definitely have something to prove,” strong safety/linebacker Aydan Harris said.

Previously an assistant and offensive coordinator under predecessors Jeff Harbison (twice) and Chris Johnson, Abrew’s elevation to head coach has made for a smooth transition. He welcomed back many of the assistants who have served the program for years and will continue orchestrating the spread offense originally introduced to the program by Harbison.

“The junior class we’re bringing up has a lot of talent and it’s going to make our team better, we just have to get them ready for varsity football,” Abrew said. “We have to get prepared for the Valley Oak League — that’s a gauntlet. The five teams we face are really good, so we just have to get our guys playing at a high level and fast.”

Here’s a closer look at Sierra’s 2023 squad:

Offense: Third-year running back Anthony Grady has been the focal point, but he envisions an even more dangerous all-around attack.

The lone All-VOL selection for Sierra accounted for more than half of the team’s offensive production last season.

“I feel like we have more threats on the offensive end, and I feel like as the season goes, I won’t really be the focal point because (opposing defenses) will have way more people that they need to worry about,” Grady said.

The Timberwolves will have more weapons in the passing game. Incumbent starter Tim Sarginson showed improvement at quarterback throughout last season. Challenging him for the starting spot is junior Zak Willson, whose dual-threat capability was featured for the 6-4 JV squad.

“They both have a great football mindset, and they know the game very well,” Abrew said. “Tim is the (varsity) returner who has really good pocket presence. Zak has played in the system the last two years in the lower levels and brings a lot of athleticism. His pocket presence is starting to get better, but it’s obviously a jump from JV and he’s getting used to the speed of the varsity game.”

Sierra lost its top wide out, Joey Mendez, to graduation but now has more depth behind third-year varsity player Izayah Houston.

“There are a lot of new faces in the receiving corps,” Abrew said. “Some of these guys will play a little bit of defense, so the more depth the better.”

Jax Ballard is entering his third varsity season, but the 6-foot-2, 245-pound guard is the only returning starter on the offensive line.

Defense: Sierra has some unique athletes such as 6-3 junior Tali Vaituna, a rangy receiving target on one end and a terror off the edge on the other. Seniors Jesse Flores and Josh Seals also fit that mold.

It’s an area of strength for the Timberwolves, who are working to greatly improve after surrendering 50 points per game last eason.  

Juniors Brock Felt, Mario Juarez and Caleb Love are the linchpins at the linebacker spots. Felt was a varsity starter last season, and Juarez was the leading tackler for the JV.

Nikko Camarena, Evan Greenwood and Houston join Harris in the defensive backfield.

“It’s a work in progress,” Abrew said. “We need to fly to the football and tackle, that’s what it comes down to. That’s what we’ve been working on, is tackling and pursuing to the football.”

Schedule: An old rivalry is renewed in week zero when the Timberwolves visit Lathrop, a fellow Manteca Unified school they last played in 2019.

The Week 3 showdown with Armijo also presents a challenge in the form of four-star lineman Jericho Johnson. Week 2 is the home opener with Golden Valley, which is retooling after an 8-3 campaign. Grace Davis and Modesto round out the T’wolves’ pre-league schedule, where they’ll want to pick up some victories before heading into the trials of the VOL.

“We’re just trying to get our players to compete at a high level,” Abrew said. “We want to play with energy and passion and let the chips fall where they may.

“The last three years, we won one game a year at the varsity level. We need to bring that winning tradition back. The goal is to make the playoffs this year.”