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| Written by Chris Roberts / Tracy Press / | |
| Tuesday, 20 November 2007 | |
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Former Pack stars still running with Mustangs.
From an outsider’s perspective, life hasn’t changed a whole lot for 2007 West High alums Montrel Richardson and Amini Silatolu. They’re still playing football, in the same positions they played in high school — running back and lineman, respectively. They’re still getting up early for first-thing-in the morning weight room sessions — and they’re still earning All-League honors for their stellar play. But instead of doing it in Tri-City Athletic League as prep athletes, they’re doing it in Valley Conference play as full-time starters, and first team All-Conference selections, for the San Joaquin Delta College Mustangs. “College is a lot faster — you have to be a lot smarter,” said Richardson, who led the Mustangs’ ground attack with a team-high 602 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, including 71 yards on three touches and four receptions for 30 yards in Delta’s bowl game loss to Butte on Saturday. “There’s meetings every day, it’s more of a process,” he said of the college game, noting that it also comes with much more personal freedom outside of the team. “With every level moving up, you have to get smarter to keep playing the game.” Richardson managed to do all that despite playing as part of a three-running back rotation — and said that he could have done even more. Silatolu said he expected to learn from the sidelines this year, but instead found himself as the starting right tackle on the offensive line, plowing holes for his past and current teammate. “I thought it was just a freshman thing,” he said. “Gotta wait one more year to start, and learn all the plays.” None of this — starting immediately, making an impact and making enough of an impression on opposing coaches to be voted to the all-conference team — shocked the man who brought them to Stockton. “We knew they were both good players before they got here,” said Delta head coach Gary Barlow, a Tracy High alum. “But more importantly, they’re good kids who know how to win. They come from a good program that’s used to success.” In a way, that program came with them. Classmates Robert Soto and Jideofo Okwudiri are both on the team, as are two teammates that were on the 2005 Section finalist team, Garrett Andrews and Sana Sausau. Andrews made a name for himself during Saturday’s bowl game with 178 yards on seven catches and a touchdown. “Having them made it more like home,” Richardson said. “But then you meet the new people, and you all become one.” Neither of them know what will happen after their sophomore seasons. But for now, Barlow said both of them will expect to do even more next year, and both of them admit there’s plenty of hard work to do in the offseason. “I need to get bigger,” the already-monstrous Silatolu said. “It’s been a long time since summer,” said Richardson, who said he plans on running track in the spring. “Now it’s time to focus on school and grades.” Both Richardson and Silatolu were All-League selections as high school seniors. Silatolu made the cut despite missing time with an injury. Richardson was named the 2006 TCAL player of the year, and also advanced to the CIF State track and field championships as a sprinter
The Delta College football team features more than a few faces familiar to Tracy:
Montrel Richardson, Running back, West class of 2007
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