Head coach: Keith Holden, 7th year
2016 record: 4-1 PAL Ocean, 11-2 overall
Key returners: Gavin Tomberlin (Sr., QB/P); Chase Hoffmann (Sr., RB/SS); Hayden Von Almen (Sr., WR/FS); Jake Quosig (Sr., RB/S); Arron Baird (Sr., OLB/OT); Sean Fitzgerald (Sr., CB/WR); Dom Padua (Sr. slot/CB); Kellan Royce (Jr., G/LB); Joe Weinberger (Sr., DE); Juan Vazquez (Sr., DT); Ricky Camacho (Sr., LT)
Key newcomers: Dylan Williams (Sr., K/WR); Zach Henry (Sr., C/LB); Tristan Hoffmann (Fr., slot/DB)
2017 opener: Fri. at Saratoga, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Poor, little Half Moon Bay — the smallest public school in the Peninsula Athletic League — has managed just a 22-4 combined record over the past two seasons, while capturing back-to-back Central Coast Section Division IV championships.
It’s a wonder why the rest of the PAL doesn’t feel sorry for them.
This year, the PAL voted to promote HMB from the “B”-league Ocean Division to the “A”-league Bay Division. This is quite a leap, considering Cougars head coach Keith Holden said his team, through its previous four seasons in the Ocean Division, was still playing above its pay grade.
“We’re a (“C”-league) Lake Division team that overachieves,” Holden said. “But it’s kind of ridiculous if you look at the school size, the roster size and just go down the list.”
Still, the Cougars tout what is probably the most intriguing returning skill player in all of the PAL in senior Chase Hoffmann. The most potent of HMB’s many weapons out of the triple-option offense, Hoffmann produced 2,339 total yards in 2016, including a remarkable 2,070 yards rushing.
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