Josue Elena has thrown short passes regularly during his illustrious career as quarterback for the Santa Maria High School football team. He has also thrown medium and long passes regularly.
When Elena graduated in June, he took his passing numbers with him, which were pretty impressive in 2023: 2,618 total yards, with 207 completions on 298 attempts, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Albert Mendoza, Santa Maria’s fourth-year coach, said before his team’s practice game Friday night in Lompoc that there was no competition for the quarterback position when it came to replacing Elena.
“Adrian Pasos will be the quarterback,” Mendoza said.
Pasos has been a stalwart on defense for Santa Maria Secondary and was the Saints’ third-leading tackler last year as a junior. This year he will be a defensive back again. This year will be Pasos’ first time playing quarterback.
“He’s definitely improved,” Mendoza said since summer workouts began. “He’s a guy who can do both. He needs to improve his accuracy.”
The Saints will be back in the Ocean League, this time with Cabrillo, Nipomo, Morro Bay and Templeton. After playing in the Mountain League-Ocean League format for several years, the Central Coast Athletic Association (CCAA) teams were split into the Mountain, Sunset and Ocean Leagues for the 2024 season.
Santa Maria lost most of its top players to graduation in 2023. However, Santa Maria has four starters back on the defensive line and three more on the offensive line.
Pasos, senior running back/defensive end Michael Herrera and senior wide receiver/strong safety Eric Lucas were listed as Santa Maria’s top three returning players on Maxpreps. Herrera was the team’s leading tackler last year.
Those three formed the core of a 2023 Santa Maria team that went 6-6. The Saints were the only Central Coast Athletic Association (CCAA) football team to win a playoff game. No. 10 Santa Maria defeated No. 7 Caruthers 36-29 in the first round of Division 4, then was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Atascadero, which won the Central Section Division 5 and CIF State 6-A championships in 2022, received a bye in the first round of Division 3 last year and then was eliminated in the quarterfinals. None of the other CCAA football playoff teams advanced past the first round.
All of the leading receivers on the 2023 Santa Maria team have graduated.
This means the Saints are returning to their offensive roots, affectionately referred to as “Saints Football” in some SMHS football circles.
“We will be primarily a running team,” Mendoza said before the Saints’ practice game in Lompoc.
When it comes to Santa Maria running the football a lot, “I can’t wait to block,” said senior tight end David Ramos, who plays end on defense.
Santa Maria’s top two runners of 2023 have graduated, but Mendoza is looking to the strong-running Herrera, among others, to provide the Saints with consistent running distance.
“I’m excited,” Herrera said. “It’s going to be a great season. We can throw the ball and throw the rock.”
Aalan Cueva and Eric Lucas are two players who will play key roles for the Saints. Cueva, a wide receiver-cornerback, is a rookie. Lucas is a returner.
“Of course,” Cueva replied when asked if he was satisfied with the team’s development.
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“I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved. We’ve lost a lot (of players to graduation), but it’s up to us to follow in their footsteps.”
Lucas is a wide receiver on offense. On defense, he will move from linebacker to strong safety.
“I’ve adapted pretty well to the role of strong safety, but I miss getting dirty there,” the third-year college player said of linebacker.
The Saints open their 2024 season on August 23 at 7 p.m. at Righetti. Here’s a look at the Santa Maria team.
Record 2023: 6-6 (3-3 Oceania League).
Mendoza expects Pasos to develop quickly as a quarterback. Herrera should be a particularly reliable running back on a team that will rely heavily on the run. Lucas, Cueva and the other Santa Maria receivers will need to step up to prevent opposing defenses from becoming too strong against the run.
The Saints have three starters back from last year: Sinait Zaragoza, Jose Flores and Anthony Hernandez. Jose Bautista will also likely play a key role as left tackle on offense and nose guard on defense.
Santa Maria has a strong unit with returning starters Herrera and Ramos at ends, Zaragoza at nose tackle and Makai Soto at tackle.
Lucas is the only returning starter from the 2023 unit and he has moved to strong safety.
Lucas and Pasos will likely be the anchors of the secondary.
At the time of going to press, the team’s specialists had not yet been determined.
Mendoza’s assistants this year are offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kyle Stickler, running backs and safeties coach Gabriel Athie, linebackers coach Larry Vea Jr., cornerbacks coach Oscar Placencia, wide receivers coach Armando Silva, offensive line coach Aaron Meloncon and defensive line coaches Jamar Tell and Jesse Soto.
