Chuck Land

A 280 pound 6’3” mountain, who ran not unlike a huge water buffalo, was a mainstay at offensive and defensive guard.  Chuck was all heart and football was his life.  I remember him saying he would like to flunk his senior year so he could play another year of football . . . the four years of eligibility rule be damned!  One day at practice Chuck showed coach Spitsen and I a hole in his armpit that exposed muscle and bone—who but Chuck!  Never heard about the hole again, but Chuck sure looked good in his required shirt and tie for away game trips.  Chuck was a diferent cat, but as all the rest, a true warrior football player.  Chuck today is on the marketing committee for the movie, ‘Forgotten Warriors,’ donated a trailer for the float to advertise the movie as grand marshal of the 2017 Quechan Indian Days Parade and still willing to help his alma mater any way he can.  Thanks, Chuck.

Coach Mundell

Remembering Coach Mike Brockert

Mike was a friend and an excellent line coach.  Mike had been the head coach and athletic director at one of San Pasqual High School’s most bitter rivals, Orme Ranch.  He had asked me in 1976 if there were any openings at San Pasqual, as he wanted to make a career move.  The year 1977, saw San Pasqual High School with a new math teacher and the football team with a new line coach . . . a great new piece that contributed tremendously to the undefeated state championship that year.

Photo by Randy Hoeft

One of the attached pictures of Mike indicates the philosophy embraced by the coaching staff—prepare diligently and enjoy life.  Coach Brockert and Coach Lovell are seen contemplating chess moves at a gas station on the freeway while awaiting a bus from Seton High School to pick up the team after two San Pasqual buses had broken down that day on the way to the championship game and a possible undefeated season; the team was prepared and coaches were enjoying life.

Coaching with Mike, and our families doing things together, was a rewarding and enjoyable part of my life, and making loosing him just a few months ago more difficult to accept.

Mike was scheduled to do his interview for the Forgotten Warriors documentary and to also play in the Forgotten Warriors first golf tournament . . . two months later he had passed away.  Two months after Mike passed, his son, Brian, passed away from brain cancer—Brian was my daughter’s age and they rode horses together at Orme Ranch when they were little ones.

Life is never fair or predictable and very fleeting, which always gives added volume to remembering those you care about and the nice experiences you shared with them.

Remembering Mike, and joys and successes together, is at once sad but joyful and gives even more meaning and urgency to the creation of a movie, ‘The Forgotten Warriors.’  To the memories of all we have lost, still have with us and the history of a special time that should never be allowed to die--rest in peace, Mike and Brian—from all of us.

Coach Mundell

Anthony "Pino" Espino

Anthony ‘Pino’ Espino was a quarterback dilemma, to say the least, and yet he represented San Pasqual football players in the absolute best way; he did what was necessary to win!  Because ‘Pino’ literally could not hit a wall 10 ft in front of him with a pass, we asked him to practice all summer in front of a mirror with his ball fakes.  Pino was also sent to quarterback camp in Santa Barbara to learn the mental aspects of quarterbacking a team full of stars.  A final critical piece was the wide stance under center he took, hands out of the way, allowing the ball to be snapped directly to Linnie Montague on passing plays.  This allowed for a great passing game, tremendous faking to running backs and a great platform for quarterback sneaks, while creating extreme confusion for opposing defenses.  Thank you Pino for the cooperation you displayed to make everyone around you better. 

Lionel "Linnie" Montague

Lionel ‘Linnie’ Montague was a very well oiled piece of the 1977 undefeated state championship team; and the center of one of the greatest adaptations made over a 10 year period.  Simply put, Linnie was our quarterback who played fullback.  What do you do with a 6’2” 235 lb kid with soft hands, smooth moves and a feathery touch passing the ball (a great pitcher on the baseball team that won state as well!) . . . let him run, pass and hand off; a quarterback out of position, or in the perfect position!  Imagine Linnie at 235 lbs and his uncle, ‘Big Al,’ at 285 lbs coming at you off tackle—500 plus pounds heading at the defensive tackle!

Now that the defense is stacked to stop the run, Linnie, who always sets up two steps deeper behind the real quarterback lofts a soft pass to lightening wide receiver, Bruce Williams, or hands off to Jimmy ‘the Worm’ Montana, who many officials said was the best running back in the state that year—at any level.

1977 saw the most balanced offensive attack ever assembled at San Pasqual High School.  What a pleasure to coach this team of young men!

Jimmy "Worm" Montana

Jimmy ‘Worm’ Montana was always worth the price of admission to watch.  Over a two year period, ‘Worm’ had 13 straight games of 100 plus yards rushing—with 5 over 200 yards.  His ability to change direction in a second, find holes and follow his blockers was uncanny.  In the championship game ‘Worm’ caught two touchdown passes from Linnie while accumulating140 yards on the ground.  With Alton ‘Big Al’ getting 20 tackles, both offense and defense were in high gear for this championship game.

‘Worm’ holds the school record with 1,186 yards in a season and 16 touchdowns.  A colorful character off the field—even to this day—he was a work of art and a pleasure to coach and watch on the filed.

The Three Kings

The Three Kings- The Martinez brothers, a very memorable group of linemen and over achievers that covered 7 – 8 years of San Pasqual football, thereby having a great impact on the success for the Warriors program. 

Pete being the oldest was a crazy quiet leader.  Pete was hard hitting and never wanted to be out of a game.  One particular game he dislocated a finger, we reset it and tapped it to another finger and he was back on the field.  Pete was another San Pasqual football player usually in trouble early on, but today is a Lt. Colonel and a minister in the army—Pete found his way.

Tony was the second and to this day is always the one with a joke and keeping things loose.  On the field, like his brother, Tony was unforgiving and always stepping up.  Linemen are notoriously forgotten by fans and newspaper writers and cameras but are never forgotten by coaches and teammates who they labor in obscurity for.  Tony was, and is, relentless and dependable.  A testament to Tony’s many talents is a pen and ink drawing still hanging in my home that is truly professional quality—thank you my friend!

Jaime is the lover and artist today—mayhem and destruction was not Jaime’s calling card but efficiency and accomplishment was.  A player the coaches were always able to count on in games and even at practice where many players give less than their best.  Jaime saved his teammates many wind sprints at the end of practice because of his dedication and hustle.  It takes many parts to create a successful team and San Pasqual football had an inventory of well oiled parts—especially these brothers.

Jaime Martinez and Bernie Bouts homecoming King and Queen.

San Pasqual- The Building of a Dynasty

Coaches are a lot like parents-- you love all your kids equally and players are no different.   As I look back through articles, what a warm feeling seeing those young men, San Pasqual Warrior football players, who bought into discipline and winning. 

We have opened our blog of ‘player profiles’ with some of the players from the undefeated ’77 state championship team and will continue to introduce them as weeks go on.

Now it is time to begin introducing those players who made ’77 possible—those who looked decades of loosing squarely in the face and choose discipline, teamwork, and winning over the ever present specter of loosing.

Looking at pictures of the 1971 team of 21 players who started the season and who ultimately ended up being 13 players, left me with that same deep respect I have always had for that group of young men. Then to compare the picture of the 1972 team of 40 plus players, told the story of acceptance of a program and the excitement for winning that was beginning to grow at San Pasqual.

One of the 13 players of 1971 was a freshman named Faron Owl; and you can’t say Faron without his sidekick Damon Polk.  With junior and senior leadership almost non-existent, these two freshmen stepped up and played a full year against varsity competition, much older than they were.  These two were the beginning of the words, ‘Warrior Pride,’ they just wouldn’t quit or give in.

Faron and Damon played multiple positions as freshmen, which only added to their ‘football knowledge’ and their ability to be leaders for the next three years; a nucleus was born, and we all, in the ‘Decade of Dominance,’ owe these two a great deal of respect and thanks.  The characters of these two young men was exemplified in their senior year when they came to a crossroads in their young lives—leave the team or face hell after practice for a week for a violation of team rules.  They chose the second option and led us to another AIAA State Championship.  Of even equal or more importance, Faron and Damon took that second option and became the first Native American players from San Pasqual to graduate from college—both in education today.

Faron was also an excellent baseball player and earned a baseball scholarship to Redland University . . . he coaches San Pasqual baseball today and assisted in the football program.

Faron and Damon, I think I speak for all of us from the ‘Decade of Dominance’ when I say thank you for being, from day one, the strong leadership and role models needed to begin turning San Pasqual football from disgruntled and undisciplined losers to excited and proud Warriors….on and off the field.

Faron Owl

Surrounded by great athletes and abilities a name surfaced that tells the diversity of the San Pasqual athletic program for 10 years.  An all-league player who accounted for many points was Larry Leamons, a gifted wide receiver.  Larry’s twin brother was a major contributor as well for the football program.  The one thing that sticks out about Larry was his overall athletic ability.  As a member of both the basketball team and the baseball team, Larry was voted the San Pasqual Athlete of the Year at the awards banquet his senior year—a testament to his overall skills.

Gary, as quarterback, threw the touchdown to his brother, Larry, as San Pasqual won its first game under Coach Mundell and Coach Spitsen.  Larry had 193 yards in receptions that night!

Larry and Gary Leamons

There are not many high school fullbacks you could call lovable, but Jack Bouts was different—just ask coach Spitsen, or “Otto”, as Jack would call him.  Jack was a bruiser and yet always kept the team loose.  I really don’t think Jack always gave himself enough credit for how good he was, but his ‘yardage gained’ numbers in every game should have reinforced that he was a major contributor to the San Pasqual Warriors turn-around.

Jack was, and is, a winner.  Jack scored the only touchdown in San Pasqual’s first state title ever and had over 80 yards rushing against Orme Ranch.  As one can clearly see, from the attached picture, Jack was very adept at avoiding tacklers, as well as being able to run over them.  San Pasqual’s 8 – 6 victory over Orme Ranch for the AIAA State Championship was a classic that year and so was Jack Bouts.

Jack Bouts

A few times in a coach’s career, two players came together that compliment each other and make those around them better.  Much like Faron Owl and Damen Polk, Robert Espino and Dick Cannon were two such players.  The only two players I ever coached who made All-American in high school football.  Both players led in their respective areas, Dick in the line and Robert in the backfield and the only players at San Pasqual to have their jersey retired, #9 and big #00.  There were many highlights to their football careers obviously, but the personality characteristics that always stood out to me, besides their leadership, was the quiet way they listened, learned, and helped those younger players coming up behind them.  Trite but true, there is no “I” in team and they displayed that wonderful combination of teamwork and lack of ego.  As their time at San Pasqual seemed intertwined, so was the end for each—both have passed away, but for this coach, they will never be forgotten for what they accomplished and helped us all to accomplish.

One experience I would like to share, that speaks volumes about Robert’s character and quiet leadership, was his answer to a drug problem that was pretty rampant on campus when he played.  Robert asked Coach Spitsen and I if we would meet with him in the mornings before school (7:00 am) so people on campus with drugs would leave him alone.  It didn’t take long for people to know his stand and that two coaches were watching and supporting him; quiet and unassuming character always on display.

RIP Robert and Dick—from the rest of the Forgotten Warriors.

Robert Espino and Dick Cannon

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My San Pasqual Years

1977-78 Season

Coach

Sharon Baum

I remember the day as if it was yesterday.  I got a call from San Pasqual District Office at the end of September 1977 asking me if I would be interested in a position at their school teaching physical education grades 7-12th.  I said,  “Sure, when do you want me to come and interview?”  Within the week, I had an interview and I was offered a job.  Missing the first month of school is never great for a teacher, but it was a beautiful October morning when I drove up and parked in front of San Pasqual Junior-Senior High School determined to make a difference.  Little did I know that my life was going to be changed forever.

San Pasqual High School is a small high school on the southeastern side of California, right across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona.  I always wanted to teach at a high school but my first job in Oregon was at an elementary school, grades 1st through 8th grade.  I had coached 7th & 8th graders for two years and I was ready for the challenge of high school.  I was excited about the possibilities of coaching basketball and softball because both were my strengths in college.  By mid November, it was time to start girl’s basketball and about 15 girls showed up for our first practice.  The years may cloud the distinct memories of what happened that first season, but my heart remembers quite well.  

A month into my new teaching job and coaching, I was just starting to feel the girls trusted me.  As their coach I believed we had all the ingredients for a team that could go all the way to state and all I wanted was a commitment from my players to do their best, be their best and believe they were the best.  But we did not have the best conditions to think we had a shot at being the best team in the small AIAA league.  We had no decent uniforms, nor socks or shoes or sweats and we practiced at the Community Center that had a cement floor with tile layed over it.  When I look back and compare what high schools have now, we definitely overcame obstacles that were common in girl’s sports in the late 1970’s. 

The 77-78 team players were Seniors Leona Jose and Patty Ortega.  Juniors Cindy (Sam) Williams, Sandra Pruitt, Bernie Bouts, Gloria Derma.  Sophomores Susan Montague, Ernie Montana, Dorinda Townsend.  Freshman Danell Pastores and Kelly Gourley.  Our manager was Marciela Ortega.

Softball was next and again the enthusiasm from our terrific basketball season carried over to our softball team.   By now, they knew I cared about them and wanted them to feel the pride that comes with believing in unity of a team, being there for each other and caring for each other. 

We had a few other girls join our softball team that didn’t play basketball.    Celia Espino, Helen Spencer, Yolanda Polk, Armida Marron, Lisa Foster, Holly Dunnagan, Jeanette Peterson and Ellen Crawford.  Melvin Pastores was my assistant coach and Cathy Burlingame was our score keeper.

I was impressed by the commitment of these girls, seeing their need to feel like they had something to contribute and to be recognized for their efforts was the beginning of my life being changed.  And now 40 years later, these “kids” are all grown up, have kids and grandkids and at a reunion a few years ago, we reunited and it was so rewarding to know that what took place at this small high school, had years of impact on many of their lives.

In my next blog piece, I will share about the changes in the 1978-79 season and what changed and how we became state champs in both basketball and softball and volley ball.

The Amazing Guy Bowman

Third on the list of Forgotten Warriors is the #2 light heavyweight champion of the San Pasqual football team.  As co-captain of the team that year, Guy Bowman, or 'Salt', was going to miss homecoming that year because of being late to practice one day that week.  Guy, who was a middle linebacker and knew his way around rough neighborhoods, had mixed it up with the best of them, and 'suggested' if I weren't the coach, he would teach me a lesson I wouldn't forget.  After getting the boxing gloves and putting the team around us, we had a 'discussion'--Guy lost, learned a lesson, played in the game and still holds the record for most tackles in a single game.  Another life's lesson learned, and a coach who could have been sued, or worse, put in jail. But we both were better people, and I a better coach, for the experience.  A very good man he still is.  Thanks, Guy. 

Coach Mundell

The Big Man In The Middle: Alton Montague

Our second Forgotten Warrior is Alton Montague, 'Big Al" to friends and foe alike.  A giant of a player who was quick as a cat and, as a lightning nimble nose guard, plugged the middle of coach Brockert's defensive line.  Big Al would consistently punt the football 50+ yards with excellent hang-time--I always felt, given the proper circumstances, Big Al could have played professional football, and without a doubt punted in the NFL.  A player who demanded respect and gave it.  Big Al was a leader on and off the field.  A true star . . . and friend to this day.

 Coach Mundell

Remembering Kenny Long

We at the Forgotten Warriors family thought it might be nice to begin introducing all of our viewers to some of the personalities and stories associated with players from 10 years of sacrifice and success.  As I looked through articles, pictures and year books, one picture kept coming back that somehow depicts the battle still being fought on reservations today and highlights the spirit of all those players from the Decade of Dominance.  An impoverished community with success often stacked against them.  Kenny Long was one example of the determination to succeed on the field and in life.  Kenny still holds the longest touchdown run from scrimmage, 103 yards as The Warriors beat CETYS Junior College.  That evening, as the team was dressing, he told a few of the players he was upset he hadn't scored a "touchdown yet this season."  The consummate team player and friend to everyone got his wish in a big way!  Kenny's parents were great supports or their sons, the team and the coaching staff--wonderful family to work with!  Kenny died in an accident while home on leave from the military, a truly wasted life for a gifted young man.  You were a little Warrior with a huge heart and a wonderful but hurtful Echo from the past.  We miss you “Kenworth”. . .but you are still family. 
 

Coach Mundell

Honoring Our Players

We would like to welcome everyone to our new website!  With the addition of our website, we here at the Forgotten Warriors team see this as an excellent opportunity to present many of the player profiles and stories that make up the "Decade of Dominance." We are excited to share these stories and over the next several months we will be highlighting past players from the football teams and from other sports programs at San Pasqual.  During that decade from 1971 to 1981, we saw a transformation take place.  One that permeated the whole school and community.  The spirit and pride that resonated the school and community is something we hope to make aware to the younger generations.  The stories we will share go beyond football.  It's about health, it's about teamwork, it's about helping each other, it's about hope.  Coach Denny Mundell will start us off by sharing with us his memories of some of the players.  Please feel free to reach out to us here at Forgotten Warriors and share any stories you think we may have missed or feel are important to our campaign.  We believe this is a great opportunity for everyone to share in the contributions these players made on the team and in the community. A big thanks to everyone, especially all the players from all the sports and all the students that contributed to such a unforgettable time at San Pasqual Valley High School during that decade and beyond!  Warriors Strong!