Though the Redwood football season is winding down, the team is still struggling to implement the new coach’s vision for the team.

The team suffered from another coaching change during their last game against Novato, when former quarterback coach Mike Durant switched coaching positions with offensive coordinator Dan Mareno.

“Coach Henderson believed that Coach Mareno wasn’t doing so well as a play-caller,” said senior Louis Knox. “He thought that Mareno would do better as the quarterback coach to give Zach Dubin and the other quarterbacks more individual practice.”

The change is one of many for the program, which has experienced significant turnover this season.

“We have a new head coach, new offensive coordinator, new quarterback coach, and new playbook,” Knox said. “We’re working harder now, and the team will start playing better because of that.”

According to senior Joe Perella, the changes are taking their toll on the team.

“It’s definitely been a hard adjustment having a whole new coaching staff, learning all these new schemes and plans,”  Perella said. “But we’re doing the best we can, and hopefully we’ll get it working soon enough to finish out the rest of the season with wins.”

The changes have yet to produce success. After losing to Terra Linda Trojans 6-0 and the Novato Hornets 41-6, their record has stooped to 1-6, which is no better than last year’s 3-7 mark.
In the game against the Trojans two weeks ago, Redwood’s defense held strong, allowing only one touchdown on a pass play.

“We held them off pretty well on defense, but our offense was too weak to overcome them,” Knox said.

But the defense was unable to play at that same level two weeks in a row, allowing Novato to score 41 points.

Novato runningback Herve Changeux, who came into the game as the second-leading rusher in MCAL, contributed 196 of Novato’s 389 rushing yards, which also included a 92-yard touchdown by former Redwood student Walt Serafin.

The Giants’ offense did manage to score against the Hornets, with a fourth-quarter drive culminating in a four-yard rushing touchdown by runningback Khari Haynes. But the score came too late, as Novato had already scored 34 points on a Redwood defense that was hampered by numerous injuries and illnesses.

The team has fallen behind on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Over the season, they’ve given up 217 points and 2,103 yards, but have gained only 105 points and 1,111 yards.

Despite what the numbers show, Knox said the team is already experiencing success not reflected by wins and losses.

“Last year we started strong and then slowly declined,” Knox said. “But this year we’re ramping it up each game.”

Perella said he attributes part of that improvement to the morale the team has developed under the new coach.

“I know a lot of people pushed for Coach Henderson to be our coach, and now that’s he’s here people are more motivated to play harder,” Perella said.

According to Knox, coaching changes alone can’t improve the team if the players don’t put in maximum effort.

“The coaches can do whatever they want,” Knox said. “If the players aren’t playing to their full potential then the team isn’t going anywhere.”

Perrella said that Coach Henderson has a plan to ensure full player commitment.

“Coach Henderson has a scheme set up for the next four years to get Redwood back to the football powerhouse it used to be,” Perella said. “He’s pulled up guys he thinks can be top players in the league and giving them extra time at the varsity

level to make their senior seasons just that much better.”

Knox said he thinks that all of these improvements will pay off eventually.

“We’re definitely taking a step in the right direction,” Knox said. “It’s going to be slow, but I guarantee Redwood will start getting better.”

The team plays its next game Oct. 20 at San Marin High School in Novato.