On paper, Academy of Careers & Exploration finished exactly where many small-school programs hope to be last season.
A 4-4 record, a CIF-Southern Section playoff appearance and an offense capable of scoring more than 60 points.
But none of those numbers tell the real story. The real victory is simply putting together a roster in a community without a youth football pipeline. A challenge that has forced head coach Aaron Gansky to build his program one player, one lesson and one season at a time.
Unlike many High Desert schools, Academy of Careers & Exploration doesn’t benefit from years of football development before players reach the varsity level. There’s a local youth flag football program, but no established tackle football system feeding the high school. As a result, many Eagles arrive still learning the game’s fundamentals while facing opponents who have been playing organized football for years.
It’s a reality Gansky has come to embrace.
Now entering his third season as head coach and his 10th overall with the program after years as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, Gansky understands that success isn’t always measured by the scoreboard. Sometimes it’s measured by whether enough players return the following season ready to take the next step.
“Again, our youth, man,” Gansky said. “It’s a two-edged sword because the foundation of our team is all sophomores. But these are kids that, even as freshmen, I was looking for opportunities to get them in games because they just had a mind for it. They had a love for it.
“We’re looking to really build that strong foundation. We’re looking to hopefully build a legacy like some of these other desert teams have. Your Serranos, your Oak Hills, your Apple Valleys. We’re trying to build something like that up there where kids get excited about playing for us.”
There were encouraging signs last fall.
The Eagles finished 4-4 overall and 2-1 in Agape League action before seeing their season end with back-to-back losses to Hesperia Christian, first in the regular-season finale and then again in the playoffs.
Even in defeat, ACE proved it could be dangerous offensively. The Eagles scored at least 38 points in each of their four victories, including explosive performances of 61 and 65 points. Collectively, the offense rushed for 1,353 yards and 24 touchdowns while quarterback Judge Coffel added 762 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes.
Replacing key contributors means the next chapter belongs to a much younger group.
Sophomore Bentley Dashiell steps into the starting quarterback role after serving as Coffel’s backup a year ago. While his varsity experience was limited, Gansky believes those reps gave Dashiell a valuable head start.
“This is the first time as a head coach that I’ve had a kid who played a little bit the year before coming back,” Gansky said. “He didn’t get a lot of reps, so it’s essentially like his first year. But he has a good mind for the sport. I think the passing game may not click right away, but I think we’re going to get there.”
Dashiell spent the offseason preparing for the opportunity by focusing on adding size and improving his speed.
“I’ve been gaining weight and trying to get faster,” Dashiell said. “I tried to eat as much protein as possible. Just eat a lot.”
What excites him most isn’t necessarily becoming the starting quarterback.
It’s the group surrounding him.
“I think we’ve got a good core,” Dashiell said. “I’m just excited for the games to start.”
That core starts with running back Josh Hillquist, who is expected to carry much of the offensive workload after spending the offseason improving his speed, agility and technique.
“I worked a lot on my form and just trying to get everything ready,” Hillquist said.
Gansky believes Hillquist could become one of the breakout players in the Agape League.
“I think Josh is going to have a pretty solid season,” Gansky said. “I think he’s really going to turn some heads.”
Speed will also come from Ryder Mapes, another sophomore expected to contribute in multiple roles.
“We don’t have a ton of size,” Gansky said. “But we do have a good amount of speed and athleticism. Now it’s a matter of putting all the pieces into place.”
The Eagles did receive one significant boost in the size department during the offseason.
Senior offensive lineman Maverick Ambrisco transferred from Murrieta Mesa, bringing experience from an 11-man football program to an Eagles roster built largely around underclassmen.
“It is very rare for that to happen,” Gansky said. “I’m very excited about what Maverick is going to bring for our team, just in terms of his experience level and his knowledge of the sport.”
Ambrisco doesn’t view the transition from 11-man to 8-man football as much of an adjustment.
“Different amount of people doesn’t change the competition,” he said. “I like having a younger group here. They have a lot more time to develop. I came from a school where everyone was seniors, so it’s nice to have some guys that have a lot more to give right now.”
His offseason centered on improving mobility while maintaining the size needed to anchor the offensive line.
“I have to be bigger, and I still have to be expected to move as fast as a lot of these guys,” Ambrisco said. “So I’ve worked on really good mobility, not just worrying about the weight I’m moving, but how fast it’s moving.”
Leadership has quickly become another part of his role.
Hillquist called Ambrisco “a real leader on the line,” while Dashiell pointed to both Ambrisco and Hillquist as the team’s captains.
Ambrisco, meanwhile, immediately shifted the praise back to his teammate.
“Josh,” he said. “He’s the heart.”
That type of leadership will be essential as the Eagles continue trying to overcome one of the program’s biggest challenges.
Without a traditional youth football system, Gansky often has to adapt concepts designed for 11-man football to fit the unique spacing and tempo of the 8-man game while teaching players who may still be learning football fundamentals.
Rather than worrying about matching opponents in size, Gansky wants his players to win with preparation.
“We may not be the biggest,” he said. “We can’t always control that. But we will try to be the most technically sound, and the smartest. It’s about the foundational techniques. It’s about doing things right. It’s about execution.”
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: From the ground up: ACE is looking to build a football culture in Helendale
Reporting by Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press | USA TODAY Network
