Star-Bulletin: Baldwin sings California blues

A team that practices against a certain offense will always be at an advantage against an opponent that also uses that offense. That was the case when San Clemente played Baldwin last weekend.

Defensive coordinator Jaime Ortiz was kind enough to share his insights and feedback about the Bears. His team won 38-15, but he was quick to point out some factors, including the absence of Baldwin's all-state receiver, Chase Nakamura.

San Clemente is an outstanding team that caught Baldwin at the right time. I see the Bears as a state semifinal player again this season, perhaps going even deeper.

Here's my Q & A with Coach Ortiz.

Jaime Ortiz, Defensive Coordinator, San Clemente High School

Ties to Hawaii

As a coach, I have coached against the following schools Nanakuli, St. Louis, Ka'aui, and Baldwin. Our head coach Eric Patton has brought 5 high school teams over to play in Hawaii.

What did you see on Baldwin's tape that caught your interest before the game?

They were an explosive team that had many weapons. I studied the state semi final game against Kahuku and you could tell that Baldwin played with great pride and heart. They were 5 seconds away from beating the eventual state champs.

Going after Helle was important for you. What did you do exactly with blitz packages? Any tweaks or just basic SC defensive stuff?

We wanted to give Helle different looks and bring blitzes from different sides. Our defensive backs did a good job of disguising our coverage and we got pressure on Helle when needed.

Who does Baldwin remind you of in your league?

They are very much like our offense and also Dana Hills. We are both a shot gun offense that likes to throw the ball around the majority of the time.

Who are the kids on your defense who will play D1 college ball?

We have two players that are being looked at, one is Andrew Douglass who is our middle backer. He was our team Defensive MVP last year as a junior and he had 10 tackles in the game against Baldwin. Our other player is Taylor Patton who plays outside linebacker. He runs a 10.9 100 meters and is a great athlete. We expect great things from both of these players.

What was the cultural experience like for the kids? Was anything confusing or funny to them and you guys as coaches?

I think our kids learned a lot about Maui. For many, it was their first time in Hawaii and they were amazed as to how beautiful the island is. We practiced at the Maui boys and girls club and many of our players and coaches were greeted with open arms around Lahaina as long as we promised them that we would beat Baldwin.

What was the degree to which you think Baldwin missed Chase Nakamura?

Chase is a huge weapon for Baldwin. He is good for at least two touchdowns a game and he can really stretch the defense with his height and speed. He is a game breaker from the games that we studied.

How far do you think your team will go this season? Is it one of the better SC teams of recent years?

We have a good nucleus of players that enjoy playing with each other. This team has a potent offense and defensive players that like to run and hit. I believe that this team enjoys playing with one another and will have a successful season.

What would you recommend to any mainland team before coming to the islands?

We brought over 125 players and I think the biggest thing that I would recommend for any mainland team is to be sure that they respect the island and citizens of Hawaii. All of the islands are paradise and are like nothing that you will see on the mainland. We really emphasized to our kids to be proud representatives of San Clemente High School and to come with the "Aloha Spirit."

Where did you go sightseeing?

As a team, we spent time snorkeling black rock, attending a luau and visited Haleakala.

Who will you play in 3 years when your team returns?

At this time, we do not have an opponent. It would be great to visit the Big Island as we have never played there before.

Additional thoughts?

It was a pleasure and an honor for our team to play in Hawaii. Everyone was so gracious from the hotel staff at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel to the players and coaches at Baldwin High School. It was a great trip for our program and it was something that our players and coaches will never forget. Mahalo.

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