Chabot Football ‘On A Mission’

A new conference, a rebuilt coaching staff and a deeper squad will be key elements of the Chabot College football team’s 2024 season.

And, oh yeah, outside linebacker Freddy Moala is back and ready for more.
“He’s just a monster on the football field,” head coach Eric Fanene said of Moala, a Tennyson High graduate who has returned after dominating two years ago. “He leads our defense with D-tackle Jeremiah Foni of San Leandro, a force in the middle.”
The Glads (0-10 in 2023) will open the season on the road at Monterey Peninsula at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7. In Week 2, Chabot will host Merced in their home opener on Sept. 14. Home games are all at 1 p.m. at Gladiator Stadium, which is being rebuilt after the season. Some patchwork repairs to the field are ongoing.
During a time of change and new energy, Chabot has moved into the American-Pacific 7 Conference after competing in the National-Bay 6, a higher division. Foothill swapped spots with Chabot by moving into the Bay 6 from the Pacific 7.
The Glads proved formidable against Foothill in a recent scrimmage – an effort that could portend a bounce-back season.
“Things are going good, man. It’s refreshing,” said Fanene, in his eighth year as Chabot head coach. “I’ve built a new staff around the core guys I had last year. Tony Pole, David Phillip, they’re not only coaches but good friends.”
A beefed-up staff has helped the players up their level of preparation and taken some of the load off Fanene, who is still running the offense.
“… Great staff. We’ve got (Jerome) Manos back at defensive coordinator. David Phillip is my special-teams coordinator,” Fanene said. “.. I brought back (line coach) Pete Quesinberry.”
Of the team’s strengths, Fanene mentioned “speed and size at wide receiver. Malakai (Kai) Matthews is a 6-5 wide receiver from Michigan. He’s one of our leaders. … Went through a lot of growing pains here last year. Great leader. Great player and a great target for our quarterbacks.”
Manny Higgins (Largo HS, Florida) is ready to roll again at slot receiver.
“He’s having a great camp. He’s special. Explosive. He can play everywhere, a kick returner as well,” Fanene said of Higgins. “What we have this year that we didn’t have last year is depth … There’s little drop-off when we sub guys in.”
The Glads have two solid running backs in Trevor Rund (California High) and Chase Sims (Logan). Rund, coming off an ACL injury last year, “toted the ball every down during our spring practices,” Fanene said. “We’re excited for him. Sims is also looking good. It’s a 1-A and 1-B kind of backfield.”
Harris Nekrawish (Irvington), in his third year, is the current starter at quarterback. He’s a “good field general who makes good decisions,” Fanene says.
Nekrawish was battling Christian Rapis (Pearl City-Hawaii) for the starting spot, but Rapis suffered a broken foot in the Black and Gold scrimmage. Coaches filled the void by moving freshman Cooper Matthews (Castro Valley) to signal-caller spot from the defense.
“He’s doing a really good job,” Fanene said of Matthews. “He’s a smart kid, we’re lucky to have him.”
The offensive line boasts three stalwarts: Johnny Hilder, of Wyoming, a starter two years ago who’s back from a torn labrum; Sione Lokotui (Logan); and Odin Malby (Castro Valley).
On defense, a deep defensive line boasts Foni and DE Nathan Vera (Newark Memorial), who is back from Humboldt State after playing rugby. Standout DE Tomu Satini (Tonga HS) can play anywhere on the line.
At linebacker, Andy Viernes has returned and will start in the middle. Inside linebacker Henry Pole (Logan), coach Pole’s little brother, is looking good in his comeback season after suffering a broken leg last year.
The secondary boasts improving DB Trevon Kenney (Oakland Tech) and safeties Kwame Frenchwood (Washington HS) and Malachai Salazar-Alexander (Moreau Catholic). DB Marcello Garcia (Richmond) is a team leader in his third year.
Despite the team’s struggles last year, the Glads only lost one transfer, Fanene says. “All of our sophomores and freshmen came back, and we’re on a mission, man, on a mission to get rolling.”
Fanene and his staff have a lot of good selling points for new recruits.
“We talk about what they’re gonna get here,” Fanene says. “Great coaching. Great strength and conditioning program offseason, great facilities.”
After years of playing the same teams in the Bay 6, Chabot coaches have had to quickly adjust to preparing for new opponents, new systems, different personnel, etc. There are some familiar faces, but the whole season will take some getting used to.
“It’s a little challenging but fun at the same time in the offseason, finding these guys’ film on the data base and deciphering what they’re gonna do,” Fanene says.