Dons return plenty of talent from playoff team

Despite losing some star power to graduation, Santa Barbara High School still has plenty of tools left in the shed as they try for a successful encore to last year’s playoff team.

Senior running back Chorokee Cunningham is healthy again after missing most of last season with a knee injury. He gained over one thousand yards as a sophomore which included five 100-yard rushing games.

The Dons will use two quarterbacks, senior Eli Hale and sophomore Brent Peus. Hale led the Dons to a huge Channel League win at Dos Pueblos last year throwing three touchdown passes. Peus tossed a touchdown pass in Santa Barbara’s CIF playoff loss to Cathedral.

Santa Barbara will need an inexperienced and undersized offensive and defensive line to improve during the season to have a chance to win their second straight league championship.

Santa Barbara plays at St. Joseph of Santa Maria to open the year on Friday, August 30.