Sage strong at receiver

As the Sage Hill School football team practiced this week, there was noise on the usually quiet campus.

Bulldozers were at work in a dirt area immediately to the south of the football field. Construction is underway for six tennis courts, which are scheduled to be put in by next spring.

The Lightning, with a first-year head coach in Abram Booty and no returning All-Academy League players, are also a work in progress.

Booty, a former receiver at LSU who played for the Cleveland Browns in 2001, himself starred at the high school level. When he played at Evangel Christian High in Louisiana from 1993 to 1996, he set national career records in receiving yards (5,867 yards), receptions (302) and touchdowns (83).

The Lightning also appear ready to showcase a potent passing game, if Friday night’s scrimmage against Santa Ana Century is any indication. Junior quarterback Caden Sheetz completed 13 of 18 passes for 264 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

“We have some great boys, tough players and smart players,” Booty said. “We’re limited in numbers is the challenge, but the guys that we have, I’m really excited about them. We have a lot of potential this year if we can stay healthy. We’re going to have to be in great shape, because most of our guys are going both ways, but I’m excited with what I found here.”

The last team that Booty coached won it all, as the Newport-Mesa Seahawks Pee Wee Division team captured the Orange County Junior All-American Super Bowl last November. At Sage Hill, Booty expects to see progress in a program that went 3-7 last year, 0-4 in league, after interim coach Tom Kirchmeyer took over following the resignation of J.R. Tolver just before the season.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the 2015 Lightning, who open the regular season Thursday night against Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at Jim Scott Stadium:

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•Quarterback: Junior Caden Sheetz takes over as the starter.

The Lightning will rely on Sheetz, who is 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, as they plan to pass the ball to a skilled group of receivers. Last year he backed up CJ McCord, a three-year starter at quarterback who now is at Yale.

“He’s got a great arm and makes good decisions,” Booty said. “We believe he’s going to have a very good year. He’s a good competitor.”

Sheetz also showed an ability to scramble during Friday’s scrimmage.

Sophomore William Leong is the Lightning’s backup quarterback.

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•Running backs: Senior DJ Henry is Sage Hill’s guy at this position. Henry, who is 5-9 and 185 pounds, got some playing time at the position last year but mostly was behind Beau Roth.

He showed his burst of speed during Friday’s scrimmage, as a 52-yard touchdown run was included in his four carries for 58 yards.

“He’s a strong runner,” Booty said. “That may not be his most natural position, but that’s where he’s at. We believe he can get some tough yards for us.”

The Lightning also may use their senior offensive guard/linebacker, Alfonso Corona, at this position. He had one carry for 10 yards during the scrimmage.

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•Receivers: The receiving corps is one of the strengths for Sage Hill, and the reason why is simple to Booty.

“That’s where our seniors are,” he said.

Two starters return in senior Jake Fisher (5-11, 180) and junior Miles McCord (6-0, 165), who is CJ’s little brother.

But Booty also is excited about his nephew, Jacob Copeland, a junior who is a transfer from Texas. Copeland, who is 6-2 and 195 pounds, caught three passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns during the scrimmage.

“He’s a phenom,” Booty said. “He’s an absolute animal. He’ll be a standout, you’ll see.”

Senior David Dewey (6-0, 150) is another returning receiver who saw playing time last season.

Booty said the Lightning typically will not feature a tight end.

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•Offensive line: Senior Barry Valdez (6-1, 215) returns at center and Booty said he is the anchor of the offensive line.

Valdez is flanked on the left by senior guard David Lee (5-8, 170) and junior tackle Jack Dickinson (6-2, 205), and on the right by guard Corona (5-10, 190) and junior Brett Jordan (6-1, 200).

“We’re solid,” Booty said. “We’re just real lean, real thin.”

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•Defensive line: Jordan and Dickinson will play end, as will sophomore Robert Leigh (5-8, 170). Valdez is the defensive tackle, and Henry the noseguard.

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•Linebackers: Corona anchors the unit as a three-year starter, while Lee is also a returning starter and sophomore Michael Ferry (6-2, 170) will also play some linebacker.

The lone freshman starter on the team is also linebacker Conner Hatzenbuehler (5-10, 180), who recovered a fumble for a touchdown during Friday’s scrimmage.

“We’re going to give him a chance,” Booty said. “He’s a good, tough kid. He won the Super Bowl with the Irvine chargers last year in Junior All-American. They went and beat the best team in L.A. last year, and he was one of their star players.”

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•Secondary: This is another strong spot for Sage Hill, Booty said. Dewey is a returning starter at cornerback, while Miles McCord is the other cornerback. Fisher is the Lightning’s strong safety, with Copeland the free safety.

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•Special teams: Senior Robbie Rosoff, who played for the Lightning as a sophomore but not last year, is back and is expected to be the Lightning’s starting kicker and punter. Last year, Rosoff starred for the Sage boys’ soccer team as a goalie, helping the Lightning reach the CIF Southern Section Division 6 semifinals.

Sage Hill also has senior kicker Gabriel Gamboa, and Leigh is the Lightning long snapper.

Booty said that Copeland, Dewey and Fisher will likely return kickoffs, with Copeland returning punts.