Nolan Era begins for Barons

The Fountain Valley High Barons played to success last year on the gridiron, contending late for a league championship before venturing into the postseason playoffs.

As they look to build on that success in 2016, the Barons will do so at the outset of the season with several new faces.

That newness starts at the top where Jimmy Nolan has taken over as head coach. Nolan previously coached at Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary, Laguna Beach, Compton Centennial, Los Angeles Carson and comes to Fountain Valley from Lakewood where he coached the past two years.

He takes over for Ray Fenton who took over for John Barnes at Los Alamitos.

Nolan’s first team includes three returning starters on both sides of the ball. Among the returnees are running back George Sykes (RB, first-team all-league, Sr.), tight end/defensive end Angel Hernandez (TE/DE, first-team all-league, Sr.) and offensive lineman Scott Craig, each of whom made the All-Sunset League team last year.

Fountain Valley Barons

League: Sunset

CIF Division: 5

Head Coach: Jimmy Nolan (1st year)

Coaching Staff: Kyle Murphy (offensive line/scout coordinator); Adam Talabas and Jeff Allen (defensive line); Scott Panique (linebackers); Matt Duppel (defensive coordinator/safeties); Ryan Balzer (quarterbacks/JV coach).

2015 Record: 7-4 overall/4-1 league (second)

Offensive Scheme: Air-Raid

Defensive Scheme: 4-6

Returning starters: 3 offense/3 defense

Returning with Honors: George Sykes (RB, first-team all-league, Sr.); Angel Hernandez (TE/DE, first-team all-league, Sr.); Scott Craig (OL, second-team all-league, Sr.).

CIF Division: The Barons are grouped in Division 5 (22 schools) for postseason play and are one of five Orange County schools (Fountain Valley, Capistrano Valley, Sonora, Foothill, Troy) in the division.

The Schedule: It’s tough from the start for the Barons. They got ready for the start of the season by scrimmaging Mater Dei Friday and will take on the Monarchs’ Trinity League rival, Servite, in their season opener Friday. They’ll also host Long Beach Wilson before ending their nonleague schedule with consecutive road games at Trabuco Hills, Foothill and San Diego Mira Mesa.

“If we can make it through the scrimmage (Mater Dei) and Game 1 (Servite) without any casualties, we’ll show up the following week,” Nolan said.

Season Opener: Friday vs. Servite, 7 p.m.

Barons Schedule

Friday: Servite (7 p.m., Huntington Beach High)

Sept. 1: Long Beach Wilson (7 p.m., Huntington Beach High)

Sept. 9: at Trabuco Hills, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: at Foothill (7 p.m., Tustin High)

Sept. 30: at Mira Mesa, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: at *Huntington Beach, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: *Newport Harbor (7 p.m., Huntington Beach High)

Oct. 21: *Los Alamitos (7 p.m., Westminster High)

Oct. 28: *Edison (7 p.m., Orange Coast College)

Nov. 3: at *Marina (7 p.m., Westminster High)

(*denotes league game)