In 2023, Pombetta makes No. 23

Contributed by former
MCHS Coach and Athletic Director
Trace DeSandres

In August of 1933, Coach John “Pop” Ryan became the first football coach at Mariposa County High School (MCHS).
Today, 91 gridiron seasons later, Coach Chase Pombetta has become the newest MCHS Grizzly head coach.
In the decades of years between Coach Ryan and Coach Pombetta, 21 coaches have taken the reins as varsity football coach.
Sitting down with Coach Pombetta, I asked him what he had implemented offensively and defensively for the current season.
In terms of offense, Pombetta talked about isolating out of the spread offense. That involves the quarterback reading the defensive end and making a decision to hand the ball off or keep it. It involves both pre-snap and post-snap reads of the defense. The third option is a backside bubble screen.
Defensively the Grizzlies are employing a stable 4-3 defense, stressing gap control and an aggressive press defense, either in man-to-man or cover two in the defensive backfield.
Pombetta emphasized his team disrupting the opposing team’s speed at the line of scrimmage. With nine sophomores on this year’s varsity team, and only a handful of returning varsity players, Pombetta has seen steady growth in the beginning of the season.
Pombetta is a 2004 graduate of Orestimba High School, and MCHS Southern League rival for years, where he played quarterback. He threw for over 1,000 yards his senior year.
After coaching alongside legendary Hilmar High School coach Frank Marques, Pombetta is implementing some of the same concepts that made Hilmar’s Yellowjackets so successful over the years.
During the recruiting process to attract Pombetta to MCHS, Marques told those involved from Mariposa, “If you can get Chase to come to Mariposa, do it! He is going to be an outstanding head football coach.”
Based on his enthusiasm, preparation and positive approach to not only his players but his students, Mariposa is extremely lucky to have him.
When asked Chase about his family’s adjustment to Mariposa, Pombetta explained, “The community has been extremely welcoming with many members of the community reaching out to me and my staff.”
The Quarterback Club has many new members and it is busy raising money for the program.
Pombetta’s wife, Kady, is a teacher at Mariposa Elementary School (MES) and his two boys, Mason (9) and Mickey (6) are students there.
Pombetta said he is still learning his way around Mariposa. He also had high praise his veteran assistant coaches including Steve Ward, Jason Scherf, John Wilson, and Juan Murrieta. Pombetta said they have been totally supportive of his offensive and defensive philosophy.
(Following hours upon hours of research and inquiry, Coach DeSandres will present a complete chronology of the head football coach position at Mariposa County High School in the next edition of The Mariposan.)