“Don’t forget the Bulldogs of 2024.”
Seven years after starting the varsity program, head football coach Peter Abe had that one message. Football made a historic run this season, ending as CIF State Division 6-AA runner-ups and CIF-SS Division XI champions. Abe, known best on campus for always putting his team before himself, was named Orange County Coach of the Year.
“I think it was a fantastic opportunity for our community, the local Irvine and Portola community, our county, our league that we compete in as well,” Abe said. “[It] not only showcases the sport of football but the hard work that has been put into building Portola High School, our football program and what we’re trying to do in terms of building quality young men.”
Although the season did not start out as strong as they had hoped, Abe said that using the losses as encouragement for future games helped them go on to win nine of 11 league and CIF games beginning October 2024. Although remaining motivated for all the players and coaching staff got difficult at times, knowing that everyone wanted to contribute to the success of the team helped advance each week, according to Abe.
“The highlight was that we played the way we got there, which was as a team,” Abe said. “It wasn’t just offense or just defense. It was offense, defense and special teams. We didn’t ride the back of any one person. It literally was all 11 guys that were on the field at any given time had to do their part, and different guys had to step up and make really big, big plays we needed the most.”
As Coach of the Year, Abe reflected hard work and passion throughout the season. In particular, Abe and the coaching staff often spent their weekends making in-depth scouting reports, gathering the players on Sundays to practice plays and strategies, according to wide receiver and sophomore Blaise Williams.
“Each practice, he made sure that we were locked in and helped us simulate what each game would be like and how to prepare for it,” Williams said. “Coach Abe really helped me develop as a player both mentally and physically by making me stronger and helping me gain a tough mind that wouldn’t waver when the big lights came on.”
While advancing through multiple rounds of CIF was an achievement itself, Williams said that being runner-ups motivates the players to seek more wins and titles during the next season with the same team-oriented mentality.
“We’ve just been happy with the kind of the unity and the camaraderie that the kids have rallying together and really focusing on team,” Abe said. “Individual accolades are great, but when you achieve the team goals, the individual accolades take care of themselves.”
