PREP FOOTBALL ’91 : EMPIRE LEAGUE : Esperanza

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 14-0 5-0

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Gary Meek 40-15-3

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 4 5

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Gerrick Emry, 6-2, 215 FB LB Sr. Matt Izzi, 5-9, 235 OG NG Sr. Travis Kirschke, 6-4, 235 OG DT Jr. Jason Long, 6-1, 179 WR FS Sr. Al Medyn, 6-3, 240 OT NG Sr. Marcus Tayui, 5-9, 160 WB CB Sr. Chris Weissman, 6-1, 190 WR DB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Jon Aed, 6-0, 180 QB -- Jr. Ken Hall, 6-2, 195 TE DB Jr. Travis McCullough, 6-1, 200 FB LB Jr. Bill Ross, 5-9, 180 FB DE Jr. Kevin Shoup, 6-0, 165 HB CB Jr. Matt Stewart, 6-2, 215 OG DT Jr. Brad Wise, 5-9, 155 WR CB Jr.

OUTLOOK

Meek picks Esperanza to finish third in the league behind Loara and Los Alamitos. When we stop laughing, we’ll tell you the way it really is. Meek is either selling the Aztecs short or sandbagging--probably, he’s sandbagging. Coming off the first league and section championships in Meek’s five seasons, the Aztecs are an easy No. 1 preseason pick in the Division III poll and No. 1 in Orange County, too. The other league coaches pick the Aztecs to repeat as league champions. Why? Let’s start with Emry, an all-league, 800-yard rusher last season, who figures to lead the offense. He will do a lot of running behind Kirschke’s considerable girth. When he’s not blocking, Kirschke will be the focal point of the defense. Meek says Kirschke is the best lineman to play at Esperanza. As near as we can tell, Meek isn’t fibbing this time.