FOOTBALL ’92 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: CITY SECTION / SOUTHERN SECTION : NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE : TEAM CAPSULES
NORTH VALLEY LEAGUE (4-A)
El Camino Real COACH: Mike Maio and Ralph Stam, 5th season LAST SEASON: 3-7; 4th in league, 1-6 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Many players return, most of whom were reserves last season, and many will play both ways. Seniors Victor Sykes (6-foot-1, 170), a starter in the secondary last season, and Chris Shinnick (5-10, 172), who rushed for 221 yards in part-time duty last season, will split time at tailback. Juniors Ryan Venturine (6-2, 180), a transfer from Crespi who sat out last season, and Jason Shaw (5-11, 150), another newcomer, are vying for the quarterback job. A speedy corps of wide receivers includes returning starter Jamal Conaway (5-10, 160) and Ozunda Stevenson (5-8, 145), both seniors and members of the City Section champion 400-meter relay B team last season. Conaway caught seven passes for 94 yards last season. Senior wide receiver Richard Gill (5-10, 176) is a returning letterman. Junior wide receiver Lequon Stevenson (6-0, 179) moves up from the junior varsity. All wide receivers are expected to double as defensive backs. Many linemen also are expected to go both ways, including junior Brian Tade (6-2, 240) and senior Steve Brickman (5-11, 190), who will platoon at center and tackle, and guards Greg Krochmal (5-11, 215), a junior, and Bryan Waldron (5-9, 175), a senior. Senior inside linebackers Rob Magnuson (6-0, 180) and James Struntz (5-11, 180) are returning starters. Senior linebacker-tight end Mike Cooper (5-11, 175), junior outside linebacker Efrin Perez (6-0, 180) and senior wide receiver-defensive back Mike Smith, a member of the baseball team, are varsity newcomers. OUTLOOK: Lack of experience abounds, and there is little depth. The Conquistadores, traditionally an overachieving bunch, will need strong performances from several two-way players to be competitive. And a lot of heart. Offensively, El Camino Real has few proven players.
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Granada Hills COACH: Darryl Stroh and Tom Harp, 8th season LAST SEASON: 6-4; 3rd in league, 5-2 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The big question is at quarterback, where three players are in the running for the starting job. Matt Livingston (6-3, 175) and Derek Griffin (5-11, 170) are seniors, and Jimmy Landress (6-0, 170), a transfer from Notre Dame, is a sophomore. Livingston started two games last season, Griffin was a reserve and Landress, whose eligibility is in question, is talented enough to beat out both, Harp said. The team’s best receiver is senior Shontrel Ryals (5-9, 165), who also starts at strong safety. Running is what the Highlanders will do best, with a starting backfield tandem of senior tailback Raheem Kyle (5-9, 160) and senior fullback Faio Emilio (6-2, 240). Kyle rushed for 841 yards last season. Emilio, who rushed for 301 yards, also returns as a starting defensive end. “I haven’t seen a better defensive player,†Stroh said. Senior guard Aaron Kitzman (6-1, 245) is the only returning starter on the offensive line. Harp is expecting “big things†out of junior tackle-linebacker Mencil Williams (6-3, 230), who did not play last season. Junior linebacker Jamal Brooks (6-0, 195) saw action last season. Senior two-way tackle Greg Melikyan (6-1, 230) is a returning starter and possibly among the area’s best linemen. Senior defensive back Tremain Foriest (5-8, 155) is very quick and also will be used as a running back. OUTLOOK: “We’ve probably got a better nucleus back this year than we had last year,†Harp said. “Most of these kids started for us as juniors.†Granada Hills’ running game should again be its strength, but many positions are up for grabs, leaving many questions.
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Kennedy COACH: Bob Francola, 7th season LAST SEASON: 11-2; 1st in league, 7-0 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Five players from last year’s team that reached the City 4-A semifinals are playing for Division I colleges. Senior strong safety Manu Langi (5-10, 182) is the team’s only returning starter, other than senior Jeremy Deach, arguably the area’s best kicker last season. Deach averaged 40 yards a punt and kicked seven field goals--one from 41 yards. Francola figures to disdain the punt and let Deach try for field goals whenever possible. “I’m going to let him try from 60 yards out,†he said. Many of this year’s starters saw considerable action last season. On defense, senior tackle Mark Lopez (5-11, 250) and cornerback Michael Coleman (5-10, 170) were varsity reserves. On offense, senior tackle Eddie Uyu (6-2, 255), junior tackle Alex Espinoza Jr. (6-3, 225), junior wide receivers Shawn Dudra (6-4, 175) and Lal Knight (6-2, 165), and junior tailback Donte Scarbrough (5-9, 170) move into starting roles. Scarbrough gained 473 yards as backup to Elijah Raphael, who rushed for 2,070 yards before graduating. Senior wide receiver Keith Thompson (5-10, 150) is a newcomer to the program. Senior John Toven (5-9, 160) was the backup quarterback, but talented sophomore Daniel McMullen (6-4, 180) is good enough to start, Francola said, and will be a star of the future. Fullback-linebacker Vincent Carthon (6-0, 245) was one of the few sophomores on the varsity last season. Junior defensive back Sammy Wilson (5-10, 165), a transfer from San Diego, has good speed. Other newcomers include senior nose guard Ben Ramirez (5-10, 210), who sat out last season after transferring from Alemany, and senior running back-linebacker Reggie Martin (5-10, 175), who sat out after transferring from San Fernando. OUTLOOK: The Golden Cougars lost too much talent from last year to remain dominant. The most glaring weakness is the running game, which at best is unproven with the loss of Raphael and many key blockers. But Francola said that “the conference is going to find out that Donte Scarbrough will be able to move the ball for us. Kennedy also figures to pass more this season. “This team is going to be significantly different,†Francola said. “If we can find a way to protect the quarterback, we’ll move the ball downfield.â€
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San Fernando COACH: Tom Hernandez, 11th season LAST SEASON: 10-2; 2nd in league, 6-1 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Tigers love to run the option, and junior quarterback Leon Blunt (5-10, 170) runs it as well as anyone in school history, Hernandez said. Blunt, a returning starter, rushed for 349 yards and seven touchdowns and passed for 777 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. This season, Blunt is faster and stronger. “I think we have the best quarterback in the Valley,†Hernandez said. “And we’re going to feature him a lot more this year.†Top ballhandlers include senior tailback Amon Flanagan (5-11, 195), who replaces LaKarlos Townsend, who rushed for 875 yards last season. Flanagan also will remain a starting outside linebacker. Fullback Floyd Chalk (5-9, 175), the team’s best sophomore, runs like Townsend, Hernandez said. Senior Demetrius Lotson (5-9, 180) started four games last season when Townsend was injured and rushed for 95 yards. Junior wide receiver Brian Jackson (5-10, 160) started at wingback last season, and junior wide receiver Felipe Aguilar (5-11, 175) started at free safety. Hernandez described the offensive line as “better than average,†with senior and returning starter Steve Serrano (6-4, 255) at tackle, and junior Richard Puildo (5-11, 230) up from the junior varsity. Two-way tackle Shannon Gallien (6-1, 255) played defense exclusively last season. Junior defensive tackle Hugo Moreno (6-1, 225), new to football this season, and junior linebacker Paul Maldonado (6-0, 190), who played sparingly last season, anchor the defense along with Gallien and Flanagan. Seniors Brandon Cade (6-0, 170) and Marcelino Garcia (5-11, 180) are returning starters in the secondary. They are joined by junior Derek Rowe (5-10, 160), who moves up from the B team. OUTLOOK: A bigger offensive and defensive line and a more experienced quarterback are the Tigers’ strengths. “Last year we got manhandled pretty good up front,†Hernandez said. “We were in the weight room all summer-long, five days a week. We stack up right there with everybody.†The players were dealt an emotional blow and major distraction during summer practice when linebacker Sergio Echevarria collapsed from heat stroke and died two days later. But team morale is strong, Hernandez said. “The kids want to get into the season now,†he said. “They want to stop the interviews and the television cameras.â€
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