FOOTBALL ’92 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: SOUTHERN SECTION : TEAM CAPSULES

INDEPENDENTS

Montclair Prep COACH: George Giannini, 5th season LAST SEASON: 8-1; 1st in Alpha League, 5-0 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Mounties feature the area’s top returning rusher in senior Eliel Swinton (5-foot-10, 185 pounds), who gained 1,773 yards in 146 carries last year, raising his career total to 3,500 yards in 372 attempts. The quarterback will be sophomore Darrell Dent (6-2, 280), whom Mountie assistant John Hazelton projects as a top prospect when he graduates. “In my 20 years of coaching, he’s the finest sophomore prospect I’ve seen,� Hazelton said. “He can put the ball wherever he wants.� The entire offensive line returns for Montclair Prep: seniors Juan Frausto (6-1, 242), David Rosen (6-0, 220), Ray Montano (5-10, 185) and Sean Andersen (6-1, 230) and junior Kevin Grossman (6-0, 220). All also will play on defense. Depth might be Montclair Prep’s only weakness. Hazelton said the roster will consist of only about 25 players. A young standout is sophomore cornerback Antonio McIntyre (5-9, 175). Two linebackers who deserve attention are junior Mario Alonso (6-0, 180) and senior Aaron Blatt (5-9, 180). OUTLOOK: Kicked out of the Alpha League in the spring, Montclair Prep is competing as a free-lance team. The Mounties can make the playoffs if they have a winning record, which should be no problem. “I can’t see any way where we wouldn’t make (the playoffs),� Hazelton said. For the playoffs, the Southern Section can place the Mounties in any division.

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Camp Kilpatrick

COACH: Glenn Bell, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 6-4-1; 2nd in Freedom League, 4-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: A Los Angeles County youth correctional facility, Camp Kilpatrick will--as always--have a new team. “If we have too many returning lettermen, there’s something wrong,� said Bell, who was promoted to head coach after two years as offensive coordinator. The Mustangs’ strength is speed at the skill positions. Some of the fastest are wide receiver Deshaun James (5-9, 165), quarterback Cecilio James (5-9, 160), tailback Jonathan Russaw (5-8, 180) and wide receiver Rashad Hayes (5-9, 155). All four also will see action on defense, probably in the secondary. Bell is looking at linebackers Rickey Maddox (6-0, 190) and Damien Wilson (5-10, 185) to lead the interior defense. A weakness will be the offensive and defensive lines.

OUTLOOK: The Mustangs are no longer in the Freedom League, so their schedule is much tougher, Bell said. Add that to a revolving-door roster of inexperienced players and Kilpatrick has its work cut out. “We enjoy it because it’s a challenge,� Bell said. “Our philosophy is not to win a championship but to use football as a medium to help these guys correct their lives.�