PREP FOOTBALL ’99 : SOUTH COAST LEAGUE : SAN CLEMENTE

1998 RECORD: 6-4-1 overall, 3-1-1 in league

COACH: Eric Patton (0-0 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 3 on offense, 2 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

James Allen, RB, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Dan Coviello, QB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Sean O’Mara, LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Josh McCarthy, WR, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Josh Pridham, OL/DT, 6-3, 215, Sr.; Chris Smith, RB/DB, 5-7, 160, Sr.; Justin Tomerlin, OL/DL, 6-5, 230, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Tim Burnett, TE, 6-6, 200, Jr.; Matt Clark, TE/DE, 6-5, 230, Sr.

OUTLOOK

Patton replaces Mark McElroy, who left after six years to take the head coaching job at Saddleback College. Patton will keep McElroy’s quirky “fly” offense and several of his assistant coaches. “We’re going to develop the fly our own way,” Patton said. “It really is an offense that makes the most of deception, misdirection and finesse. It’s fairly simple to learn, but it drives defenses crazy.” Coviello (960 yards passing, five touchdowns) and first-team All-South Coast League players Allen (784 yards, 6.6 average, 10 touchdowns) and Smith--the nucleus of the fly--return, but the rest of the offense is relatively inexperienced. Smith (429 yards, 8.8 avg.), a starter at running back and cornerback since his sophomore year, is one of the league’s fiercest hitters and best pound-for-pound players. Burnett and Clark are basketball players who didn’t play football last year, but they should help beef up the offensive and defensive lines.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 10 vs. Lynwood; 17 vs. Esperanza at Valencia HS; 24 at Aliso Niguel.

Oct. 1 vs. Santa Margarita at Saddleback College; 8 vs. Foothill; 15 vs. Capistrano Valley; 22 vs. El Toro; 29 at Dana Hills.

Nov. 5 at Trabuco Hills; 12 at Mission Viejo.

SCHOOL WEB SITE

https://www.capousd.k12.ca.us/schs