PREP FOOTBALL ’99 : SUNSET LEAGUE : ESPERANZA

1998 RECORD: 9-2 overall, 4-1 in league

COACH: Gary Meek (117-33-3 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 3 on offense, 6 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Travis Pendleton, DT, 6-5, 260, Sr.; Rick Fry, DT, 6-2, 260, Jr.; Roland Gutierrez, LB, 5-11, 215, Sr.; Benny Mastropaolo, SS, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Ryan Dan, LB, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Darrin Olson, DE, 5-10, 195, Sr.; Ryan Murray, FS/WR, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Mike Renteria, OL, 6-2, 285, Sr.; Matt Parrish, RB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Brandon Dowhan, TE, 6-2, 215, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Travis Jones, LB, 5-11, 195, Jr.; Robert Nesbitt, WR, 6-2, 190, Jr.; Greg Farrell, QB, 5-11, 170, Jr.

OUTLOOK

The first thing you notice about the Aztecs is the players lost to graduation: quarterback Grant Wagner, running back Jarod Schuster, receiver Aaron Hill and tight end Bo Ashabraner. Three huge all-league offensive linemen are also gone. But Esperanza will still average 250 pounds on the line and two-year junior varsity quarterback Farrell has been well-groomed to replace Wagner. Farrell adds a dimension Wagner didn’t have: He runs the ball well. “We haven’t had that at quarterback in about seven years,” Meek said. The offense might not be as potent as last year’s, but the defense might be better. Pendleton is among the best linemen in the county and Murray and Mastropaolo should attract Division I college interest.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 10 vs. Servite at Cal State Fullerton; 17 vs. San Clemente at Valencia HS; 24 at Palos Verdes Peninsula; 30 vs. Long Beach Jordan at Valencia HS.

Oct. 8 at Bloomington; 15 vs. Los Alamitos at Valencia HS; 21 at Huntington Beach; 28 vs. Edison at Valencia HS.

Nov. 4 vs. Marina at Valencia HS; 12 vs. Fountain Valley at Orange Coast College.

SCHOOL WEB SITE

https://www.pylusd.k12.ca.us/asp/HIGH_default.asp?site_code=0130