COLLEGE FOOTBALL ‘99: THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES : PALOMAR

Greg Cicero, previously a standout quarterback at Servite High, where he threw 30 touchdown passes in 1996, will start for the Comets.

Cicero got a scholarship to Texas out of high school and was a redshirt in 1997. A knee injury forced him to miss last season. Cicero left Texas because he wanted to play immediately instead of being well-down the depth chart.

Cicero, despite not playing in a game for two years, was a J.C. Grid-Wire preseason All-American.

But Cicero is only one of several talented Palomar players. The Comets, who were 11-1 last season, start the season as the top team in the J.C. Grid-Wire national rankings.

Defensive back Chris Cash, from Stockton Franklin High, was also a preseason All-American. Cash and Cicero were teammates in the 1996 California-Texas Shrine all-star game.

Palomar Coach Tom Craft is in his 14th season as head coach. Palomar is 9-0 in bowl games, including winning two last season.

Palomar’s lofty ranking will be put to the test right away when the Comets travel to second-ranked Cerritos for a 7 p.m. game Saturday.

Cicero and Palomar make their first Orange County appearance Oct. 2 at Orange Coast.

Coach Mike Churchill, starting his third year as head coach, is sure this is his most talented team.

The Tigers (3-7 last season) have a physical offensive line with four players weighing 300 pounds or more, including sophomores Phillip Eaves (6 foot 7, 320 pounds) and Chris Wiley (6-3, 305).