SUNNY HILLS

1999 RECORD: 2-8 overall, 0-5 in league

COACH: David Fenstermaker (0-0 at the school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 4 on offense, 2 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Jeff Jones, DL, 6-0, 200, Jr.; David Carpio, WR, 5-11, 180, Sr.; John Anton, OL/DL, 5-11, 235, Sr.; Josh Kuhn, OL/DL, 6-5, 250, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Jason Drinkard, WR, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Shaun Cahill, RB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Ryan Mansfield, RB/DB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; John Gifford, RB/DB, 5-10, 190, So.; Kaleo Igarta, RB, 5-8, 165, So.

OUTLOOK

Fenstermaker, 26, is the Lancers’ third coach in three years, succeeding Tim Brogden. In 1999, Sunny Hills lost its last eight games. The good news is, with 57 players trying out for this season’s squad, Sunny Hills has more players than uniforms at this point. Fenstermaker moved over from his alma mater, Valencia High, where he began coaching right after high school. He was a finalist for the Lancers’ job in 1999, but Brogden was selected to succeed long-time coach Tim Devaney. Brogden is still teaching at Sunny Hills. “He [Brogden] definitely left an impression on the kids,” Fenstermaker said. “They’re already very disciplined and say, ‘Yes, sir, no sir, here sir.’ It’s quite impressive.” Fenstermaker, a UC Riverside graduate, said Jones, last year’s leading tackler, is by far the team’s best defensive player and coaches say he has shown even more improvement during the early practices. Fenstermaker likes some of the players at skill positions, especially the receivers. The big problems, however, are at the quarterback and running back positions, which so far will be manned by a “committee” of players until someone steps forward. “They’re learning about us and we’re learning about them,” Fenstermaker said. “It’s difficult to tell where we’re at because we’ve given them so much to digest.” The coach said he and the staff’s greatest challenge will be “learning to win again after eight straight losses.”

SCHEDULE

Sept. 7 vs. Whittier La Serna at California HS; 15 vs. El Modena at Buena Park HS; 22 vs. Katella at Buena Park HS; 28 vs. Orange Lutheran at Buena Park HS.

Oct. 5 at Valencia; 13 vs. Sonora at La Habra HS; 20 vs. Troy at Fullerton HS; 27 vs. Fullerton at Buena Park HS.

Nov. 3 at Buena Park; 9 at La Habra.