Avocado League Preview : El Camino Could Have Some Company at Top

After having been dominated by El Camino High School for the past three years, the other six Avocado League football coaches are looking forward to a little parity this season.

El Camino, under Coach Herb Meyer, has won 21 straight league games and the last three Avocado championships. The Wildcats went 13-0 last year, winning the San Diego Section 2-A title and outscoring their opponents, 401-48.

But 15 starters from the 1984 El Camino squad graduated, including tailback Darron Norris, who gained 1,482 yards rushing and scored 23 touchdowns last season. This has led to high hopes, especially at San Pasqual and Carlsbad.

“It should be a pretty tight race,” Carlsbad Coach Mel Galli said. “There are probably three or four teams with a chance to win--El Camino, San Pasqual, Oceanside and us. There are going to be some really close ballgames this year.”

Said Pat Kimbrel, Oceanside coach: “Usually, El Camino runs away with it, and there’s a dogfight for second. This year, the league should be a lot more balanced.”

El Camino doesn’t enter the new season defenseless, however. Six starters, including standout inside linebacker Jack Taele, return from the defense that recorded nine shutouts a year ago.

“We’ve gotten used to being in the playoffs,” said Meyer, who has guided the Wildcats into the playoffs in seven of the nine years El Camino has existed. “Based on what we’ve done in the past, most people say we should be good again. I hope they’re right.”

Two of the teams expected to challenge for the championship, San Pasqual and Carlsbad, had successful junior varsity teams last season. The Eagles are led by center Tom Dabasinskas, who was selected one of the top 10 preps in the state by Scholastic Coach magazine. The Lancers boast Tony Trousset, an all-league running back last year who has moved to quarterback.

Oceanside, whose JV squad finished second behind San Pasqual last year, is considered an outside contender for a playoff berth. San Marcos, which finished second last season, lost most of its key players to graduation and figures to be a longshot this fall. Ramona, which broke an 18-game losing streak last season, and Escondido round out the league.

CARLSBAD

1984 record: 4-6-0, 1-5-0 in league

Finish: Seventh

Coach: Mel Galli (Seventh)

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 4-3

Top returnees: Tony Trousset (6-1, 175, Jr., QB), Louis Perez (6-0, 180, Sr., WR), Andre Walker (6-0, 160, Sr., RB), Andrese Bilal (5-11, 165, Sr., RB) and Brian Gorman (6-3, 185, Sr., OG).

Top newcomers: Chris Sileneck (5-11, 220, Sr., DT) and Greg Beach (5-10, 150, Jr., S).

Outlook: Lancer Coach Mel Galli thinks his team, which returns just eight lettermen, can make up for its lack of experience with talent.

“We have a lot of inexperienced players,” Galli said, “but hopefully, by the time we get to our league contests, we’ll be ready to go. I feel we have some potential we didn’t have last year.”

Safety Greg Beach, up from last year’s 6-3 junior varsity, and tackle Chris Sileneck, a transfer from Bonita Vista, head up the defense. Tony Trousset, an all-league running back last year as a sophomore, is the new quarterback. He will still be running the ball on occasion, as well as throwing sprintout passes, Galli said.

“We have a history at Carlsbad of being a passing team,” Galli said. “I think we’ll stick with that. But we also expect to run the ball with the speed we have in the backfield.”

Andre Walker and Andrese Bilal should handle the bulk of the rushing chores.

EL CAMINO

1984 record: 13-0-0, 6-0-0, in league

Finish: First

Coach: Herb Meyer (Ninth)

Offense: I formation

Defense: Multiple

Top returnees: Jack Taele (6-0, 185, Sr., LB), Paul Paopao (6-2, 240, Sr., OT), Jim Hankee (6-1, 205, Sr., NG), Steve Luna (5-8, 236, Sr., DT), Shane Hawkins (6-1, 163, Sr., QB) and Rodney Cotton (5-8, 145, Sr., WR).

Top newcomers: Mark Esposito (6-1, 210, Jr., C), Hollis Jones (5-8, 140, Jr., WR), Eric Pappao (5-11, 185, Jr., LB) and Joe Emerick (5-6, 145, Jr., RB).

Outlook: The Wildcats lost most of their speedy backs, like tailback Darron Norris and quarterback Ernest Spears, but hope to compensate with size. Coach Herb Meyer said his current squad has the best size he has had in several years.

“We don’t usually have such good size,” Meyer said. “We may not be as quick--we don’t have anybody like Darron Norris coming back, but, then, no one else does, either.”

The Wildcats will again keep the ball on the ground much of the time, though none of the running backs has much varsity experience. Quarterback Shane Hawkins completed 16 of 19 passes for four touchdowns as Spears’ backup last season, and his passing ability may give El Camino a dimension it has lacked.

Tackles Paul Paopao and Mike Hutchins bolster the offensive line, while three-year starters Jim Hankee and Steve Luna return on the defensive line. Jack Taele and Jim Vasquez are back as starting linebackers.

ESCONDIDO

1984 record: 4-6-0, 2-4-0 in league

Finish: Tied for fourth Coach: Dennis Snyder (Eighth)

Offense: Run and shoot

Defense: Multiple

Top returnees: Greg Dozier (6-2, 225, Sr., OT), Jumbo Malsack (6-3, 223, Jr., LB), Richard King (5-9, 190, Jr. DT), Figgy Figueroa (5-9, 160, Sr., TE) and Mike Hopkins (6-1, 175, Sr., WR).

Top newcomers: Don Lowe (6-1, 190, Jr., LB) and Simon Cambra (5-10, 210, Sr., DT).

Outlook: The Cougars are big and potentially strong on defense, but they lack experience, especially on offense. Such inexperience could cause difficulties when new quarterback Joe Perry and his teammates try to operate Snyder’s run-and-shoot, pass-oriented offense.

“We’ll probably run the ball a lot early in the year,” Snyder said. “But our offense is designed to take what the defense gives us, so we may pass a lot.”

Most of Perry’s passes should be aimed at tight end Figgy Figueroa and wide receiver Mike Hopkins. Figueroa started at running back last year but was moved to fill a gap at tight end, Snyder said.

Snyder is counting on his defense to carry the team, especially early in the year, as his offense gains experience. Pacing the defense are linebackers Jumbo Malsack and Don Lowe and tackles Richard King and Simon Cambra.

OCEANSIDE

1984 record: 4-6-0, 1-5-0 in league

Finish: Seventh

Coach: Pat Kimbrel (Fourth)

Offense: Power I

Defense: 4-4

Top returnees: Okland Salavea (6-4, 235, Sr., DT), Joe Tuisee (5-11, 210, Sr., DT), Junior Seau (6-3, 190, Jr., QB) and Jim Woolard (5-8, 165, Sr., TB).

Top newcomers: Shayne Wiggins (5-9, 170, Jr., TB) and Morey Paul (6-3, 185, Jr., TE/LB).

Outlook: Tackles Okland Salavea and Joe Tuisee, both returning starters, head up a defensive unit that Coach Pat Kimbrel hopes will lead his team.

“Philosophically, we always put our best athletes on defense because that’s where you win football games,” Kimbrel said. “On offense, we plan to keep the ball on the ground 60 or 70 percent of the time. When we pass, we’ll use play action or sprintouts.”

Junior Seau, who started the last three games of 1984 at quarterback after missing most of the season with a broken collarbone, will run the offense. Jim Woolard, timed at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, and Shayne Wiggins, who gained 1,400 yards for the junior varsity last fall, are both tailbacks.

Clearing the way for the Pirate running attack will be returning guards Tony Frazier and John Franz.

RAMONA

1984 record: 4-6-0, 2-4-0 in league

Finish: Tied for fourth

Coach: Bill Clark (Second)

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 5-2

Top returnees: George Cobian (6-1, 220, Sr., OT/DT), Stan Clancy (6-1, 180, Sr., TE/DT), Don MacInnes (6-0, 185, Sr., QB), Chris Lawler (6-1, 175, Sr., TB/SS) and Charlie Gilmartin (5-9, 160, Sr., CB).

Top newcomer: Mancil Smith (5-8, 185, Jr., NG).

Outlook: Bill Clark, in his first season as head coach, guided the Bulldogs to four wins last season, their highest win total since joining the Avocado League.

“We’re trying to build on that,” said Clark, who had only 50 players try out for his combined varsity and JV this fall. “The kids learned to win last year, hopefully.

“Talent-wise, we’ll be at the bottom, as usual. We’re the smallest school in the league, but the kids always give their best.”

All-league offensive tackle George Cobian, Stan Clancy and Chris Lawler all return to play key roles on both the offense and defense. Lawler will line up at tailback and probably run behind Cobian most of the time. Clancy will start at tight end. Don MacInnes, last year’s backup quarterback, has the starting role this fall.

SAN MARCOS

1984 record: 8-3-0, 6-1-0 in league

Finish: Second

Coach: Ken Broach (Eighth)

Offense: Double slot

Defense: 4-4

Top returnees: Jim Jennings (6-4, 236, Jr., FB), Chui Lozano (5-9, 155, Sr., WR), Jim Terral (6-1, 175, Sr., QB), Eric Brio (6-0, 170, Sr., LB) and Rob Rubidoux (5-11, 165, Sr., LB).

Top newcomer: Josh Williams (6-1, 190, Jr., DE).

Outlook: Coach Ken Broach said Jim Terral, who played just one down as backup to all-league quarterback Greg Helm last season, is the key to the Knights’ fortunes.

“Terral has no experience passing the ball, although he does have a strong arm,” Broach said. “We’re always a run-oriented team. We run the ball 75 percent of the time, and that’s not going to change.”

Shouldering much of the rushing burden will be Jim Jennings, the Knights’ big fullback who gained 600 yards on the ground a year ago. Tackle Mario Lira and guard Todd Roth will help create running room for Jenkins.

Eric Brio and Rob Rubidoux head up what Broach expects will be a strong linebacking corps.

SAN PASQUAL

1984 record: 4-6-0, 3-3-0 in league

Finish: Third

Coach: Bob Woodhouse (23rd)

Offense: Full house

Defense: 4-3

Top returnees: Tom Dabasinskas (6-5, 245, Sr., C), Jason Bill (6-6, 220, Sr., OT), Greg Bratten (5-11, 175, Sr., QB), Ron Warner (5-10, 150, Sr., TB), Jeff Baglio (6-4, 190, Sr., LB) and Curt Brown (6-0, 180, Sr., LB).

Top newcomers: Damian Macaluso (6-5, 210, Sr., TE), Mike Stark (6-4, 175, Sr., WR/K) and Todd Brose (5-11, 170, Jr., QB).

Outlook: Eagle Coach Bob Woodhouse made some position changes to bolster his defense this fall, moving Jeff Baglio and Curt Brown to linebacker. He is contemplating another switch, at quarterback, where two-year starter Greg Bratten is being challenged for his job by Todd Brose, who led the San Pasqual JV to a 9-0 record last year.

Whoever wins the quarterback job will spend most of his time handing the ball off to players like Ron Warner, an all-league choice in 1984. Mike Stark, a transfer from Madison, will double as a wide receiver and placekicker.

Woodhouse considers his offense line potentially weak. Aside from Tom Dabasinskas, a major college prospect at center, and Jason Bill, at offensive tackle, the Eagle line lacks experience.