Prep Football Preview : Miraleste, North Torrance Are the Cream, Others Will Have to Rise to the Top

High school football coaches say to expect Palos Verdes, South Torrance and Serra to bounce back, Miraleste and North Torrance to stay aloft and Bishop Montgomery to take a few games in the Angelus League. Please.

See if Hawthorne opponents erect speed bumps on their fields.

Watch for teams to avoid Serra’s Rocen Keeton, the Cavaliers’ version of the Terminator. Look for North Torrance lineman Jim Tulette in a new position, centering the ball.

The Ocean League competition may be down a little from last year, the Bay League should be better and competitive battles are forecast in the Camino Real and Pioneer leagues as CIF high school football opens this week.

A preseason poll of coaches indicates that the usual perennial favorites are as strong as ever--Santa Monica in the Bay League, North Torrance in the Ocean, Miraleste in the Pioneer, Verbum Dei in the Camino Real--but no runaways are foreseen.

After a few seasons of reloading, Palos Verdes and South Torrance appear to be Bay League contenders again, as does Serra in the Camino Real and Leuzinger in the Pioneer. And coaches are predicting some dark horses like Hawthorne in the Ocean League and Mary Star of the Sea in the Camino Real.

Here are how the races shape up:

Bay League (Coastal Conference)--Santa Monica is again the heavy favorite, returning seven starters including all-CIF quarterback Pat O’Hara (1,976 yards and 23 TDs passing last year) and running backs Eric Davis and Cedric Burris. A young line is Santa Monica’s question mark.

Palos Verdes, South Torrance and West Torrance should be the others battling for playoff spots.

Palos Verdes, a surprise contender last season, won’t surprise anyone this year. Coach Bill Judy tabs 205-pound running back Brian Connors the best ever at P.V. He runs a 4.6 for 40 yards. Another major-college prospect is 205-pound Jackson Wang, who doubles as blocking back and middle linebacker.

Adam Brown (6-4, 245) anchors the offensive line and Eric Seaburn (6-0, 205) returns at tight end. Dean Decker, a converted wide receiver, will play quarterback. He has 6-4 size to go with the best speed on the team. “If he has the season I expect, everyone will want him,” Judy said. His wide target will be 5-9 Sam Yoon. Evan Prodromore, a 220-pound tackle, is another player Judy is counting on for development.

South High Coach Joe Austin characterizes his squad as sound. The backfield will feature Dave Collins at tailback, Glen Ewing at fullback and Ken Semko at quarterback. Collins, the Bay League low hurdles champ, is the key. All-league linebacker Jeff Zumwalt (5-9, 185) and strong safety John Lopez lead the defense. The lines will be anchored by 225-pound Jeff Carpenter, tight end Todd Beckman (6-2, 190), junior tackles Brian Kelly (6-5, 215) and Tim Drevno (6-3, 225) and junior center Mark Merritt (6-2, 190).

West Torrance has a strong offensive line with three returning starters--center Scott Hayes, guard Eric Fehrmann and tackle Nick Subis, a college prospect at 6-5, 230. Converted defensive back Kevin Maher will be counted on at running back. The defense features tackle Mark van Buren (6-2, 235) and linebackers Kaiser Noa and Pat White.

Redondo, which didn’t win a game after being transferred to the Bay League 1984, should be much improved with the return of eight starters on offense and six on defense, including the entire secondary. Second-year Coach Les Congelliere will focus the offense around running back Boots Cocoya (6-1, 210) and junior quarterback Scott Yessner. Receiver Mike Jones also returns, as does much of the line. However, team speed is suspect. The defense features free safety Dave Watson, strong safety Delbert Moore and corners Mark Belleveau and Jones. Cocoya and Dan Wood return at linebacker.

Mira Costa has one of the area’s best coaches in Herb Hinsche but appears to be outmanned, with a small squad, outsized lines and little experience. Wide receiver Lance Honea returns on offense. Dan Donnelly is back at linebacker.

Rolling Hills’ new coach, John Mack Brown, begins by trying to replace three-year star quarterback Dan Speltz. Fullback Pat Jarosz, also the team’s top linebacker, will spearhead the offense. Track star Henry Martin will play tailback. The only other returning seniors are linebackers Jeff Kuhlman and Bryan Reid and cornerback Gary Redman.

Ocean League (Northwestern Conference)--Look for big things from North Torrance. We’re talking big. “We’re huge,” said Coach Steve Schmitz. “The line’s our biggest ever.” The best is Tulette, a 6-2, 250-pounder who has been two-time all-South Bay. He switches to center so some really big guys can move in.

Tulette will be flanked by Todd Sprosky (6-3, 260) and Greg Torres (6-2, 235) on the right and John Streetmaker (5-10, 310) and Pat Morris (6-2, 225) on the left. All are returning starters, though Sprosky missed half the season with an injury. Tight end Ted Thomas brings down the average weight at 6-4, 190.

The Saxons are also big in the backfield where 6-4 Mike Jurado is a college prospect at quarterback, 217-pound Hector Murillo plays tailback and former lineman Keith Finney (6-0, 215) is fullback. Murillo runs the 40 in 4.6. On defense, three-year starter James Yogi returns at safety and there are more big linemen in junior Glen Jones (6-2, 235) and Jimmy Calo (6-2, 225). The defense, however, will have eight juniors starting.

Hawthorne will put its two straight state track titles to good use, focusing on speedy Alonzo Young at quarterback and Eric Peton at running back. Young is a track as well as football star. The defense may have athletes just as good, led by lineman Miles Hudson (5-10, 230) and highly regarded linebacker Brian Church (6-4, 190).

Torrance was the surprise of the South Bay last year, winning its first Ocean League title since 1962, and Coach Rich Busia says the Tartars will have more depth, despite most of their stars having graduated. Those back include all-league center-linebacker Mike Tuione, two-way lineman Chris Elliott and wide receiver Bill Black, all with college potential. Also back is All-South Bay kicker Erik Estrada, who won several games with last-second field goals. Other lettermen include Greg Wilson at quarterback and Kevin Lee at fullback.

Busia has a talented group of juniors who should get considerable experience. “Last year we basically played 12 or 13 kids. This year we’ll play 25 or 26,” he said.

Inglewood has its third coach in three years, Rick Amadio, and returns only three starters--tight end/linebacker Eric Strothers, a major-college prospect; quarterback Curtis Saunders and cornerback Reggie Lewis. Saunders doubles at safety, Lewis at running back. A junior to watch is 6-3, 250-pound Dorson Reed.

Camino Real (Northwestern Conference)--After a 4-6-1 season, Verbum Dei is back as the favorite, returning 16 starters including all-league quarterback Keith Washington, running back Ken Smith, linebacker Yul Jenkins and lineman Leroy Hughes.

Serra has one of Southern California’s top players in linebacker Keeton, who doubles at offensive tackle at 6-3, 232. The offense will feature Jimmy Tucker at wide receiver and speedy Daryl Singleton at running back. Joseph Jackson, a 190-pound junior, joins Keeton at linebacker and on the offensive line.

St. Bernard is under the reins of Duke Dulgarian, who takes over after several years as offensive coordinator. The defending league champ returns big, solid lines, a good running game and speed. The Vikings’ big worry is the defensive secondary and inexperience at skill positions.

All-South Bay lineman Eric Marrero (6-5, 254) and junior Kevin Bayonne (6-0, 192) anchor the defensive line, while Mark Osborne (6-3, 251) is back on offense. Running backs include 200-pounders Jules Batiste and Anthony Villaros (a 216-pound junior) plus Bayonne. Steve Moore and Lonnell Tyars are the quarterbacks.

Mary Star’s luck was all bad a year ago but the Stars could be a factor this season. Quarterback Robbie Lorenzi (6-1, 185) returns after making all-league at wide receiver as a junior. Tailback John Kunich, a 190-pounder, ran for about 300 yards before breaking his leg in the fourth game. Coach John Tousseau considers center Mickey Henderson (6-0, 200) an all-league candidate and tight end/kicker Pete Klepl will help in close games. Lorenzi’s top targets should be senior Steve Blasing and junior Art Lopez, who is also backup quarterback. Another junior, Mike Duran, is solid at free safety.

Once again, the Stars are susceptible to injury, playing with a 35-man roster.

Pioneer League (Desert-Mountain Conference)--Miraleste and Leuzinger are seen holding off Harvard and Morningside, with El Segundo and Centennial capable of victories.

Depth is the usual problem for Miraleste Coach Gary Kimbrell, “We have four starters returning on offense and three on defense. Unfortunately, they’re the same people,” he joked.

Miraleste’s lines will be manned entirely by juniors, but the returning starters give Kimbrell strength players at the skill positions. James Castle (6-1, 185) returns for his third year at quarterback and was the league’s top punter as well. Kelby Woodward (6-3, 190) is a three-year starter at receiver and the two have combined for most of the school’s passing and receiving records. Dustin Ridout will switch from guard to tight end and junior Mark Comings (6-1, 205) returns at guard. Kimbrell says keys to the offense are John Accardo at flanker and Craig Walton carrying the ball.

Castle, at safety, and Woodward and Ridout at linebacker lead the defense.

Leuzinger returns 12 starters and 17 lettermen including quarterback Mike Reddington (6-3, 185), all-league receiver Sean Smith and running back Joe Martinez. Seven starters return on defense, led by Smith and Brandy Harris in the secondary and Reddington at safety. Linebackers Dana Florence, Van Erwin and David Sweet are back. The lines, however, are mainly newcomers.

Morningside reached the playoffs last year and returns quarterback Chris Moton, who also plays defensive back. The defense is built around all-league linebacker Corey Brown, a 205-pound junior who led the Monarchs with about 100 tackles. He’ll also play fullback. Jason Carr and Alvin Smith return to the secondary. Carr was all-league and runs the 40 in 4.5. Coach Ron Tatum also likes 185-pound tailback/linebacker Brad Davis. The lines are inexperienced.

El Segundo doesn’t figure to be a playoff contender but has excellent players in two-way lineman Pat Wilkinson (6-1, 260) and tailback Robert Markle. Both made all-league as juniors. The Eagles also have some big prospects on the line in juniors Gary Stewart (6-5, 250) and Scott Talanoa (6-3, 250).

Angelus League (Big Five Conference)--After years without a victory in the CIF’s toughest conference, Bishop Montgomery rides a two-game league winning streak into the season. Are the Knights capable of keeping it going?

“I think we are,” second-year Coach Andy Szabatura said. “Last year we got that monkey off our back. The kids know they can win in that league. Out goal this year is the playoffs.”

The Knights will have to contend with strong Bishop Amat and Mater Dei following one of the toughest preconference schedules in the area. They open Friday at North Torrance and in three weeks will become the first South Bay CIF team since 1972 to play City champion Carson.

The team is built around all-league linebacker Ken Sale (6-2, 225), nose guard John Stangl (6-2, 210), center Pat Hunt (6-0, 225) and quarterback Todd Viter. Szabatura will try to play two platoons, though Sale will double at tight end. Also on hand are offensive linemen Andy Haas (6-2, 260), Norm Ueunten (5-10, 220) and Mike Cyra (6-1, 205) and defensive linemen Don Koran (6-1, 210) and Pat Bernard (6-3, 225).

The Knights may also have a young star in Sale’s brother, Niu. The 5-10 sophomore will start at strong safety and has great leaping ability.

Eight-Man Conference--Chadwick should be competitive in the Prep League, where Rio Hondo Prep is the favorite. The Dolphins have good skill players but are thin on the lines. Quarterback Jeff Kaufman runs the show, with John Slusher the most talented running back. Both are returning all-leaguers. Nose guard Greg Burilli is the best lineman. Eric Wempen and Ben Rosin should help on the line. Kaufman’s targets will include Mark Seneker and Charlton Jackson.

Coast Christian returns four all-leaguers to challenge for the Heritage League title: running back Chris Morena, quarterback Marcus Lankford, tight end David Chong and defensive back Mike Diaz. Coach Albert Mendibles says running back/defensive back Darryl Tucker (5-10, 170) may attract college attention. Tucker runs the 40 in 4.5 and 100 meters in 10.8. Mendibles also likes junior quarterback/defensive back Bobby Herman.