Palomar League Preview : Coaching Changes Are the Rule in This League

Coaching changes were the rule rather than the exception in the Palomar League during the off-season.

Ed Burke, last year the coach at Torrey Pines High School, is the new coach at San Dieguito. Frank Andruske has taken over at Mount Carmel. And, to replace Burke, Torrey Pines has chosen Rick Haines, the son of Vista Coach Dick Haines.

And, to make things even more interesting, the Palomar League offers diversity. Everyone, it seems, has a little bit of something different to offer. Two teams figure to run a lot, two figure to throw a lot and the other three will be content just to have balance.

Certainly all of the seven teams have the same goal--to upend defending champion Vista--but each is taking a different path in order to accomplish its goal.

“It sure makes this an interesting league, doesn’t it?” Burke asked. “I may be a little prejudiced but this has got to be the most balanced league in the county.”

A year ago, however, Vista was well above the balance. The Panthers, unbeaten in league and 8-2 overall, advanced to the 3-A final before losing to Sweetwater, 28-13. But if past history is any indication, they aren’t a sure thing to repeat. In fact, no team in the six-year history of this league has repeated as league champion.

“I know one thing. This is an excellent league and we’re going to have to improve in order to repeat,” Dick Haines, Vista coach, said. “Every team presents a different challenge and that doesn’t even include my son. It’s going to be tougher coaching against him because he knows me too well.”

At least, Rick Haines should. Torrey Pines’ new coach worked for his father for a year at Vista and is likely to put the emphasize the Falcons’ running game. After all, Dick Haines has made the Vista running game one of the most feared in the county.

“It’s possible we could throw the ball 30 times a game, but it’s not very likely,” the younger Haines said.

While Torrey Pines and Vista are running, Fallbrook, a playoff team a year ago, will be putting the ball in the air.

“We’re going to try and confuse a lot of people and make them work hard to defend us,” Tom Pack, the Fallbrook coach, said. “Like always, though, our trend will be to establish the throw.”

That also figures to be the case at Mount Carmel. The Sundevils, league champions in 1982, did not win a league game a year ago. This year, however, Andruske is hoping the airways will open the path to some victories.

Here’s a closer look at the teams in the Palomar League:

VISTA 1984 record: 8-2-0, 6-0-0 in league

Finish: First

Coach: Dick Haines (15th)

Offense: Option

Defense: 4-4

Top returnees: Sal Aunese (6-0, 193, Sr., QB), Brett Smith (6-3, 217, Sr., RB), Roger Smith (6-0, 193, Sr., RB), Mike Jones (6-3, 180, Sr., CB). Paul Benner (6-0, 230, Sr., OT).

Top newcomers: Tommy Booker (6-1, 193, Jr., CB), Clarence Loa (6-0, 190, So., OG).

Outlook: The Panthers started slowly last season, losing their first two games, but then came on with a rush and went on the to the 3A finals. “We don’t want to lose, but like last year, we will do some experimenting early in the season,” Haines said. “I like to find out what we have early in the year.” One thing Vista definitely has is one of the county’s best running attacks. Price gained 1,500 yards a year ago and Smith gained more than 900. Aunese made The Times’ all-county second team at quarterback. Still, Haines lost four players off his offensive line from last year, and he will count on some newcomers to keep opening room for Price and Smith. The Panthers limited opponents to under double figures seven times a year ago, the key being that the offense controlled the ball for so long. Certainly, if the offensive line comes together and allows Vista to hold the ball for long periods of time again this year, the Panthers could be the first team to repeat in league history.

FALLBROOK 1984 record: 5-5-0, 5-1-0

Finish: Second

Coach: Tom Pack (8th year)

Offense: One-back

Defense: 5-2

Top returnees: Rob Shea (5-11, 135, Sr., WR), Bill Dunckel (5-10, 160, Sr., WR), Doug O’ Hara (6-1, 200, Sr. DE), Jeff Ritchey (5-11, 165, Sr., SS), John Adams (6-5, 255, Sr., OG).

Top newcomers: Jay Flynn (6-0, 180, Jr., LB), Robert Giusti (5-10, 170, Jr., LB).

Outlook: After winning the league title in 1983, the Warriors lost their first three games a year ago before recovering in time to make the playoffs. Again, this year, the nonleague schedule is difficult, since Pack has scheduled Mount Miguel, San Marcos and El Camino. “I believe in having a tough preseason because it prepares you for league better,” Pack said. “What nobody realizes is that we had so many injury problems early in the season that we just couldn’t compete. Once we got healthy we started to put it all together.” Still, the team’s season ended in a 48-7 playoff loss to Sweetwater. This year, Pack will have to replace graduated quarterback Jaime Miramontes, who led the county in passing two years ago.

SAN DIEGUITO 1984 record: 2-7-1, 2-3-1

Finish: Third

Coach: Ed Burke (1st year)

Offense: Wing T

Defense: 5-2

Top returnees: Joe Vanage (6-0, 180, Sr., RB), Dave Wegrawski (6-1, 180, Sr., QB), Matt Sandberg (6-1, 180, Sr., ILB), Adam LoRusso (5-9, 155, Sr., SS).

Top newcomers: Chad Embrey (6-1, 180, Jr., C), Jeff Warren (6-0, 195, Sr., DT), Kelly Hockey (5-9, 175, So., ILB).

Outlook: Last season, the Mustangs lived and eventually died by the pass because they had The Times’ offensive player of the year in wide receiver Travis Knox. But, he’s gone this season and incoming coach Ed Burke will have to balance things a bit. “I think our defense has the ability to shut some teams down, but the key is our offense,” Burke said. “We’re going to have to improve on execution. We have a sophisticated offense and we’ll need to run it well in order to win.”

TORREY PINES

1984 record: 5-4-1, 2-3-1

Finish: Fourth

Coach: Rick Haines (1st year)

Offense: I formation

Defense: 4-2-5

Top returnees: Steve Casper (6-3, 225, Sr., OT), Greg Schuman (6-2, 265, Sr., OT), Scott Calkins (6-0, 180, Sr., QB).

Top newcomers: None.

Outlook: It was every player for himself

at the Falcons’ training camp this summer. New coach Rick Haines opened all of the positions and said, “May the best man win.” Haines coached at Fallbrook as an assistant for five years before heading a high school team in Gardner, Kan., for two years. He then was head coach for a team in Leavenworth, Tex., before returning to help his father, Dick, for a year at Vista. Now, he’ll be coaching against his father. The Falcons won their first three games a year ago but a loss to San Dieguito and tie with Mount Carmel finished the team’s hopes of gaining a playoff spot. Haines is hoping a more consistent attack will result from his competitive training camp.

ORANGE GLEN 1984 record: 4-6-0, 2-4-0

Finish: Fifth

Coach: Jeff Carlovsky (2nd year)

Offense: Pro set

Defense: Multi-set

Top returnees: Brett Salisbury (6-3, 185, Sr., QB), Rich Espinosa (5-10, 200, Sr., FB), Doug Gann (6-2, 262, Sr., OG), Rickey Martinez (5-10, 180, Jr., TB)

Top newcomers: Albert Lemus (6-0, 180, Sr., CB), Mike Roberts (5-10, 150, Jr., CB).

Outlook: The Patriots’ will rely on their offense in 1985. The team returns last year’s entire offensive line not to mention a strong-armed quarterback in Salisbury and two quick runners in Martinez and Espinosa. The only drawback is that The Times’ All-County wide receiver Jim Rhinehart has departed. But Carlovsky has plenty of capable hands to replace him including his son, Scott.

POWAY 1984 record: 4-6-0, 2-4-0

Finish: Sixth

Coach: Dave Boulware (4th year)

Offense: I formation

Defense: 5-2

Top returnees: Andy Byrne (6-2, 200, Sr., QB), Mike Lucia (5-11, 180, Sr. TB), Rob Barrie (6-0, 200, Sr., OG), Cary Finnell (6-1, 175, Sr., CB), Harold Jones (6-2, 210, Sr. MLB).

Top newcomers: Brian Vickers (5-10, 185, Jr., NG), Danny Millard (6-3, 185, Jr., TE).

Outlook: Many coaches in the league say they’re worried about Poway because the Titan players have been together for so long that they’re bound to win. Poway will rely heavily on quarterback Andy Byrne. Many consider Byrne, who started last year, to have the strongest arm in the county. “He was coming on strong before he missed the last three games of the year with an injury,” said Titan Coach Dave Boulware. “He really had a heck of a summer and we’re counting on him this year.” Poway returns seven players from a defensive unit that was for the most part a successful one a year ago.

MOUNT CARMEL 1984 record: 2-6-2, 0-4-2

Finish: Seventh

Coach: Frank Andruske (1st year)

Offense: Single Back

Defense: 5-2

Top returnees: Robbie Crouch (5-10, 170, Sr., RB), Andy Mann (6-2, 215, Sr., OG), John Self (6-2, 170, Sr., LB), Greg Powell (5-11, 175, Sr., NG).

Coleman (5-10, 170, Sr., FS).

Top Newcomers: Matt Haggerty (6-2, 175, Sr., QB, transfer from Colorado)

Outlook: Mount Carmel routed Valhalla, 38-6,, in its opening game a year ago, but it was mostly downhill from there. The Sundevils scored under 10 points five times and were shut out once. Enter new coach Frank Andruske. “The most important thing is that we have to have some fun this year,” Andruske said. “We have a lot of new ideas to teach the kids but we want them to enjoy it.” One player Andruske will enjoy having is multi-talented Robbie Crouch. The senior played running back, split end, defensive back and punter a year ago and was the team’s Most Valuable Player. Andruske’s team figures to throw quite a bit this season and the key to the passing game will be newcomer Matt Haggerty, who transferred from Colorado. Defensively, Crouch will lead a unit that gave up more than two touchdowns only three times last season.