Prep Wednesday : This Should Be the Year That the Juniors Take Over the Empire : CIF PREVIEW : EMPIRE LEAGUE

If all goes as expected in the Empire League, the juniors shall inherit playoff spots.

Esperanza High School is a downright, no-questions-asked, unanimous choice as the league favorite. Why? Certainly it’s not last season’s uncharacteristic 5-6 season. It’s the junior class that moves up from a 10-0 sophomore team. The Aztecs get 315-pound Brian Fabray and 230-pound Chris Callinan from that team.

El Dorado is a favorite for a playoff spot and will owe much of its success to junior tailback Chris Olsen, who rushed for 1,100 yards as a sophomore.

Los Alamitos’ sophomore team was 7-3 last season and its stars--Roger Roadstrom and Sean Silvia figure to make an immediate impact.

“It goes in cycles, sometimes you don’t have much on the lower level, and other times you have a lot,” said Bill Craven, coach of defending champion Pacifica.

Unfortunately for Craven, his team is relatively poor in the juniors department and is not picked to repeat.

“The juniors in this league are really going to have an effect on how things turn out this season,” said Gary Meek, who replaces Pete Yoder at Esperanza. “I’m glad we have a bunch of good ones.”

Here’s a closer look at the Empire League:

CYPRESS: Key Personnel--Troy O’Leary (6-0, 185), WR/DB; Manuel Mugica (6-0, 150) WR; Lee Milton (6-0, 180), K; Jason Threedouble (6-1, 185), LB; Blaise Bryant, (6-0, 185), RB; Jason Friedman (6-1, 180), TE; Mike Parcells (5-9, 170), LB, and Jeff Ballinger (5-8, 150).

Top Newcomers--Greg Bedford (5-9, 160), DB; David Brunet (6-0, 150), QB; Steve Winterburn (5-8, 140), WR; Mark Jones (5-5, 130), DB, and Tom Haggerty (6-0, 180).

Outlook--Things looked as if they couldn’t get much worse for the Centurions after the 1984 season that brought player dissension and a 1-6 league record. Oh, but they did. Cypress was 0-7 last season and Coach Kris Van Hook resigned. New coach John Selbe is talking about changing “the whole attitude thing.” In attempt to do so, Selbe has hired six new coaches, all former players at Cypress. Wide receiver Troy O’Leary and running back Blaise Bryant look to be the Centurions’ key offensive weapons.

EL DORADO: Key Personnel--Todd Tomazic (6-0, 195), LB; Rick Bowen (5-10, 175), WR; Doug Yates (6-0, 185), QB; Todd Wunsch (5-10, 185) LB: Mike Modica (5-10, 160) DB; Justin Sweet (5-11, 180), FB/LB; Todd Emerick (5-10, 175), OL; Bob Lancey (6-0, 200), OL/DL, and McCabe Macon (6-2, 215), OL/DL.

Top Newcomers--Robert Coons (6-3, 190), TE/LB; Eddie Keller (6-1, 175), WR/DB; Chris Olsen (5-10, 185), RB; Joe Hayes (6-0, 190), OL/DL; Steve Goff (6-4, 215), OL; Jeff Allec (6-1, 275), OL/DL; Chris Facione (6-2, 170), WR/DB; Craig Parr (6-4, 210), TE/DL; Pat Gabb (6-0, 150), WR/DB, and Kirk Gurske (6-0, 205), DL.

Outlook--Coach Carl Sweet is looking to open up his offense, saying his team will pass 20-30 times a game. Though this is unlikely to cause any comparisons with the San Diego Chargers, it is a significant increase for a team that averaged 16 passes a game last season. Doug Yates is the Golden Hawk No. 1 quarterback and his No. 1 receiver will probably be Rick Bowen, who led El Dorado in receptions with 10, count ‘em, 10 catches. Junior Chris Olsen could step into the starting tailback position. He rushed for more than 1,100 yards on the sophomore team.

ESPERANZA: Key Personnel--James Ray (6-5, 250), OL; Frank Klisura (6-3, 220), DL; Mike Miscione (6-1, 180), RB; Don Herrick (5-11, 170), DB; Jim Short (6-2, 235), OL, and Brandt McCullough (6-2, 190), LB.

Top Newcomers--Mike Moneymaker (6-0, 177), QB; Brian Fabray (6-3, 315), OL; Chris Callinan (6-1, 230), OL, and Rick Lane (6-1, 175), DB.

Outlook--Everyone is picking Esperanza to win the league, including Esperanza. New Coach Gary Meek didn’t bother with the coy practice of putting down his team’s chances. After last season’s relatively mediocre performance--5-6 overall, and third in league, the Aztecs return an excellent offensive line that averages 232 pounds. The line is led by James Rae, Jim Short and Chris Callinan, named the outstanding lineman on Esperanza’s 10-0 sophomore team. Mike Moneymaker, who led the Aztec JV team to a 5-0 record, starts at quarterback. “He throws the ball with a lot of velocity,” Meek said. “I think he throws the ball harder than Gary Beckman (last year’s quarterback).” The consensus around the league is that former coach Pete Yoder’s resignation a week before practice will have little effect on the Aztecs since Meek is a 10-year Esperanza assistant.

KATELLA: Key Personnel--Jeff Yourstone (5-9, 175), QB; Bob Calhoun (5-8, 185), OL/DL; Mike Farrell (5-10, 185), TE/LB; Adam Pastorello (6-2, 225), OL/DL; Dante Venturelli (6-1, 190), OL; Todd Muzi (6-1, 185), RB/DB, and Bryan “Bubba” Clester (5-8, 160), RB/LB.

Top Newcomers--Joey Pastorello (5-8, 150), WR/RB; Benny Vargas (5-8, 165), LB, and Kyle Grant (5-10,190), OL.

Outlook--Football tradition being what it is at Katella, second-year Coach Richard Watson would prefer his team look to the future. It has been 17 years since the Knights have had a winning record. “I’m trying to get through to them that what happened 15 years ago doesn’t concern them,” Watson said. “We have to focus ahead.” Bob Calhoun returns on the defensive line. Calhoun had a school-record 132 tackles last season, 93 of them unassisted.

KENNEDY: Key Personnel--John Christensen (6-0, 185), RB/LB; David Kemp (6-0, 180), RB/LB; Charley Lindquist (6-2, 185), WR/DB; Todd Bristow (5-11, 180), QB/LB; Mark Roah (6-0, 185), OL/LB; Dwayne Heppe (5-11, 175), WR/DB, and Hyunn Kim (5-10, 215), OL/DL.

Top Newcomers--Sam Cruz (5-11,

175), WR/DB, and Robert Wilson (6-1, 185), TE/DL.

Outlook--The good news for Coach John Carroll is that he returns 10 starters from last season’s team. The bad news is the team went 2-8. Running backs John Christensen and David Kemp are near clones at 6-0 and 180 pounds. They figure to be the team’s offensive strength. Quarterback Todd Bristow returns.

LOARA: Key Personnel--Edy Andros (5-10, 182), TE/LB; Tony Ferrentino (6-0, 165), WR/DB; Andy Janney (5-9, 160), RB/DB; Brian Malavar (5-9, 175), RB/DL; Chuck O’Dey (6-2, 217), OL/LB; Brian Roberts (6-2, 181), WR/DB; Dan Rovira (5-7, 212), DL; Steve Thompson (5-10, 187), OL/DL; Scott Wood (6-4, 181), QB; Rich Kupfer (5-10, 146), WR/DB; Rich Hagerman (6-0, 153), WR/DB, and Tevita Aholelei (5-8, 162).

Top Newcomers--Mike Braynard (5-11, 200), OL/DL; Mike Conn (5-11, 216), OL/DL; Bill Jarman (6-0, 168), QB/DB; Korey Kowata (6-1, 151), WR/DL; Steve Marshan (5-9, 155), LB, and Peter Muetz (6-0, 211).

Outlook--The Saxons return the guts of a strong defense with linebackers Edy Andros and Chuck O’Dey and linemen Steve Thompson and Dan Rovira. However an inexperienced secondary will make Loara vulnerable to the pass. Four players--Tony Ferrentino, Rich Kupfer, Rich Hagerman and Tevita Aholelei--will see time at wide receiver, making it the strongest offensive position on the team.

LOS ALAMITOS: Key Personnel--Chris Rose (6-0, 235), OL; Steve Wood (6-3, 220), OL; Chris Spoden (5-10, 220), OL; Roger Roadstrom (6-2, 210), RB; Neil Sorensen (5-11, 175), RB; Tim Wynn (6-3, 185, TE; Mike Rogers (6-2, 240) DL; Mike Holsltein (6-1, 210), DL, and Mike Baker (6-1, 205), LB.

Top Newcomers--Tom Williamson (6-3, 185), QB; Ken Montgomery (5-11, 155), WR; Ryan Blossey (6-2, 185); Rob Nen (6-3, 165), WR; Jon Cisneros (5-10, 165); Matt McCabe (6-2, 190); Bob Sylvia (5-9, 160), DB; Winnie Wolf (5-9, 165) DB, and Mike Mullaney (6-0, 175), DB.

Outlook--Though the Griffins lose two explosive and exciting players in quarterback J.T. Snow and receiver Robbie Katzaroff, they figure to have a more balanced attack this season. “Last year those guys could turn a 10-yard gain into a 60-yard touchdown,” John Barnes, Los Alamitos coach, said. “We probably won’t be as spectacular, but I think we’re a better overall football team.” Barnes is counting on running backs Neil Sorenson and Roger Roadstrom to rejuvinate a Griffin ground attack that had gone to sleep as Snow and Katzaroff flew through the air. Tom Williamson will step in as the team’s quarterback.

PACIFICA: Key Personnel--Tom Hansen (6-1, 205), LB; Tim Rife (6-0, 190), LB; Tim Parrish (6-3, 190), TE, and Dan Blake (5-10, 160), WR.

Top Newcomers--Ray Willis (5-8, 155), RB; Corey Mathis (5-10, 165), WR; Ken Greene (5-11, 165), WR, and Wes Castellano (6-0, 185), OL.

Outlook--As mentioned, the defending champions are not favored to get a playoff spot. The Mariners return only six players from last year’s team that went 6-1 in league. Coach Bill Craven will start Brent Johnson at quarerback. “He doesn’t have a lot of game experience, but he knows our system,” Craven said. “We know he can throw the ball.” Linebackers Tom Hansen and Tim Rife return to make that phase of the Pacifica defense strong.

Thursday: The Freeway League.