CIF PREVIEW Sixth of 10 Parts : ORANGE LEAGUE : Western’s Status Means New Expectations

Nine years ago, Jim Howell was fed up with coaching high school football. He had just finished his fifth straight losing season at Magnolia High and had no desire to continue.

“We put too much time and sweat into it to get our brains beaten out every week,” said Howell, who resigned after that 1977 season. “I couldn’t take it anymore.”

After a year as an assistant at Katella, Howell accepted the head coaching job at Western in 1979. But he wasn’t about to set himself up for another disappointment.

With the Pioneers coming off two 2-8 seasons, and no one expecting any miracles, Howell felt his task was to get the program back on its feet, not to win any Southern Section championships.

Eight years later, it has come to this: The Pioneers are ranked No. 1 in the 1986 preseason Central Conference poll.

Instant expectations.

“Hopefully, we can handle being No. 1,” Howell said. “It’s new to the kids. They’re excited, but we’re trying to teach them not to make a big thing out of it.”

Western returns five all-league players from last year’s 7-3-1 team, which shared the Orange League championship with Valencia, and has several talented players up from an undefeated junior varsity team.

Also back is a rejuvenated coach. The Pioneers’ recent success has done wonders for Howell’s attitude. He now looks forward to practices, and there’s no more talk of retirement, even though Howell, 48, is entering his 25th year of coaching.

That’s not the way it was for Howell at Magnolia, where he dreaded his job and eventually retired at 39.

“When you’re successful, it makes you feel younger, and when you’re losing, it makes you old in a hurry,” Howell said. “I’ve been on both ends, and it’s a little easier to work on Saturdays and Sundays during a winning season.”

Valencia, which is ranked fourth in the Central Conference poll, will challenge Western for the league title. The Tigers return seven starters from a defense that allowed 69 points and recorded seven shutouts in 12 games last year.

And, despite the loss of the Southern Section’s all-time leading rusher, Ray Pallares, who accumulated 5,397 yards in three seasons, t running backs Tony Goulet and Dorian Estes and new quarterback Chris DeRisio make the offensive backfield as strong as ever.

Anaheim--which has one of the league’s best all-around players in fullback/linebacker Ernest Johnston--Magnolia and Brea-Olinda, who tied for third place last year, and Savanna, which returns 14 starters, will challenge for the league’s third playoff berth, but are not in the same class as Western and Valencia.

Here’s a closer look at the Orange League:

ANAHEIM: Key Personnel--Ernest Johnston (6-1, 210), LB/FB; James Gonzales (5-6, 165), OG/DG; Rolando Sanabria (5-11, 205), C/DE; Mike Banci (5-6, 140), DB; Brad Huff (5-10, 210), OT; Steve Ybarra (5-11, 165), WR and Jeff Bell (5-8, 150), RB/LB.

Top Newcomers--Oscar Ramirez (6-0, 185), LB/OG; Robert Ferrington (5-11, 195), TE/LB; Tim Tavares (5-10, 165), LB; Robert Gorman (5-10, 160), RB/DB; Jimmy Sanchez (5-10, 165), LB; Sunny Silverman (5-9, 150), DB; Juaquin Garcia (5-10, 160), RB/DB and Brandon Smith (6-1, 190), OL/DL.

Outlook--Ernest Johnston, who passed for 1,072 yards and rushed for 312 yards as the Colonists’ quarterback last year, moves to fullback, where Coach Roger Stahlhut can take full advantage of his running skills. As a linebacker, the three-year starter also will play an integral part of Anaheim’s defense, along with linebacker Robert Ferrington. Johnston has made 183 tackles in two years and has a chance to top 300 for his career with a good defensive season. Juaquin Garcia, up from the junior varsity team, will play quarterback but is more of a runner than a passer. The Colonists, who were 3-7 last year (1-4 in league), have some good, veteran players, but the roster of 30 is made up mainly of young and inexperienced players.

BREA-OLINDA: Key Personnel--Steve Teran (5-10, 165), WR/DB; Mike Oziminski (5-9, 170), RB/DB; Mark Dunlap (5-10, 170), RB/DB; Toby Peruti (5-10, 175), FB and Mark Dunlap (5-10, 180), DB.

Top Newcomers--Dave Ricci (6-1, 185), OL/LB; Jim Esquivel (6-1, 215), OL/DL; Bill Montalvo (5-10, 170), RB/DE; Rich Palacios (5-8, 170), QB/DB; Mike DeClark (6-1, 190), OL/DL; Eddie Vargas (5-10, 180), OT/LB and Russ Barnes (5-7, 150), CB/WR.

Outlook--The Wildcats opened their season against Baldwin High at Hawaii Friday night still not certain who would start at quarterback. quarterback. Senior Rich Palacios, the No. 3 varsity quarterback last year, and junior Shon Riley, the junior varsity quarterback last year, are competing for the position. “Both can run and both are adequate passers,” Brea Coach Bill Brown said. “We’ll go with the boy who is consistent and makes the fewest mistakes.” The Wildcats will again operate out of the wishbone offense, with Steve Teran, one of the team’s leading receivers in 1985, moving to running back. He’ll be joined by Mike Oziminski, Mark Dunlap and Toby Peruti in the backfield. Brea doesn’t have much experience or size--only one player weighs more than 200 pounds. “We’re gonna try to play ball control and get the game over early, because we have too many kids going both ways to make a track meet out of it,” Brown said. “We’re not that explosive.”

MAGNOLIA: Key Personnel--Mike Tietge (6-0, 170), QB; Ron Bryant (6-0, 210), TE/LB; Ed Pauley (6-0, 195), NG; Mason Lee (5-10, 185), OG; Lee Sebor (6-2, 200), OT/DT; John Springer (6-1, 200), OT/DT and Steve Bressler (6-0, 205), C.

Top Newcomers--Clint Stark (6-4, 218), TE; Jose Myers (5-7, 145), WR; Scott Fay (5-7, 145), TB; Steve Seleska (6-0, 195), OG; Scott Beery (6-0, 195), OT; Mike Minamiji (5-9, 205), OT; Kris Walsh (5-7, 145), RB; Erik Satterfield (6-2, 210), OT/DT; Richard Anderson (6-2, 185), TE/LB and Vince Crisostomo (5-8, 175), LB.

Outlook--Second-year Coach John Hangartner, who spent 19 years as the head coach at Kennedy High before retiring in 1983, helped transform the Sentinels from a 3-7 team in 1984 to a 7-4 playoff team in 1985. Magnolia tied Brea-Olinda for third place and earned a wild-card berth in the Central Conference playoffs, where it lost to Newport Harbor, 42-21, in the first round. Hangartner had hoped that last year’s success would boost participation this year, but the Sentinels have only 33 varsity players. They’ll be led by quarterback Mike Tietge, who passed for 460 yards last season. He had been an offensive guard as a sophomore, but Hangartner noticed he was a starting pitcher on the baseball team and moved him to quarterback. Magnolia doesn’t have as much speed as last year’s team, but the Sentinels have better overall size.

SAVANNA: Key Personnel--Tom Osendorf (6-3, 245), OG/DT; Tony Osendorf (6-1, 205), QB/DB; Craig Perez (5-10, 175), DE/RB; Eric Roberts (6-0, 185), DE/TE; Matt Stephenson (6-0, 195), RB/LB and Tom Williams (5-10, 165), DB/WR.

Top Newcomers--Manuel Patterson (5-11, 180), NG/OT; Matt Smith (5-11, 180, OL/LB; Stacy Strocier (5-10, 160), RB/DB; Martin Strocier (5-9, 155), RB/DB; Chris Richard (6-5, 265), OT; Burt Miller (6-0, 185), OG; Jeff Manning (5-7, 190), C and Ron Waterhouse (6-3, 220 sr), OT/DT.

Outlook--First-year Coach Dana Coleman, Rebel defensive coordinator the past two years, takes over a program that has produced one victory in the past two seasons, but he likes the attitude of this year’s team. “Our strength is in our enthusiasm and desire,” he said. Having 14 returning starters will help, too. Tony Osendorf, who passed for 1,300 yards as a sophomore, returns but will be operating a new veer offense. Osendorf didn’t get much protection in 1985, as evidenced by his 37% completion rate and 13 interceptions, but Savanna should have a better offensive line this year, behind Tom Osendorf, Chris Richard, Burt Miller and Jeff Manning. Stacy Strocier, a transfer from St. Louis with excellent speed, Matt Stephenson and Craig Perez will be the running backs.

VALENCIA: Key Personnel--Brett Gregory (5-10, 170), DB; Shawn Racobs (6-1, 215), DT; Tony Goulet (6-2, 210), RB; Mike Edwards (6-1, 187), DB; Jason Cruz (5-9, 175), DE; Eric Peterson (6-2, 215), DT; Dorian Estes (5-9, 170), CB/RB; Al Harrison (6-0, 190), OG; Fred Jenkins (5-11, 190), C and Kevin Barton (6-1, 205), LB.

Top Newcomers--Joe Acosta (6-0, 218), OT/DT; Mark Walejko (6-4, 205), OT/DT; Brad Hall (6-1, 190), OG; Steve Rangel (6-0, 185), LB; Keef Leasure (5-10, 185), NG; Don Winters (6-4, 205), OT; Robert Navarette (5-11, 160), WR and Chris DeRisio (5-9, 170), QB.

Outlook--Ray Pallaras has moved on to Cal State Long Beach, but the Tigers are still loaded in the backfield. Tony Goulet, who gained 863 yards and scored 11 touchdowns last year, despite missing three games because of injury, returns about 15 pounds heavier and much stronger. Dorian Estes, who started on defense but ran for 170 yards in three games as running back, will start on offense, giving Coach Mike Marrujo one of the county’s best backfield tandems. Both have good speed. Quarterback Chris DeRisio should be a good passing threat. The defensive secondary also is strong, with Brett Gregory, a three-year starter and returning all-league selection, Mike Edwards, a returning all-leaguer, and Estes. The Tigers lost four starters from last year’s outstanding offensive line and will be counting on Fred Jenkins, Brad Hall and Al Harrison to block. “This is a different type of a team than we’ve had the past two years, but we’ll use the same basic formula to win games,” Marrujo said. “We’ll play good defense, minimize turnovers, and run the ball.” Valencia opens the season next week against Westminster, which is ranked No. 1 in the preseason Big Five Conference poll.

WESTERN: Key Personnel--Art Giovannini (6-0, 195), OG/TE/LB; Jim Howell (5-10, 155), WB/DB; Dan Price (5-11, 190), OG/DE; Mike Huy (5-8, 150), QB/DB; Vince Galaz (6-2, 215), OT/DT and Carl Manliguis (5-10, 185), RB/LB.

Top Newcomers--Ron Madrid (5-10, 235), DT; Dan Liavaa (5-9, 165), RB/LB; Jorge Ortiz (6-2, 165), TE/DB; Tony Rivera (6-0, 170), FB/DE; Corey Reuter (6-1, 235), OT/DT; Joey Huy (5-10, QB/DB); Chris Lavoie (6-2, 215), C; Art Smith (6-2, 255), OT/DT and Toby Howell (6-0, 180), TE/DE.

Outlook--The Pioneers may have a running game to match Valencia’s behind junior Carl Manliguis, who may be Western’s best all-around football player since quarterback Bob Acosta, who led the Pioneers to Southern Section major-division championship games in 1971 and 1972. Danny Liavaa, the top rusher on the JV team last year, will start, and Mike Huy is a run-oriented quarterback. Jim Howell Jr. is another running threat as a wingback. Western has excellent size on both the offensive and defensive lines, which will feature Dan Price, one of the county’s best. Manliguis and Art Giovannini give the Pioneers strength at the linebacker position.

Sunday: Pacific Coast League.