Woodbridge Is Best of Weak Lot Given New Chance at Winning

The newly formed Pacific Coast League is not basking in a tradition of winning football programs.

Two teams--Laguna Hills and Orange--were 0-10 last year. Trabuco Hills played a junior varsity schedule and was 2-8.

Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach were each 3-7, with one of Costa Mesa’s victories a forfeit. That leaves Woodbridge (6-3-1) as the best of the lot.

Excluding Trabuco Hills, the five teams combined to go 9-24-1 in league play and 12-37-1 overall.

The Southern Section tried to match schools that were having trouble competing in their leagues when creating the league, which competes in the 2-A Desert-Mountain Conference.

The best case for moving into the league can be made with Orange and Laguna Hills.

The Panthers had become little more than a quick victory on the way to the following week’s game for such Century League teams as Santa Ana, El Modena and Foothill the last few seasons. In the last four years under S. K. Johnson, Orange was 4-35-1. Johnson resigned in March and Mark McMahon took over.

“I think it (being in the Pacific Coast League) is good for Orange High School,” McMahon said. “Just a change in general creates a new opportunity, and we’ll sure have that in this league. The Century League was not too kind to Orange over the past few years.”

At Laguna Hills, Coach Paul Weinberger failed to turn the program around in his first year in the South Coast League.

“We’re just looking forward to being more competitive,” Weinberger said. “It just seemed like last season we were out of a lot of games by halftime. With this new league we have a chance to be a little more successful.”

Last season, Woodbridge finished third in the Sea View League, which also releases Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach to the new league. The Warriors are the only Pacific Coast team to make the playoffs last year.

“I guess people think we should be the favorites, but I just don’t know,” Woodbridge Coach Gene Noji said. “Laguna Beach has some very fine players, as does Costa Mesa. Those are just the schools we know about.

“The other programs I don’t know that much about yet. We don’t know what each team has, so we just can’t be too sure about anything.”

Except that at least two teams that were not in last year’s playoffs will be this time.

Here’s a closer look at the Pacific Coast League:

COSTA MESA: Key Personnel--Tyler Riddell (5-8, 170), CB/WR; Mike Szyperski (6-0, 210), LB/FB; Kelly Day (5-11, 250), G/DT; Jim Armman (5-10, 180), OG/OT; Mike Crowe (5-11, 170), QB; Kevin Day (6-0, 195), LB; Kevin Mayne (5-9, 165), C; Mike Richie (6-0, 180), WR; Jim Felter (6-2, 185), DB, and Tim McDowell (6-1, 170).

Top Newcomers--Terry Bryant (5-8, 145), RB; Todd Ashby (5-10, 190), NG; David Beler (5-9, 165), FB; Paul Davis (5-9, 160), WR; Robert Littley (5-9, 160), WR; Pepe Medina (6-0, 190), OL; Mazy Ostovany (5-10, 215), NG, and John Vento (5-8, 160), TB.

Outlook--The Mustangs might have one of the most talented players in the league in linebacker/fullback Mike Szyperski, who was an All-Sea View League player as a sophomore. He broke an arm in the opening game of his junior season and has not played since. “He is going to have to stay healthy for us to win this season,” Coach Tom Baldwin said. Three-year starting lineman Kelly Day is back, and Mike Crowe moved from wide receiver to quarterback. Tyler Riddell, an all-league pick last season, will play receiver and in the defensive backfield. The team’s weakness is its defensive line. Senior Mazy Ostovany, who came from Iran, is working at nose guard. “He has all the tools to be a real fine player, but the game just doesn’t come naturally to him,” Baldwin said.

LAGUNA BEACH: Key Personnel: Chris Dickerson (6-1, 205), FS/TE; Jonathan Todd (5-11, 210), FB/LB; Pete Schmitt (6-4, 230), TE/DE; Nelson Griffin (6-1, 220), OG/LB; Andy Meyers (5-11, 195), TB/DE; Robbie Oliver (5-9, 170), RB/CB; Danny Lane (6-1, 185), QB, and Daxon Dorsch (6-2, 185), WR.

Top Newcomers--Tim Dennis (6-1, 200), DT; Keith McDonald (5-9, 160), SS; Steve Newby (5-5, 140), CB; Joel Seeb (6-5, 220), OT, and Robbie Warmington (6-0, 180), WR.

Outlook--Just on the strength of its returning players, Laguna Beach must be considered a contender for the league title. Last year, the Artists, who started 4-1 but were forced to forfeit three games for using a 14-year-old sophomore, finished 3-7. Laguna Beach returns three All-Sea View League performers--Johnathon Todd, Chris Dickerson and Sean Mahoney--who will be joined by the five other returning starters. Laguna Beach also has the league’s biggest line, which includes Dylan Candelaria, Nelson Griffin and Joel Seeb. The Artists will go with junior Danny Lane, who also punts, at quarterback.

LAGUNA HILLS: Key Personnel--Pat Buckley (5-8, 160), QB; Pete Colburn (7-1, 170), WR; David Deimonico (5-6, 150), WR; Scott Evert (6-1, 175), DE; Tom Joners (5-10, 170), LB; Andy Kuver (6-4, DT; Corey Potter (6-0, 190), OG/LB; David Reinhardt (5-10, 215), OT; David Del Monico (5-6, 150), DB, and Keith Henderson (5-10, 160), WR.

Top Newcomers--Brian Fleming (6-0, 175), P; Chris Leigber (6-0, 175), QB; Mike Cotner (6-0, 185), LB; Sean Hardy (6-2, 180), TE; Charlie Hager (6-0, 230), OT; Jason Robbins (6-0, 175), LB, and Aaron Arrendondo (5-11, 200), FB.

Outlook--The Hawks struggled last season on and off the field. On Aug. 14, then Coach Ed Adams resigned to become the dean of students at El Toro. He was replaced by Paul Weinberger, a former assistant coach at Servite. Laguna Hills never recovered, though, finishing 0-10. “Last year we just hit rock bottom,” Weinberger said. “This season we are improved, that’s for sure. It’s just hard to say how much till we play a few games.” Quarterback Pat Buckley, who spent his Friday nights last year being chased across most of the fields in the south county, is back but he still doesn’t have much protection. “The offensive line is the key,” Weinberger said. “We are not big, and we sure can’t hide that. We will just have to find some way to beat people other than with size.” Corey Potter, David Reinhardt and Whittier Christian transfer Aaron Arrendondo are among the players who will have to play taller and wider for the Hawks to be successful.

ORANGE: Key Personal--Mike Stock (6-0, 180), QB; Paul Maund (5-9, 185) RB; Ernie Vasquez (5-7, 150) RB; Steve Riddle (6-2, 215) OL; Frank Prelesink (6-2, 210) OL; Robby Glover (6-1, 170) DB; Chris Dunham (5-10, 195), LB; Chris Macias (5-11, 190) LB; Steve Giddings (6-0, 185) OL; Greg Valenzuela (5-7, 150), DB; Brian Carr (6-0, 180), OL, and Victor Esparza (5-11, 170), K.

Top Newcomers--Joe Strini (6-1, 180), OT; Jeff Smith (6-2, 180), TB; Kerry Reed (5-7, 140), WR; Steve Ward (5-8, 150), DE, and Aaron McAffee (5-8, 150).

Outlook--First-year Coach Mark McMahon will switch from the veer offense to the wing-T with senior Mike Stock at quarterback. The Panther defense will also change from a standard 3-4-4 to a 4-4 multiple that is also more complicated. The changes created some problems in the early practices. “Right now there is a lot of confusion, and we can’t play confused and expect to win,” McMahon said. “We just need time to get the kids to believe in themselves and the system.” The backfield should be strong with the return of running backs Paul Maund and Ernie Vasquez. They will be joined by Jeff Smith, who has impressed the staff in practice, McMahon said. Orange, like the rest of the league’s teams, lacks consistent size on the line but will be helped by Joe Strini, a transfer from Nevada who is expected to play both ways at tackle.

TRABUCO HILLS: Key Personnel--Brian Gadbury (6-2, 210), DT/OG; Jeff Dooley (6-1, 165), WR; Matt Davis (5-9, 170), K; Jason Harwood (6-1, 175), S; Brett Miller (6-2, 170), QB; Mike Montreuil (6-3, 220), OT; Pat Nicolai (6-0, 180), DE; Ray Walters (5-9, 175), RB, and Wes Pulsipher (6-0, 230), T.

Top Newcomers: RB Joe Scienski (6-2, 190), RB; Mike Montreuil (6-3, 220), OT, and Sean Naylor (6-1, 175), TE.

Outlook--After two games competing as a varsity team last year, the Mustangs moved to the junior varsity level for the rest of the season and finished 2-8. Returning players should not be a problem for Trabuco Hills, as there were no seniors last year in the school’s first year. Quarterback Brett Miller had 1,800 yards passing and 14 touchdowns last season. Among his favorite targets was Jeff Dooley, who had 56 catches and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. The line will be anchored by Brian Gadbury and Wes Pulsipher who are expected to play both ways. Joe Scienski, a transfer from Capistrano Valley Christian, is expected to start at running back.

WOODBRIDGE: Key Personnel--David Townsend (6-0, 195), RB/SS; Marc Fertig (5-9, 160), WR/DB; John Yurkovich (6-1, 185), QB; Mike Fiua (5-10, 160), WR/DB; Keith Radovcich (6-5, 230), OT/DT; Paul Rodriguez (5-8, 160), WR/DB; John Addington (6-2, 220), OT/DT; Mike Sorensen (5-10, 165), TE/SS; David Cohen (5-10, 200), OG/DT, and Sam Dehdashti (5-10, 170), RB/LB.

Top Newcomers--Dax Jordan (5-8, 150), WR; Derriek Odum (5-10, 160), WR; Mike Goodman (6-1, 200), OT; Eric Brougher (6-0, 170), QB; Jimmy Burke (6-1, 180), FB; Jon Daniels (5-10, 185), TE; Pat Jones (5-11, 205), OG; Mike Juarez (5-10, 175), LB, and John Rios (5-10, 160), RB.

Outlook--The Warriors are the league favorites among the coaches, except Woodbridge’s Gene Noji, who expects his team to contend but does not see it as the clear-cut favorite. Much of the reason for the lofty expectations center on tailback David Townsend. The senior gained 738 yards rushing last year and caught 10 passes. “I can’t predict yardage or anything else, but I can say he is going to have his hands on the football,” Noji said. Senior John Yurkovich returns to play quarterback but will also start in the defensive backfield. Junior Eric Brougher will also play at quarterback. “I don’t want to have to find out during league how well Eric (Brougher) can do,” Noji said. “We will split time between the two in the games before league.”