City Eastern League : Too Many New, Unproven Quarterbacks Leave This Race Wide Open

As a rule, the glue that holds an offense together is the quarterback, the guy who provides the leadership, the continuity. At least some varsity experience can be a prerequisite.

But this year in the City Eastern League, new and unproven quarterbacks are the rule.

Madison, the only team in the league that didn’t win a game last year, is also the only team going into the 1986 season with a quarterback with varsity experience.

With so many question marks looming behind the centers in the City Eastern League, the power triumverate of Morse, Mira Mesa and Point Loma could be shaken.

For Morse, the question mark over the quarterback spot turned to an exclamation point last week in Hawaii. Willie Davis made his debut by throwing for one touchdown and running 40 yards for another.

At Mira Mesa, the league’s offensive powerhouse last year, the vacancy at quarterback will be harder to fill. Last year, Dwayne Odom led the Marauders--and the league--in passing with an average of 172 yards a game. Coach Brad Griffith is guardedly optimistic about his new quarterback, Ed Allison: “He was one one of the better JV quarterbacks we’ve had in our program . . . but he’s still a little inexperienced.”

Then there’s Point Loma, where the question of how the new quarterback will do depends on who the new quarterback is. Mike Bennett and Ace Logan have similar size and talent, making Coach Bennie Edens’ decision difficult.

“They’re both about even--I’ll probably flip a coin to see who starts,” Edens said. “Neither one of them has shown me enough to where I’ll say, ‘You’re the one.’ ”

Serra is pinning its hopes to rebound from a disappointing season on Chris Robison, a promising junior quarterback.

“He’s going to be a good quarterback--someday,” Coach Mike Williams said. “His main asset is a very strong arm . . . but we’re just not prepared to have him drop back 30 times a game.”

The only team standing pat at quarterback is Madison, last year’s last-place finisher. Coach Steve Miner thinks the experience of senior Maurice Jackson could be just the thing to turn his team around.

Morse

Last season’s record: 5-0-0, 7-3-0.

Finish: First.

Coach: John Shacklett.

Key Personnel: George Jackson (6-0, 185), RB; Steve Palmer (5-8, 180), FB; Charlie Fishero (6-6, 275), DT, and Melvin Maxwell (5-9, 150), S/WR.

Top Newcomers: Willie Davis (5-10, 165), QB, and Ty Morrison (6-2, 190), TE.

Outlook: The Tigers had the best defense in the league last season and should again this year. Shacklett can count on all-county defensive tackle Charlie Fishero. He will be joined on the line by sophomore Ty Morrison. The linebacking corps is also strong, led by junior Sam Cooper and senior George Pettie. The secondary, however, worries Shacklett. “There’s just not a lot of experience back there,” he said. George Jackson will again lead the running attack, but Shacklett said there is not much backfield depth. The Tigers will likely get out of the wishbone and do more passing this year, using Melvin Maxwell a prime target. Willie Davis demonstrated in Hawaii last week that he will be a double-threat quarterback, helping out in the rushing department.

Mira Mesa

Last season’s record: 4-1, 7-3.

Finish: Second.

Coach: Brad Griffith.

Key Personnel: Ray Rowe (6-4, 225), TE; Essek Burton (5-9, 140), TB; Bill Clem (6-3, 200), DT, and Andre Falquay (5-10, 165), CB.

Top Newcomers: Todd Coffin (6-3, 235), OT, and Eric Nelson (5-8, 140) FS.

Outlook: Although most of the offensive line is returning, the attack may suffer from the graduation of quarterback Dwayne Odom, who led the league in passing last season. Coaches consider the Marauders one of the league’s fastest teams, largely because of tailback Essek Burton, who averaged 13 yards a carry in league play last year. The defensive secondary returns essentially intact. But there will be some new faces in other areas of the defense, most notably twins Butch Hansen at linebacker and Rick Hansen at nose tackle. Bill Clem and Jeff Bell will return to anchor the defensive line.

Point Loma

Last season’s record: 3-2-0, 6-3-1.

Finish: Third.

Coach: Bennie Edens.

Key Personnel: Johnny Stanley (6-2, 185), TB; Isreal Stanley (6-2, 205), LB; Robert Brown (5-11, 160), CB, and Steve Johns (6-0, 190), G.

Top Newcomers: Mike Bennett (6-0, 170), QB, and Ace Logan (5-11, 170) QB.

Outlook: Last year, the Pointers were third in what was essentially a three-team race. This year, Edens hopes to edge Morse or Mira Mesa without being eclipsed by one of the others. He’s counting on his defense--a close second to Morse last season--led by cornerback Robert Brown and linebackers Isreal Stanley and Orlando Hill. Stanley’s brother, Johnny, who led the league in rushing with 97.9 yards a game, is once again the centerpiece of the offense. Regardless of which quarterback Edens plays, he should be given plenty of time and protection by the likes of Steve Johns on the offensive line. The other standout on the line is tight end Terry Hampton.

Patrick Henry

Last season’s record: 1-3-1, 3-6-1.

Finish: Fourth.

Coach: Walt Baranski.

Key Personnel: Kevin Macon (6-3, 230), FB/LB; Mike Vivoli (6-5, 245), OT/DT, and Alden Smith (5-10, 170), WR/DB.

Top Newcomers: Lance Lowery (6-2, 180), QB, and Charles Allen (6-0, 190), TB.

Outlook: “We’re kind of thin in numbers,” Baranski said, putting it mildly. This year’s team is the smallest the school has ever fielded, because of declining enrollment, academic ineligibility and what Baranski perceives as a decreased interest in football. Most of his larger and more talented players will play both ways. Senior tackle Mike Vivoli will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines. Alden Smith and Collis Hunt will be used both as defensive backs and receivers. Once known primarily as a passing team, the Patriots this year will run a multiple-I offense with an emphasis on shoring up their running game behind a front line that Baranski describes as “greatly improved.” Although the team may be spreading itself a bit thin, Baranski said Patrick Henry can be competitive with better-stocked opponents. “We’re going to be in the middle of the road at the start, but we’ll get better as the season goes on,” he said.

Serra

Last season’s record: 1-4, 1-8-0.

Finish: Fifth.

Coach: Mike Williams.

Key Personnel: Troy Jurgens (6-1, 215), LB/OT; Delvon Logan (6-1, 175), DB/RB, and Matt Teleia (6-3, 185) TE.

Top Newcomers: Chris Robison (5-10, 165), QB, and Rodney Navarro (5-7, 150) DB/WR.

Outlook: With only eight returning players, Mike Williams once again has to rebuild. “We always have a big turnover and we always start fresh,” he said. The Conquistadors could use a fresh start because last year’s team scored an average of only 7.6 points a game and allowed 24.2. Quarterback Chris Robison will enjoy the protection of a line that is significantly larger, bolstered by Carl Elston, a 260-pound sophomore. Matt Lattea, Jim Jarvis and Troy Jurgens will be the mainstays of the offensive and defensive lines. Pacing the receiver corps and the secondary will be Rodney Navarro, described by Williams as “one of our best all-around skill people.” The Conquistadors’ greatest liability is their lack of speed. “Our skill players are not flyers and in the Eastern League that can be a little scary,” Williams said.

Madison

Last season’s record: 0-4-1, 3-5-2.

Finish: Sixth.

Coach: Steve Miner.

Key Personnel: Maurice Jackson (6-4, 170), QB; Marvin Prather (5-9, 150) WR/DB; Jude Martinez (6-2, 225), C/DT, and Chris Ojeda (5-8, 175), DT.

Top newcomer: Jimmy Robinson (5-9, 170), RB.

Outlook: The consensus as this year’s darkhorse, the Warhawks are doing their best to put last year behind them. “We’ve definitely improved,” said Miner, starting his second year. “I really feel we have a very, very legitimate chance to make the playoffs and be a contender in this league.” Fourteeen starters from last year’s squad--winless in league--are returning, and Miner believes these players have matured. He is particularly impressed with his offensive line, which features Jude Martinez, Jon Medford and Matt Sena. Speed is another asset Miner believes will serve him well this year, particularly receivers Marvin Prather and Gerald Harris, who will double as defensive backs. Quarterback Maurice Jackson also has quickness that Miner hopes to exploit by running more option plays.