City Central Football : League Preview : With Lincoln Weaker, Race Could Be Open

Coach Vic Player stood on the sidelines at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium last December, applauding his Lincoln High School football team, which had just overwhelmed Oceanside, 41-7, to win its second straight San Diego Section 2-A championship.

He applauded to show he appreciated the efforts of a group that might have been able to win the title without him. That, he knew. He also knew that when the 1987 season started, there was no way things could be as easy.

Last year, Lincoln had a 9-1 regular-season record, and scored 461 points--the second-highest total in county history (Castle Park scored 477 in 1969)--and allowed only 59. In the playoffs, the Hornets posted three more victories, outscoring their opponents, 92-25.

The team deserved to be applauded. Now, however, much of its talent is gone. Player begins a new season knowing he’s without the likes of:

--All-County wide receiver Patrick Rowe (now at San Diego State)

--Speedy running back Marcus Hopkins (USC)

--All-County lineman Lawrence Misa (West Point)

--Section championship game hero Charles Patterson (Utah)

--Quarterback Keith Mitchell (Arizona, who has signed a pro baseball contract with the Atlanta Braves)

“It’s pretty depressing to realize that all of those players are gone,” Player said.

Depressing for him , maybe.

For the rest of the teams, it represents a chance to better compete for a league championship. Four of the league’s six teams made the playoffs last season.

Here’s a look at the teams in the City Central League:

CHRISTIAN

Last season’s record: 3-2, 5-5.

Finish: Third, tied.

Coach: Marty Martin.

Top returners: Travis Wheeler (6-2, 218, Sr., LB), Rob Murphy (6-0, 205, Sr., RB), David Beezer (6-2, 175, Sr., WR), Brent Hyden (5-11, 190, Sr., LB).

Top newcomer: Shawn Henderson (5-10, 170, Jr., RB)

Outlook: Christian lost its first two league games last year and appeared headed for another long season. However, a strong defense led the Patriots to victory in their final three games, and they qualified for the section playoffs for the first time. The defense allowed only 20 points in season-ending victories over San Diego, St. Augustine and Hoover. Five starters return on defense. On offense, Jon Okken, who passed for more than 1,800 yards last year, has graduated, but Martin has high hopes for junior David Jerimiah, who passed for more than 600 yards as Okken’s backup.

CRAWFORD

Last season’s record: 4-1, 6-4.

Finish: First, tied.

Coach: Roger Engle.

Top returners: Jeremy Horton (5-11, 170, Sr., WR), Keith Williams (5-9, 150, Sr., RB), Keith Gilbert (5-11, 175, Sr., QB).

Top newcomer: Ronnie Rioux (5-10, 170, Sr., G).

Outlook: The Colts, who started four sophomores last season, started slowly, losing three of their first five games. However, by playoff time, Crawford was peaking. This year, Engle is hoping for a faster start. Gilbert, the quarterback, came on in the playoffs and led the team to a comeback victory over San Marcos. He has help in Williams and Horton. In all, six sophomores got playing time a year ago, and they only figure to get better. Crawford has beaten Lincoln two of the last three years, and the Colts again figure to have the best chance of unseating Lincoln for the league title.

HOOVER

Last season’s record: 3-2, 7-3.

Finish: Third, tied.

Coach: John Johnson.

Top returners: Danny Carter (5-11, 210, Sr., LB), Bob Stark (5-11, 180, Sr., LB), Stacy Domaille (6-1, 180, Sr., QB)

Top newcomer: Joe Odom (5-11, 175, Jr., WR)

Outlook: Thanks to a strong group of veterans last year, Hoover beat Lincoln for the first time in 15 seasons and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. Now, the trick is to prove last year was no fluke. It won’t be easy. Most of the experienced players have graduated, and Johnson will be looking to rebuild. Domaille started at cornerback last year but now will also be asked to play quarterback. “We’ve always told our kids that with hard work, they can do anything they want to,” Johnson said.

LINCOLN

Last season’s record: 4-1, 9-1.

Finish: First, tied.

Coach: Vic Player.

Top returners: Freddie Stokes (5-9, 155, Sr., QB), Eric Griffin (5-10, 160, Sr., WR), Calvin McGee (6-2, 195, Sr., LB), Derrick Mitchell (6-4, 190, Sr., LB)

Top newcomers: Darren Wagner (6-0, 190, Sr., RB), Joe Temple (6-4, 185, Sr., WR)

Outlook: The Hornets out-classed the City Central League and then steam-rolled through the playoffs. The list of outstanding players who have moved on, however, is long. Will Lincoln falter? Probably somewhat. But there is still plenty of talent, including Stokes, the quarterback, and Wagner, who transferred to Lincoln last year from University City. In all, only five starters return, but Player has a way of building strong teams, and the Hornets are favored to win the league championship.

ST. AUGUSTINE

Last season’s record: 1-4, 2-8.

Finish: Fifth.

Coach: Joe Galindo.

Top returners: John Muller (6-1, 220, Jr., DT), Steve Smith (6-0, 210, Sr., C), Tony Stanish (6-0, 160, Sr., QB), Matt Shimell (5-10, 160, Sr., RB).

Top newcomer: Chris Reaghard (6-2, 200, So., LB).

Outlook: The Saints have not challenged for a playoff spot in eight years, but finally appear headed in the right direction. Galindo, who has been coaching high school football for 27 years (in fact, he was Player’s high school coach), is building from the ground up, something past coaches haven’t done. “We started last year, and we’ll improve this year,” Galindo said. “We’ve worked on our freshman team all the way up. We’re hoping that these kids will develop in our program.”

SAN DIEGO

Last season’s record: 0-5, 2-7.

Finish: Sixth.

Coach: Bill Williams.

Top returners: Jim Kegler (5-8, 150, Sr., QB), Damon Carson (5-7, 150, Sr., WR), Jose Gonzales (5-8, 160, Sr., LB).

Top newcomers: None.

Outlook: Williams was the head coach at the University of San Diego for seven years, then an assistant with the USFL’s Chicago Blitz and at Mt. Carmel High and San Diego City College. He knows enough about the game to understand he has a difficult task as first-year coach of the Cavers. “I like coming into a situation that is down and trying to turn it around,” Williams said. There are only 45 players in the varsity and junior varsity programs combined, and many of those have become used to losing.