City Western League Football Preview : Kearny, Clairemont Give Race a New Look : Of Last Year’s Co-Champions, Only La Jolla Is Among Favorites Again

There may again be a three-team race for the City Western League football championship, but don’t expect a rerun.

League coaches seem to agree that, of those that tied for last year’s league title with 4-1 records, only La Jolla High School should be among the top challengers again.

Clairemont, which won only one of 10 games a year ago, and Kearny, which was 2-9, are the new contenders.

The consensus among coaches is that La Jolla has the most experience and depth, Kearny the best size and Clairemont the most speed and quickness.

In last year’s playoffs, La Jolla reached the semifinals, in which it played eventual runner-up Oceanside close in the first half (14-14 in the first quarter) before losing, 42-27.

University City and University of San Diego High, the teams that tied with La Jolla for the title last year, both were hurt by graduation. USDHS lost two 1,000-yard rushers in James Wilson and Martin Correia, and University City, after two straight seasons with experience, has hit a lean year.

Mission Bay is another team that will be without one of its key players from last year. Starting quarterback Sean Rees, an all-county pitcher, will skip the football season to concentrate on baseball.

Clairemont

Last season’s record: 1-4, 1-9.

Finish: Fifth.

Coach: Hal Krupens.

Top returners: Cercy Moore (6-2, 195, Sr., RB), Chris Box (5-11 1/2, 204, Sr., RB), Lamont Jackson (6-2, 180, Sr., QB).

Top newcomer: None.

Outlook: League coaches rate the Chiefs’ backfield as the league’s most talented, and that alone could lead Krupens, who is in his second season, out of the second division. Box, who was a second-team, all-league selection last year at linebacker, will be a running back as well this year. Krupens, who is putting more emphasis on defense than he did a year ago, said his six returning offensive starters have grown comfortable with his system.

Kearny

Last season’s record: 0-5, 2-9.

Finish: Sixth.

Coach: Willie Matson.

Top returners: John Williamson (6-5 1/2, 245, Sr., OT), Corey Dailey (6-2, 200, Sr., LB), Farley Hayes (6-2, 245, Sr., OT), Brian Archer (6-1, 180, Sr., TE).

Top newcomers: Tom Rawlins (6-1, 170, So., QB) and Tosh Hugeley (5-10, 180, So., RB)

Outlook: Matson, who takes over for Tom Barnett, inherits the league’s biggest offensive line. Williamson and Hayes are sizable bookends, and Archer, a defensive lineman a year ago, will concentrate only on offense. Matson said he would start three sophomores. He said Rawlins, who was the starting junior varsity quarterback as a freshman, has picked up the system quickly. Hugeley, a sophomore, will start at tailback, and 5-foot 8-inch senior Eric Mercado will start the fullback. Gone, however is center Victor Lease, a starter as a sophomore, who moved to Oregon. Williamson and hard-hitting linebacker Wes Altholl (6-0, 180, Sr.) will lead the defense.

La Jolla

Last season’s record: 4-1, 8-2.

Finish: Tied for first.

Coach: Gene Edwards.

Top returners: Brad Raulston (6-2, 215, Sr., TE), John Tribolet (5-11, 180, Sr., QB), Brent Woodall (6-4, 221, Sr., RB/LB), Eric Brown (6-1, 250, Sr., DT).

Top newcomer: Adam Lenain (5-9, 145, Sr., DB).

Outlook: Last year Tribolet alternated series with Doug Powell, who has since graduated. Raulston has all-county potential. College scouts are looking at Woodall as a linebacker, but he also will be a running back. Edwards, who is in his 27th season as the school’s coach, says he has more depth than a year ago. Senior running back Jerry Walker ran for nearly 400 yards in a reserve role a year ago, and Sean Edwards, a hurdler on the track team, will play receiver and try to help in the inexperienced secondary, where Willie Barnett (5-11, 175, Sr.) is the only returner.

Mission Bay

Last season’s record: 1-4, 2-8.

Finish: Fourth.

Coach: Dennis Pugh.

Top returners: Jason Hamm (6-1, 180, Sr., WR/DB), Brian Miranda (5-7, 150, Jr., QB), Dan Drage (5-10, 190, Sr., OG/LB).

Top newcomers: Keith Berkelay (6-2, 180, Jr., WR/LB), Chris Fernandez (6-0, 170, Sr., RB/DB).

Outlook: Miranda, who played defensive back for Mt. Carmel last season, has earned the starting quarterback job since transferring. Pugh returns 10 lettermen from last year’s team, but defensive lineman Ray Stratton, the best of the group, may end up academically ineligible. Pugh said that Fernandez has kicked 50-yard field goals in practice.

USDHS

Last season’s record: 4-1, 9-1.

Finish: Tied for first.

Coach: Ron Hamamoto.

Top returners: John Montali (6-1, 170, Sr. DB), Ken Strangian (6-0, 170, Sr., RB/DB), Joe Virissimo (5-10, 215, Sr., DT), Anthony Massa (6-1, 160, Jr., QB).

Top newcomer: Brian Duplessis (6-2, 170, So., S/RB).

Outlook: Hamamoto will start three sophomores on a team that he said has more baseball talent than football talent. His football talent went out with 1,000-yard rushers James Wilson, who is now at USC, and Martin Correia. Massa, who threw for more than 700 yards last season as a sophomore for the run-oriented Dons, should be one of the league’s best quarterbacks. “We’re small, but slow,” Hamamoto said.

University City

Last season’s record: 4-1, 7-2.

Finish: Tied for first.

Coach: Steve Vukojevich.

Top returners: Darnes Taylor (6-1, 180, Jr., RB), Curtis Williams (6-1, 195, Jr., C), Brad Ledwith (6-2, 200, Sr. OG), Danny Whitley (6-2, 202, Sr., DL).

Top newcomers: Jeff Jordan (5-7, 135, Jr., RB) and Todd Fisher (6-0, 165, Sr. QB).

Outlook: There are only three starters each on offense and defense after two consecutive seasons of experience. Bad news came on the last play of the spring practice when Taylor suffered a broken ankle when it was stepped on. Vukojevich said Taylor, who had more than 300 yards in four games last season, could be ready by the third game. Vukojevich hopes his biggest player, junior Erik Taylor (6-5, 240, OG) can help Williams and Ledwith open holes on the offensive line. Fisher will get the start at quarterback after watching as a junior.