El Toro Has the Players Who Know That Championship Feeling

Bob Johnson, El Toro High School football coach, is doing his best to avoid comparing his team to last year’s championship squad that defeated 14 opponents by an average score of 21.7 points and featured five of Orange County’s best players.

Last season, the Chargers were 14-0 record, won the Southern Conference title and were voted the state’s No. 1 team by Cal-Hi Sports magazine.

Johnson’s son, quarterback Bret Johnson, was named The Times’ Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 2,458 yards and 27 touchdowns and being intercepted only six times. Linebacker Scott Ross was The Times’ Defensive Player of the Year.

Tackle Scott Spalding was acknowledged as the county’s best two-way lineman. Running back Aly Diaz averaged 163 yards rushing in his final six games. Wide receiver Scott Miller averaged 16.6 yards per reception. All have graduated with the exception of Johnson, a senior.

Despite losing such talent, El Toro appears to have another talented team ready to win a fourth straight South Coast League title.

Bret Johnson is the only returner among El Toro’s “Fabulous Five” of last season, but his presence alone makes the Chargers the league favorite. Defensive tackle Cory Wayland is on top of most recruiting lists. Chris McCarthy is among the county’s best wide receivers. Free safety Adam Brass returns for his third season.

One thing is certain. The senior class at El Toro knows how to win. The players have lost only one game in three previous seasons, compiling a 33-1 record.

If anyone can dethrone El Toro, it’s Capistrano Valley. The Cougars were the only Southern California team to challenge El Toro last year, losing 17-15. The year before, they lost, 17-14.

“If we can find an extra three points somewhere, we can beat those guys,” said Dick Enright, Capistrano Valley coach. “They’re the champs and deserve to be the favorites, but they also know we’re right there with them.”

CAPISTRANO VALLEY

4-1, 7-4 (Second in league)

The record watch for quarterback Todd Marinovich will continue as he pursues former Bishop Amat star Pat Haden’s Southern Section passing records and former LA Wilson star Ron Cuccia’s state and national marks. Marinovich enters his fourth season with 6,717 yards passing. Haden passed for 7,633 yards in three seasons (1968-70) and Cuccia surpassed that mark with 8,804 yards from 1977-79.

Multi-talented Tommy Adams, who gained 779 yards and scored 12 touchdowns as a junior, did not participate in spring football drills and was been nagged by foot and knee injuries. But Mater Dei transfer Matt Spence will add to the Cougars’ running attack, allowing Adams to move to a receiver spot. Tight end Randy Stark may be the best at his position in the county, but he’s the only returning starter on the offensive line after guard Wes Roberts broke his leg in a motorcycle accident.

DANA HILLS

2-3, 4-6 (Fourth in league)

Don’t be surprised if a third quarterback from the South Coast League gets some recognition this season. Donny Macintyre, who played defensive back, slotback and wide receiver for the Dolphins as a junior, looked impressive in summer passing competition. “He reminded me a lot of a quarterback we had here named Jeff Bielman, who was the league’s MVP in his senior year,” said Terry Henigan, Irvine coach. “He’s a real good athlete.” Macintyre played varsity football as a freshman and sophomore in Susanville, Calif. before transferring to Dana Hills. Tailback Jason Burden is a key returning player. He led the team in rushing (430 yards), receiving (23 receptions for 226 yards) and scoring (eight touchdowns). The team’s two top receivers last year--Willie Philbin and Craig Lombardi--also return. Philbin, a second-team all-league selection at defensive back, averaged 14.9 yards per reception. Lombardi averaged 13.1. Pete Platt (6-5, 240) anchors an offensive line that also includes Matt Glenn (6-0, 205) and Paul Avila (6-2, 250). “The offensive line is starting to shape up as one of our strengths,” Don Douglass, sixth-year coach. Allie Schaff joins Douglass’ staff to coach offensive backs and outside linebackers after 15 seasons as head coach at San Clemente. Among the top newcomers are defensive backs Zach Hickman and Bret Gaut.

EL TORO

5-0, 14-0 (First in league)

Eight starters, including five defensive players, are back as the Chargers vie for their seventh league title in the past eight years. Bret Johnson and Marinovich are listed as two of the top five quarterbacks in the nation by most recruiting magazines. Chris McCarthy, who caught 31 passes for 509 yards in the regular season, figures to be Johnson’s top receiver. Newcomers Sean Drinkworth and Jason Vivonia will also see plenty of playing time at receiver. The biggest hole to fill appears to be at tailback. Diaz emerged as one of the county’s leading running backs in the playoffs last year, keeping the pressure off Johnson. David Nemeth, a blocking fullback for Diaz, will move to tailback. Newcomer Ken Moorhead figures to start at fullback. Brass, with six interceptions last season, adds experience in the secondary with returner Brendan Bailey. Linebackers Craig Pyatt and Tad Weedman are proven starters.

The Chargers will be tested in their opening game against Tustin on Saturday night in Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

IRVINE

0-5, 1-9 (Sixth in league)

It was a long and forgettable year for the Vaqueros in 1986. The defense allowed an average of 35 points per game in league play. The offense never got molded behind either quarterback, Jeff Jones or George Koutures. Jones started the opening five games, completing 59% of his passes, but he threw only one touchdown pass as the team sputtered to a 1-4 mark. Coach Terry Henigan changed to Koutures, but Irvine failed to win a game after the move. “Looking back, we should have played Jeff all year,” Henigan said. “It was a mistake, but when you go 1-9, you probably made a lot of mistakes.” This year, Jones will start at quarterback but Koutures will rarely leave the field, playing wide receiver, defensive back and returning punts. Among the 14 returning starters are two quality players--linebacker Dave Webb and offensive guard Johnny Kang. Webb played middle guard last year and has moved to linebacker where his strength and aggressiveness will be better utilized. Kang was a second-team all-league selection as a junior and starts his third season. “Potentially, this is the best team in my six years here,” Henigan said. “It’s the fastest, biggest and strongest team I’ve had. There are more starters returning than any team I’ve had. I think we’re going to be pretty good.”

MISSION VIEJO

3-2, 7-6 (Third in league)

The Diablos figure to start slowly with new quarterbacks Robbie Adams and Troy Kopp vying for the starting position and another tough nonleague schedule. Last year, Mission Viejo struggled through a 1-3 start, but the Diablos came on strong to advance to the Southern Conference semifinals, winning six of their final nine games. Coach Bill Crow has 10 starters returning headed by linebacker Jeff Pease (6-3, 235). Crow said Pease is being recruited by most of the Pacific 10 and Big Eight schools along with the University of Michigan. John Burns, who played defensive end most of his junior season, moves to tailback. Burns figures to get 20 to 25 carries per game until either Adams or Kopp emerge at quarterback. Mike Costello is rated as the team’s top lineman and anchors the offensive line at either tackle or guard. Eric Ekdahl, a nifty wide receiver, will also do all of the kicking. “Eric is not that fast, but he has a way of always getting open,” Crow said. Other top returners include defensive end Mike Spinello and tight end Joe Ohman. “The running game is where it should be, and we look good defensively,” Crow said. “But the passing game will have to improve, or we could easily be 1-4 going into league.” Crow on the league race: “If Capo can pass block, they’re going to be tough. El Toro is the class of the league. We need to beat one of them to be in the title hunt, and I think we can.” The Diablos have upgraded their district football stadium, adding new lights and a three-story pressbox at a cost of $150,000.

SAN CLEMENTE

1-4, 4-6 (Fifth in league)

Dave Elecciri, defensive line and strength coach at Capistrano Valley for 10 years, is the new Triton coach, replacing Allie Schaff. Elecciri has his hands full. San Clemente has failed to qualify for the playoffs since 1979 and hasn’t had a winning season since 1982. Despite the hard times, Elecciri is optimistic, saying, “I have a dream of making the playoffs, and if the players perform, it could happen.” Realistically, the Tritons have only three quality players on a 59-man roster. Fullback/linebacker Jack Salerno, tailback/free safety Kevin Harrison and tight end/defensive end Marc Broccardo will be going both ways. San Clemente will run out of the I-formation and fans will see some shotgun formation on passing downs. “We’re about 60% to where I want to be,” Elecciri said. “I’d like to be about 80% for our opener against Woodbridge. That game could set the tone for our whole season.” Top newcomers include quarterback Sean Crawford, linebacker Ted Haberfield, fullback Fred Walke and wide receiver John Math.