Metro-South Bay League Football Preview : Coronado Takes Another Shot at 2-A Play

As the conclusion of the 1984 season neared, Dave Tupek, Coronado High School’s football coach, watched as his team and the entire football program disappeared before him.

By the season’s final game, injuries had reduced Coronado’s roster to 12 players, and Tupek was forced to forfeit the game. That, coupled with an increasing lack of interest from the community, led Tupek to believe football at Coronado would be a thing of the past.

“It was as close to being gone as it could have been,” Tupek said of his failing program.

Coronado was playing in a relatively weak league (the 2-A Metro-South Bay) and still couldn’t compete. Not only was Coronado being beaten, its players were being beaten up.

So, Coronado moved to the 1-A Mountain Desert League, where the schools were smaller and the competition weaker. Interest increased in the program as the team began to win.

“In the past, our players walked out on the field and hoped for survival,” Tupek said. “Now, they walk out on the field and hope for a win.”

And it’s not false hope. The two seasons Coronado played in the Mountain-Desert League, it twice won the league title and the San Diego Section 1-A title. Suddenly, Coronado was the bully on the block.

So, at the end of last season, Tupek petitioned and won approval from the San Diego Section to move back to the Metro-South Bay League. With new-found confidence and a revitalized program, Tupek hopes Coronado--with 35 players on its roster--doesn’t return just to get buried again.

“Before, the players were saying, ‘Why go out for the football team if we’re just going to get beat up?’ And the parents said the same thing,” Tupek said. “That hurt the program. But when we went down to the 1-A league, we had a better (football program). That makes a difference. The parents are more involved and so are the kids.”

The Metro-South Bay League has taken on a different look as well. After last season, Southwest High moved from the South Bay to 3-A Metro-Mesa League. And Metro-Mesa cellar-dweller Hilltop steps down to the South Bay.

Here’s a closer look at the Metro-South Bay League:

Castle Park

Last season’s record: 3-0, 4-6.

Finish: First.

Coach: Bob Korzep.

Top returners: David Carpenter (5-9, 170, Sr., RB), David Husted (5-9, 170, Sr., RB), Mike Vallarelli (6-2, 180, Sr., QB), Chris Waite (6-0, 185, Sr., LB).

Top newcomers: Roger Van Orden (6-2, 220, Jr., OG), Cliff Korzep (6-8, 220, Sr., TE).

Outlook: Castle Park dominated the league last season, and the consensus from the league’s coaches has them repeating as champions. The only weak spot will be at quarterback. Korzep, returning after taking two years off as head coach, moved Vallarelli from safety to quarterback. Korzep also moved Waite, an All-League defensive back last season, to linebacker. The offensive line, which averages 200 pounds, has the size but lacks experience.

Coronado

Last season’s record: 6-0, 9-1.

Finish: First (1-A Mountain-Desert League).

Coach: Dave Tupek.

Top returners: Chad Carpenter (6-3, 220, Sr., LB/OT), Brian Coffman (5-10, 170, Sr., QB) Rich Bledsoe (6-2, 182, Jr., S/RB), Riley Conn (5-10, 210, Sr., C/DT).

Top newcomer: Eric Turner (5-9, 165, Jr., RB).

Outlook: Of the 14 returning lettermen, 13 are starters. Tupek said he is most confident about his defense, though many of his players will be playing both ways. Coffman was a starter toward the end of the 1986 season and has the experience to lead the team. Rich Bledsoe, who started last season as a sophomore, will head the Coronado running game. Turner averaged 10 yards a carry last season on the junior varsity squad and has an experienced line in front of him.

Hilltop

Last season’s record: 0-4, 2-8.

Finish: Fifth (in the Metro-Mesa League).

Coach: Joe Gritts.

Top returners: Chad Boyd (5-9 1/2, 150, Jr., QB), Mario Martinez (5-11, 170, Jr., OG), Rob DePerro (5-11 1/2, 175, Sr., S), Brian Leonhardt (6-1, 210, Sr., LB).

Top newcomers: Kurt Klaser (6-1, 165, Jr., DB), Kevin Klaser (6-1, 165, Jr., DB).

Outlook: Boyd was Hilltop’s starting quarterback for the final six games of the season and has a solid line and group of receivers. Going into the season opener, however, Gritts has yet to settle on his starting running backs. The Lancers will be strong on defense and Gritts is expecting big plays from twin brothers Kurt and Kevin Klaser. Hilltop has missed the playoffs the past six years, but the move from 3-A to 2-A should make it more competitive.

Marian

Last season’s record: 0-4, 1-9.

Finish: Fourth.

Coach: John Pappas.

Top returners: David Powers (6-3, 230, Sr., OT/DT), Hugo Roji (5-11, 250, Sr., OT/DT).

Top newcomers: Leo Ortiz (5-9, 140, Jr., QB), Malcolm Brown (5-11, 200, Sr., RB/LB).

Outlook: Pappas will have a difficult time improving the team’s 0-5 league record of last season. There are only six returning seniors on the roster of 20. Marian, with an enrollment of 500 students for four grades, averages about 20 players each year. With that in mind, Pappas has to concentrate on conditioning. Still, he remains optimistic. “I wouldn’t work so hard if I didn’t think we would be competitive.”

Mar Vista

Last season’s record: 1-3, 4-5-1.

Finish: Third.

Coach: Bud Aubuchon.

Top returners: John Amaya (5-6, 145, Sr., QB), Rafael Santiago (6-0, 165, Sr., WR/DB), Chris Neal (5-6, 135, Sr., WR), Tim Nicholas (5-10, 185, Sr., FB/LB).

Top newcomers: Francisco Garcia (6-0, 190, Jr., C/DT), Eric Syverson (6-4, 180, Jr., TE/DE).

Outlook: Spencer Bernatt, last year’s starting quarterback as a junior, moved to Florida, leaving Aubuchon in a bind. He moved Amaya, who had played quarterback on the junior varsity team, from running back to his old position. The transition was a smooth one, as Amaya developed into a poised quarterback--a threat to throw deep--in summer practice. “It might be a blessing in disguise that we found him,” Aubuchon said. Mar Vista also has a strong corps of receivers and a quicker offense, Aubuchon said.