1987 PREVIEW : VALLEY FOOTBALL : HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEWS : SUNSET

Teams listed in predicted order of finish by Times staff writers. Canoga Park

COACH: Rudy Lugo, second year

LAST SEASON: 7-3; 1st in league, 4-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mike Conover (5-11, 175) was brilliant as an all-purpose running back last year as a junior. He rushed for 934 yards (5.7 yards per carry), caught 21 passes for 139 yards and scored 98 points on 12 touchdowns, 14 extra points and 4 field goals. He also returned kickoffs and punts. “He did it all,” Lugo said. Conover may have to do even more this season because quarterback Jeff Meyers graduated, and replacement Del Marine (5-11, 180) lacks experience. Marine, the Hunters’ B quarterback last year, is “football smart, a leader on the field and very durable,” according to Lugo. His favorite target figures to be all-league receiver Jeremy Mears, who caught 34 passes for 292 yards last season. Marine can also throw to his older brother Pete Marine. The offensive line is Lugo’s biggest concern. The Hunters lost starters Myron Pedroche and Jose Herrera to academic ineligibility, but still have three-year starter Dave Audelo (6-4, 270) and Jack Ochoa (6-1,220) at tackles and Tak Odama (6-0, 200) at guard. Odama will also play inside linebacker and Audelo and Ochoa may see time on the defensive line. Jimmy Dustman (6-0, 210), a three-year starter at defensive end, inside linebacker Brian Hoffman (5-11, 185) and strong safety Chad Radomski lead the defense.

OUTLOOK: “I’m very concerned about the offensive line,” Lugo says. “We’ve got some big kids, but I’m not sure how they’ll develop.” With Pedroche and Herrera gone, Lugo could be forced to play several players both ways. Therefore, conditioning is be a major concern.

Chatsworth

COACH: Myron Gibford, eighth year

LAST SEASON: 5-4; 3rd in league, 3-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: After watching quarterback Bryan Addison rush for 428 yards and five touchdowns in 1986, Gibford has moved him to running back. “The running back position will allow him to make better use of his talents,” he said. “He’s very deceptive. He makes people miss him a lot with his quickness and speed.” Addison placed second in the 1987 City Section track championships in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Senior Ty Powell, the backup last season, will start at quarterback. Dan Joella, a 5-8, 160-pound senior, will join Addison and Powell in the backfield. The Chancellors’ offensive line is a question mark. Only one starter, senior Michael Rosenthal (5-11, 210), returns. Gibford expects Jeffrey Jones, a 6-0, 220-pound junior transfer from Dorsey, to start at tackle. The defensive secondary should be a strong point, led by seniors Frank Lovelace at cornerback and senior DeWayne Lyons at free safety. Matt Helm, a 6-0, 185-pound junior, should stand out at linebacker.

OUTLOOK: “We’ve got a few holes to fill but we should be competitive,” Gibford said. “We’re very inexperienced on the offensive line. That will be crucial to our success. If we stay healthy and the offensive line comes along, we should be OK.”

Taft

COACH: Tom Stevenson, third season

LAST SEASON: 4-6; 1st in league, 4-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Although Taft lost running backs Donald Dozier (653 yards), Cornell Collier (560) and Kevin Wolfe (511) to graduation, an influx of transfers has softened the blow. Senior Terrence Britt (5-11, 190) and junior Kelvin Byrd (5-10, 165), a transfer from El Camino Real, give Taft a solid backfield. “They’re both pure running backs,” Stevenson said. “Potentially they’re as good as any backs we’ve had since I’ve been here.” Quarterback Jon Thompson (6-2, 205) will direct Taft’s run-oriented offense for the third consecutive season. The Toreadors passed only 76 times last season, completing 25 for 383 yards. “We might pass the ball eight times per game instead of seven,” Stevenson quipped. The offensive line has been bolstered by transfers Doug Kougher (6-0, 180), a junior tight end from Crespi, Erin Reeder (6-4, 225) a junior from Iowa, and Aaron Lippman (6-3, 215), a senior from Washington. Senior guard Mike Kimmel (6-3, 195) also returns. Senior tackle Ron Johnson (6-0, 185), junior nose guard Rob Holland (6-0, 190), and junior linebacker Adam Zutler (6-1, 205) will anchor the defense.

OUTLOOK: Taft has the talent to win the league but may lack the experience, Stevenson said. “We could finish anywhere from first to fourth. We have a lot of underclassmen. The seniors have to take charge.” The defensive backfield may be Stevenson’s biggest worry. “We have a lot of new players,” he said. “They need to learn the system as quickly as possible.”

Birmingham

COACH: Chick Epstein, eighth year, and Tom Richards, first year

LAST SEASON: 6-4; 3rd in league, 3-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Braves were hit hard by the graduation of Mike Flores, Vince Tolliver and Kevin Zietz. Flores and Tolliver rushed for more than 1,000 yards between them and Zietz passed for 1,119 yards and 14 touchdowns. Marcel Sellers, who rushed for 442 yards (8.0 average) and caught 17 passes for 191 yards last season has become the center of the offense. “He’s a terrific little football player,” Epstein said of the 5-6, 150-pound senior who will also play cornerback. “He has great vision, balance and quickness and he’s very tough.” Chris Nicoletti, the backup last season, will start at quarterback. Besides Sellers, Nicoletti’s receivers will be senior Jason Moore (6-1, 190), son of former USC star Manfred Moore, and junior Myron Settle (5-9, 165). Tackle Steve Pratt (6-4, 260), tackle/center Chris Miller (5-11, 180) and guard Ross Vera (6-1, 205) all return. Five starters return to the Braves’ defense, including linemen Doug Allen (6-0, 195), John Foti (5-9, 165) and Marcello Troilo (6-2, 215). Walter Martin (6-0, 210), who started at defensive end last season, has moved to middle linebacker and will also play fullback. Seniors Allen Sedaka (5-11, 195) and Daniel Curry (5-5, 150) are quick linebackers.

OUTLOOK: The Braves are loaded with quickness, but they lack size. “We’re not going to overpower people, but we do have a lot of people who can get to the point of attack in a hurry,” Epstein said. The Birmingham defense, which yielded 222 yards per game last season, has improved, but the offense may lack the power of last year.

Monroe

COACH: Howard Reisbord and Frank D’Alessandro, fourth year

LAST SEASON: 1-8; 5th in league, 1-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Kesa Harding had unimpressive statistics in 1986 (41 of 121 for 771 yards, 9 touchdowns, 9 interceptions), but Reisbord says the senior quarterback has improved. “He’s learned a lot since last year. A lot of his problems were due to inexperience,” Reisbord said. “He can run and he can pass.” Harding had flashes of brillance last season, completing 15 of 31 passes for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns against Canoga Park. Harding’s targets will be wide receivers Walter Brooks (6-2, 170), Elmer Saunders (5-11, 165) and tight end Scott Reisbord (6-3, 200). Reisbord, the coach’s son, transferred to Monroe after starting at El Camino Real for two years. Defense will be the Vikings’ strength; they return six starters. Outside linebackers Brian Eldrige (5-10, 180) and Mike Rubel (5-10, 160), and middle linebacker Ron Robart (6-0, 175) comprise the heart of the defense. Scott Bernard (5-10, 190), a linebacker last season, has moved to defensive end. Junior defensive end Reggie Anderson (5-10, 215) and senior defensive tackle Mike Lumbert (6-0, 220) also return.

OUTLOOK: “We really expect to be strong defensively,” Reisbord said. “We’re very strong at linebacker and that’s the key to our defense.” The offensive line, however, is suspect. “We’re very inexperienced,” said Reisbord, who is optimistic about the season. “We should be competitive.”

Van Nuys

COACH: Kenji Montezuki, first year

LAST SEASON: 0-9, 6th in league; 0-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Montezuki inherits a program that has been in the league cellar for the past three seasons. The good news is that the Wolves can’t finish any worse than they did in 1986. The bad news is that they may not. Van Nuys, which has a 1-26 record in the past three seasons, was outclassed by its Sunset League rivals in 1986. The offense was anemic, averaging 170 yards per game, and the defense was porous, giving up more than 312 yards per game. The Wolves scored only 75 points, were shut out twice and were held to eight points or fewer five times. Their defense allowed 295 points, including six games of 30 or more. Running back Lou Vann, one of the few bright spots last season, returns. He ran for 330 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and caught 13 passes for 129 yards. He was also the Wolves’ leading scorer with 22 points.

OUTLOOK: There is little doubt that Van Nuys will be dropped to the 2-A division when the City Section realigns leagues after this season. Until then, however, the Wolves will take their lumps at the 3-A level. Van Nuys may need a victory in a preleague game to avoid another winless season.