1987 PREVIEW : VALLEY FOOTBALL : HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEWS : GOLDEN

Teams listed in predicted order of finish by Times staff writers. Antelope Valley

COACH: Brent Newcomb, 10th year

LAST SEASON: 11-2-1; 1st in league, 5-0

THE PLAYERS TO WATCH: Being trounced by Muir, 37-0, in last year’s Coastal Conference championship game tainted an otherwise successful season for the league champion. Still, Newcomb’s team, with “our nucleus returning,” appears to be a league powerhouse. Quarterback Ron Wipple and his favorite receiver, Shon Grimes, are at the center of the attack. As seniors, both have 28 games of varsity experience. “It’s a real plus to have Ron pulling the trigger for us,” Newcomb said. “And Shon is one of those guys who is always exciting.” Senior fullback Byron Russell (5-9, 205) also returns. Junior tight end Tommie Smith is the best athlete in the league, according to Newcomb. “He can go deep, kick and play outside linebacker.” Newcomb will start an inexperienced and lean offensive line, headed by seniors Jared Klipfel (6-3, 185), David Keortge (6-1, 205) and Mike Soto (6-2, 185). The secondary is the defense’s strong point, Newcomb said.

OUTLOOK: Another league title seems a certainty for Newcomb’s improved team. “We see the goal at the other end of the field and we’ve got a lot of ways to get there,” he said.

Palmdale

COACH: John Lowery, first year

LAST SEASON: 7-5; 3rd in league, 3-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: A third-place finish in the Golden League usually means you’re a pretty good team. This year, league coaches expect Palmdale to finish higher with Lowery taking over. Leading the offense is all-league tailback Eric Thomas. “He’s also an outstanding cornerback,” Lowery said. Fullback Don Turner is also a returning senior. Flanker Travis Collier, a converted running back, is one of the best players in the league. Returning receivers are senior Carnel Culver and junior Tony Frazier. Quarterback Shannon Culver was also a starter last season, giving the offense experience at all the skill positions. Senior Bob Cline and junior Chad Harris, both tight ends, are competing at middle linebacker. Senior Zae Terrin and Turner will play outside linebacker, and Collier and Thomas will anchor the secondary. Lowery’s best defensive lineman is senior Jim Neville.

OUTLOOK: Palmdale may get roughed up before going against Antelope Valley and Canyon: The Falcons play Crespi in their second game. “But we think we can play with anybody,” Lowery said. “The kids have been working well with the program. It’s really been an impressive surprise.”

Canyon

COACH: Harry Welch, sixth year

LAST SEASON: 11-2; 2nd in league, 4-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: “Color us green,” Welch said. And he’s not talking about his players’ jerseys. This is the most inexperienced team Welch has had. Canyon lost 23 players to graduation, including the passing combination of Ken Sollom and Chad Zeigler and running backs Lance Cross and Paul Chadwell. Still, league opponents aren’t expected to write off Canyon, which reached the Coastal Conference semifinals last season. Welch found a quarterback in junior Rod Baltau, but he broke his finger in practice and will miss at least the first three games. Welch’s new quarterback Ric Gombos (5-11, 165), an inexperienced junior. Cam Cross (5-9, 163), a junior, is the tailback and sophomore Chris Peery (6-0, 188), who Welch calls “best all-around athlete,” will move from tight end to fullback. Peery, however, may switch to linebacker until Kevin Doss (6-0, 170) recovers from a separated shoulder. Senior tight end Ken Holsenbeck (5-11, 182) and sophomore Clint Beauer (6-3, 170) will lead the receiving corps. Canyon’s experience is on the offensive line, where four seniors--Dom Spainhower, Willie Starks, Sean Wheeler and Sean Sweetnam--return. A young defense depends heavily on a healthy Doss. Until he returns, responsibility lies with junior linebackers John Beitsch (5-11, 170), Chris Eddy (5-9, 170) and Robert Leary (5-10, 170). Junior Jason Stanley (5-11, 155) is the leader of an inexperienced secondary.

OUTLOOK: This may be pay back time for Canyon opponents. The Cowboys made few friends by going 60-7, including a 46-game winning streak, over the past five years. But Welch doesn’t expect his team to turn into a league doormat. “We’ll be good in a year, regardless of this year,” Welch said. “This year’s league is going to be better than last year. Canyon just won’t be the dominating team.”

Quartz Hill

COACH: John Albee, 20th year

LAST SEASON: 3-7; 4th in league, 2-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Albee said this is the best team he’s had since Quartz Hill won the league title in 1980. “We have a good nucleus of starters,” he said. Twelve starters return, including backs Ronnie Coleman, Greg Albaugh, who was all-league last year, and Shannon Martin. Junior Marty Wash ington is the front-runner for the vacant quarterback job. Albee also has two new wide receivers--juniors Alan McBroom and Oscar Serrano. “They’ve been a pleasant surprise,” he said. Only two offensive linemen return, but Albee says that Charles Copeland and Todd Heberlein are two of the league’s best guards. Four returning linebackers--seniors Kyle Hughes, Brian Morris and Gary Burcham, and junior Jason Mentry--head the league’s most experienced defense. Hughes was an all-league selection last year. Also returning are are junior nose guard Chris Seelicke, and defensive backs Greg Sacks and Albaugh.

OUTLOOK: The Rebels lost five games by fewer than three points last season, making the team hungry. “We’ll be in the hunt,” Albee said. “Canyon and Antelope Valley look good. They have the big horses up front. But we’ll be there also.”

Saugus

COACH: Dick Flaherty, first year

LAST SEASON: 0-10, 6th in league, 0-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Discipline is the first thing Flaherty seeks to establish in his attempt to rebuild the Centurions. “That will determine a lot,” Flaherty said. He inherits senior quarterback Jared Snyder and running back LaMark Allen, who had 34 receptions last season. “He won’t be called upon as a receiver as much this year,” Flaherty said. Saugus has several receivers, including returning seniors Jimmy Johnson and Mark Osment, and juniors Angel Martinez, Scott Cutchell and Chad Keene, who will play tight end. “I feel really good about our receivers,” Flaherty said. Keene (6-3, 210) and junior Greg Menta (5-11, 175) form a strong inside linebacker combination. Among other returning seniors are linebackers Mark Alfred and Danny Regan and defensive ends Damion Jenkins and Tom Erickson.

OUTLOOK: The Centurions should gain some respect with Flaherty cracking the whip. The toughest obstacle in Flaherty’s road to success is the powerful league competition. “I’m not saying we can beat anybody, but we’ll be able to play with most teams,” he said. “I’m not sure the kids realize their own ability yet. They haven’t been winners.”

Burroughs (R)

COACH: Gene Vejtasa, third year

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Burros are in the wrong league to be undersized. Junior guards Jason Bumgardner (5-8, 170) and Jeff Dinger (6-0, 180), and senior Mike Tunget (6-1, 200) lead a questionable offensive line. Jason DeLeon (6-2, 200), who runs a 4.8 40, is the tight end. “We like to use a two-tight end offense,” Vejtasa said, “but we don’t have the size.” Running behind the line will be tailback Maurice McDowell (5-11, 175) and fullback Ken Rudd (6-0, 180), both seniors. Junior Scott Wiley, a converted defensive back, will play quarterback. Senior receivers Marvin Majors and Julius Lewis are the only returning skill-position players. The defense may become tired with several two-way starters. Rudd, Major and Lewis all return in the secondary along with DeLeon at linebacker.

OUTLOOK: What will make or break the Burros is their ability to stop the high-powered offenses Antelope Valley, Canyon and Palmdale. “We couldn’t stop anybody last year,” Vejtasa said. “We could stick with people for three quarters, but in the fourth, we got pounded.”