1987 PREVIEW : VALLEY FOOTBALL : HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEWS : PAC 8

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

COACH: Joel Schaeffer, 10th year

LAST SEASON: 10-2; 2nd in league, 5-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Heading the list of returning players is senior David Wilson (6-1, 195), the City 2-A Player of the Year, at tight end and inside linebacker. Senior tailback Ron Wilkinson (6-0, 180), who ran for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of last season’s City final against University, rushed for 1,065 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to All-City honors. Senior defensive back Sam Edwards (6-2, 185), another All-City player, had nine interceptions. In addition to making 35 extra points and 4 field goals, senior kicker George Konstantinopoulos knocked 13 kickoffs out of the end zone. Center/linebacker Shawn Peet (6-0, 205), wide receiver/linebacker Kevin Gravning and fullback Chris Vargas, who rushed for 654 yards and eight touchdowns, made last year’s all-league team. With all that talent, the one big question mark is at quarterback, where junior Coley Kyman (6-5, 185) has the inside track.

OUTLOOK: Reseda, the defending City 2-A champion with four All-City and three other all-league players returning, are the team to beat again this year. “We’re not going to make any changes at all,” Schaeffer said. “When you have a good recipe you don’t want to mess around with it. I’d be a fool if I did. I just ask the players to improve and we’ll have a good season.”

North Hollywood

COACH: Fred Grimes, second year

LAST SEASON: 5-3-1; 4th in league, 3-3-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Huskies have most of their starters returning from a team that averaged 244.1 yards per game in total offense. With his offense set, Grimes is aiming to improve the defense, which gave up 50 points to Reseda last year. Senior Tom Freas (6-0, 190), an all-league linebacker, is the defensive leader. He will play behind bookend senior tackles David Allen (6-3, 260) and Richard Oldhaffer (6-3, 260). Senior Lolesio Takapu (6-1, 205) is a newcomer who will play either linebacker or on the line. Senior Chavo Nunez (5-9, 145), the league’s B Player of the Year, will start at safety. Offensively, the Huskies, who worked hard on the passing game this summer, will rely on senior James Crump (5-9, 150), who threw for 577 yards and four touchdowns last year. Senior running back Chip Grant (5-6, 150) averaged 5.2 yards per carry last year. Junior tight end Russell Greene (6-2, 190) started as a sophomore. Senior wide receiver Francisco Anaya (6-3, 170) runs sharp patterns and has good hands. Grimes expects more people to play both ways.

OUTLOOK: “I feel real strongly that we’ll have more depth this year,” Grimes said. “Defensively, I know we’ll be much stronger. We just have to throw the ball more. Last year we were inexperienced. This year we are going in knowing we can play football.”

Westchester

COACH: Larry Wein, sixth year

LAST SEASON: 4-4-1; 4th in league, 3-3-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Experience in the line will help make Westchester a playoff contender, but inexperience at quarterback and in the secondary should prevent the Comets from finishing higher than third. Junior Damian Smith (6-2, 185), and senior Bart Dowlatshahi (6-2, 190), a transfer from Hamilton, are competing for the starting quarterback job. The team’s best offensive player is senior running back Kevin Owens (5-10, 160). Senior Brian Bowers (5-10, 165) plays wide receiver, safety and is the punter. Senior Brian Smith (6-2, 200) has switched from offensive tackle to tight end, and also starts at linebacker. The Comets have size in seniors Xavier Atkins (6-4, 278), a two-way tackle, and nose tackle Kevin Johnson (6-2, 275).

OUTLOOK: Said Wein: “We are probably going to have to play good defense and not allow other teams to score a lot of points because I don’t think we will be a high-scoring team.”

University

COACH: Brad Ratcliff, first year

LAST SEASON: 10-2; 1st in league, 6-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Joe Sedia, who retired after 25 seasons as coach, didn’t leave much talent. Ratcliff, with only one offensive starter returning from the defending league champs and City 2-A finalists, must start over. Wide receiver Todd May (5-10, 160), a senior, is the only returning starter. The quarterback is senior Craig Perry (5-10, 160), last year’s backup. Senior Reggie Moore (5-11, 185) will be the tailback and Ronnie Edwards (6-1, 170)--a fine receiver out of the backfield--will play in passing situations. Junior Brian Townsley (5-11, 160) is a sure-handed wide receiver. Center Noel Wax (6-0, 175) and tackle Bill Chuan (6-2, 195), both seniors, will start on the offensive line. Defensively, the Warriors are led by all-league senior linebacker George Anderson (5-10, 195). Senior Salvador Moreno (6-0, 190) and junior Reynaldo Woodard (5-10, 185) are also strong linebackers. Seniors Chris Ayears (6-0, 180) and Tony McGlothlin (5-10, 155) head a solid secondary.

OUTLOOK: Said Ratcliff: “We’re the type of team that will have to play at a consistent level throughout each game, where last year’s team could get by with lapses because of the ability to make the big play.”

Venice

COACH: Al Dellinger, 14th year

LAST SEASON: 5-4-1; 3rd in league, 4-2-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: A repeat of last season’s respectable third-place finish is a longshot for the Gondoliers, who have just four returning starters. The top performer is senior Chris Staib (5-11, 170), a second-team all-league tight end a year ago who is shifting to wide receiver. Junior quarterback Eddie Soto (5-8, 155) replaces his brother, Ernie, a two-time All-City player. Senior Chris Cook (6-5, 190) will go both ways at wide receiver and safety. Peter Connoy, another senior, is Venice’s all-purpose player, starting at wide receiver, defensive back and kicker. Senior Shawn Curt (6-2, 220), who returns as a starting defensive lineman, will also start at fullback. Primarily a team lacking in size, the Gondoliers have an exception in offensive tackle C.C. McCowen (6-5, 270).

OUTLOOK: “We’re starting all over,” Dellinger said. “We need our very young offensive line to come together and the defensive front has to play well also.”

Sylmar

COACH: Jeff Engilman, 1st year

LAST SEASON: 5-4; 6th in league; 3-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Engilman inherits a question-filled program from the departed Tom Richards. The team is short on experience and size, with more B team members attending the physical fitness workouts than varsity players. Engilman, who is inserting new offensive and defensive schemes, was not hired until the spring and said that preparation is lagging. The addition of senior lineman Brian Casey (6-1, 270), a transfer and two-year starter from Poly, should help. Younger brother, Jerome Casey (5-11, 170), a highly regarded sophomore, could start at tailback if his eligibility is approved. Sophomore London Woodfin (6-2, 220), brother of baseball star Olonzo, is an Engilman project trying out at tight end and outside linebacker. Also returning are seniors David Armstrong (6-0, 170), who is a wide receiver and defensive back, and Gerardo Rodriquez, who starts at fullback, linebacker and kicker. Other returning starters include senior tackles Barry Fieeiki (6-4, 255) and Martin Llerneas (6-1, 210). Senior Rick Negrete (5-8, 145) and junior Chris Pikes (6-1, 160) are battling for the starting quarterback job.

OUTLOOK: “Unfortunately for us, we’ll probably be real thin all-around,” Engilman said. “We’re a transition team right now. The kids have worked hard. They want to win, and that’s the important thing. I wouldn’t coach here if I didn’t think I was going to win.’

Grant

COACH: Bill Foster, third year

LAST SEASON: 2-6-1; 7th in league, 1-5-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Foster has been at Grant for six years as an assistant and head coach, and the school has yet to post a winning season. It appears to be deja vu for the Lancers, as the team has some good size but is simply too young and inexperienced. The largest uncertainty is at quarterback where seniors Negil Carmichael (6-2, 185) and Cody Williams (6-2, 150) are competing. Senior (Ray Palmer (6-3, 245) is a returning two-way starter at fullback and nose guard. Mark Taylor (6-0, 190) who was second team all-league last season, will start at tailback and linebacker. The offensive line includes returning starters Chris Myers (6-0, 225) at tackle and Ed Sevillano (6-0, 230) at center. Senior Henry Oh (6-0, 225) will also start at tackle. Senior Bobby Venus (6-0, 150) returns at free safety and senior Ed Aguilar (5-11, 180) will debut as an outside linebacker.

OUTLOOK: “We have to play real fundamental football for four quarters to be competitive,” Foster said. “We’re stressing fundamentals and technique work. As a staff we think if we take care of those aspects, winning will take care of itself.”

Poly

COACH: Kevin Kennedy, 2nd year

LAST SEASON: 3-6, 8th in league, 1-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Parrots have the unenviable task of finding a suitable replacement for quarterback Joey Speakes, who threw for more than 1,200 yards last season. Under consideration for the job are seniors Jose Mellado (5-7, 145) and Armando Urquidez (6-1, 180), who is a converted tight end and a starter at linebacker. Senior Shawn Campbell (5-11, 175), a running back and defensive back, is among the few returning starters. There are several veterans on the offensive line, including center Nick Herrera (5-10, 220) and tackle Leo Gill (5-10, 245), both seniors. Kennedy plans to use few two-way players in an attempt to boost morale and fight fatigue, the main factor in several late fourth-quarter losses last year. Only Campbell and Urquidez are assured of going both ways. Junior defensive end Jeremy Buendia (6-0, 250) is being shifted to tackle. Senior Jerome Holt (6-1, 175) leads an otherwise inexperienced secondary. Punter Tony Esposito and kicker Shad Martinez have looked impressive.

OUTLOOK: “We hope to beat people in two areas,” Kennedy said. “Playing much better defense and with our kicking game. If we can give some of our young kids a shot to play, they will surprise some people.”