1987 PREVIEW : VALLEY FOOTBALL : HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEWS : TRI-VALLEY

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

COACH: Larry Popkin, second year

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Santa Ynez finished a game behind Carpinteria in Popkin’s initial season and expectations are running high again this year. Santa Ynez has the edge in experience and size, especially on the offensive and defensive lines, to turn the tables on Carpinteria, which is ranked fourth in the Inland Conference in the Southern Section preseason poll. Half of this year’s 40-man squad are seniors. Opponents must contend with massive senior tackle Shane Hamilton (6-8, 265) on both sides of the line of scrimmage, along with guard Brent Messer (6-0, 220) and center/defensive end Peter Stacy (6-0, 205). Popkin hopes senior quarterback Jim O’Shaughnessy (6-1, 190) comes through in his first season as the starter. His main targets include seniors Robert Mercado (5-11, 160) at wide receiver and tight end Dan Monahan (6-2, 200). Senior tailback Darren White (5-10, 180), also a starter at linebacker, heads the running backs.

OUTLOOK: “We’re big enough up front to match up with anybody,” Popkin said, “and we have fairly good team speed. I also feel quite good about our offensive and defensive balance. We don’t have a proven quarterback and that will be very critical as to what is going to happen here. Key injuries could hurt us. We are two deep at every position. I think it will be between us and Carpinteria again.”

Carpinteria

COACH: Lou Panizzon, 13th year

LAST SEASON: 11-3; 1st in league, 6-0

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Carpinteria, the runner-up in last year’s Inland Conference playoffs, will be hard-pressed just to defend its league title. Not only will the Warriors be counting on a group of inexperienced linemen, but they had only 34 players come out for football. Worse, they have to replace Tyler Whitney, the conference co-MVP who passed for more than 3,000 yards last season. Junior David Uhler (5-9, 188), last year’s backup quarterback, is expected to run the offense. He is also a returning starter at linebacker. Sophomore Coley Candaele, expected to start at wide receiver and defensive back, may play as an option quarterback. The team’s strength lies in its defense, especially at linebacker, and in its kicking game. All-Southern Section tackle David Medina (6-0, 221), a senior, is strong on both sides of the line. All-league linebacker John Zanini, a senior, will share the placekicking duties with Hector Garcia. Junior Anthony Perez (6-2, 171), another quarterback candidate, will handle the punting chores.

OUTLOOK: “We should be a contender if we do all the things we are capable of doing,” Panizzon said. “I still think we can win our league. But with only 34 kids on the roster, we have to stay in great condition and avoid injuries.”

Oak Park

COACH: Ron Veres, first year

LAST SEASON: 0-9-1; 6th in league, 0-5-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Veres, who joined the staff as offensive coordinator last season, takes over a team that can only go up. With only 21 players on the roster, the Eagles are short on numbers, but not necessarily on talent. Several of the key people in Veres’ run-and-shoot offense are back, including senior quarterback Chris Hall (5-11, 165), who completed 55% of his passes last year. His favorite target, junior Jason Stein (5-11, 165), is being switched to running back to better utilize his speed. But Hall will still have talented senior Joe Gerty (5-10, 155) as a wide receiver. The offensive line will be anchored by senior tackle John Sloan, a converted center. Defensively, the Eagles will be strong at linebacker with senior Bobby Wootton (5-10, 180) and junior Mike Benjamin (5-11, 185) both returning. The secondary will be led by third-year starter Chris Frame (5-9, 145), a senior cornerback, and Hall, a safety.

OUTLOOK: “We’d just like to win enough games to make the playoffs,” Veres said. “Anything above that would certainly be nice. We don’t have a lot of depth, so we have to limit injuries. We spent the whole summer in a lifting program so we’d be stronger this year and capable of taking care of ourselves.”

St. Bonaventure

COACH: Paul Spinner, fifth year

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Renowned as a team that likes to pass, St. Bonaventure’s aerial attack was grounded last year. Spinner is looking to senior quarterback Steve Dominguez (6-0, 160) to return the Seraphs’ offense to form. Senior Tim O’Toole (5-7, 150), the team’s fastest player, will start at wide receiver and in the defensive backfield. Senior fullback Paul Keenan (6-1, 190) is a returning starter and will be called upon to get the tough yards, as well as anchor the defensive line at tackle. Junior running backs Brian Kane (5-9, 165), who rushed for more than 1,500 yards last season, and Paul Rezac (5-9, 160) are up from the sophomore team. Tackles Andy Wagoner (6-6, 230) and Mark Borchard, and guard Tom Mooney (6-0, 180) are returning seniors. The Seraphs are thin at linebacker, with only Mooney and senior Ted Foor (5-11, 170) proven. Junior Jeff Cook (5-9, 150) will start at cornerback.

OUTLOOK: Experienced offensive and defensive lines should enable the team to battle for third. “We have to throw the ball more effectively than last year to be successful,” Spinner said. “Defensively, we have to do a real good job at linebacker and in the secondary. Depth is a big problem.”

Fillmore

COACH: Dave Wilde, fourth year

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Wilde and his staff have decided to put the emphasis on defense this season. Seven defensive starters return, led by senior Matt Dollar (6-0, 205), who will play either nose guard or linebacker. Figuring prominently in the defense are junior tackle Rory Maus (5-11, 200), senior end Jerry Golson (5-11, 175) and senior defensive backs Rod Peck (6-1, 170), Todd Inglis (6-2, 165), Lawrence Boschee (5-7, 155) and Steve Blaeholder (6-2, 160). Only a handful of starters, including junior quarterback Brad Edmonds (6-2, 160), return in Fillmore’s Wing-T offense. Dollar returns at center in an otherwise inexperienced offensive line. Inglis starts at wide receiver, Golson at running back and Peck shifts from tight end to the backfield.

OUTLOOK: There are too many holes to fill in the offense, especially in the line, to expect to make the playoffs. “Defense is the key to moving up,” Wilde said. “We have a little more quickness, maturity and meanness this year. We think we’ll be able to score points, but not a lot of points. It depends on the improvement of Edmonds as a passer.”

Moorpark

COACH: Bob Noel, fourth year

LAST SEASON: 0-9-1; 6th in league, 0-5-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: While Oak Park looks like a team on the rise, Moorpark, also winless a year ago, faces a major challenge to even finish out the season, let alone post a winning one. The Musketeers are not without talent. They have an excellent senior fullback in Lloyd Thomas (6-2, 190), a third-year starter. But he is one of only six seniors on a team that could suit up as few as 25 players. And the toughest part of Moorpark’s schedule is the first five games, which includes Calabasas, Venice and Carpinteria. Juniors Keith Orford (6-0, 170) and Paul Shotliff (5-11, 170) are competing for the starting quarterback job. The loser will play wide receiver. Noel views this season as a learning experience for the younger players and is hoping that they follow the lead of senior Tim Juntilla (5-11, 190), a starter at center and linebacker. Senior David Stratton will start at tight end and defensive end, while also handling the punting and placekicking duties.

OUTLOOK: “We’re gonna be young,” Noel said. “We might even have a sophomore or two out there. I hope these kids learn fast and don’t get hurt playing both ways. Injuries will be a real key, as well as the development of the younger players. I think three wins would be a good season.”

Bishop Diego

COACH: Sam Cathcart and Paul Huebner, second year

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: On paper, Bishop Diego is a Moorpark clone, except they have more seniors. Cathcart and Huebner expect to field 25 players, but they say some sophomores could be promoted if necessary. Bishop Diego’s best players are seniors at the skill positions, including left-handed quarterback Raul Rosales (5-8, 170), tight end Brian DePonce (6-3, 195), wide receivers Paul Odett (5-11, 165) and Jaime Guillen (5-10, 155), and running backs Paschal Curtin (5-10, 155) and Larry Martel (5-10, 190). But diminutive senior guard Joe Cade (5-9, 170) is the only returning lineman. On defense, senior Alan Stovesand (5-10, 165) is a returning starter in the secondary. Nearly everyone on the offense will go both ways, with Martel and Cade occupying two of the three linebacking slots.

OUTLOOK: “We’re not big, not strong and not experienced,” Cathcart said, “but we have intelligence on our team. And we’re pretty fast. The quality is good; the quantity terrible. Injuries are our biggest concern.”