1987 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS : Stroh Itches to Throw With Leach in Control : Granada Hills’ Coach Even Compares Senior Quarterback to Alumnus Elway

Darryl Stroh was watching some guy named Elway on TV the other night when he was asked about the talents of Jeremy Leach, the incumbent quarterback for Stroh’s Granada Hills team.

Stroh, who isn’t prone to puffery, took a moment to ponder, then laughed.

“You know,” he said, “he’s progressed so far beyond what I thought he would do that there’s a new surprise every time I see him. If he continues to improve like he has, there’s no reason he can’t be one of the two or three best quarterbacks to ever come out of here.”

That’s a mouthful for Stroh, especially when one considers that John Elway, the quarterback of the Denver Broncos, is a Granada Hills graduate. But after watching Leach compete in passing leagues over the summer, Stroh has reason to crow.

With the 6-3, 218-pound Leach at quarterback, Granada Hills was 29-1-1 in passing league play.

“It wasn’t unusual to have him complete 20-25 passes in a row this summer,” Stroh said. “I just stood back and watched him tear up defenses.”

Leach led Valley-area City Section passers last season in touchdowns (14), completions (114), yards (1,325) and completion percentage (57.6). Perhaps most impressive of all was that he was intercepted only three times in 198 attempts.

Granada Hills also has talented receivers. Tight end Sean Brown (6-3, 220), who led Valley-area City receivers with 40 receptions last year and scored six touchdowns, returns. Kyle Jan (6-4, 180) is also big enough to reel in a few of Leach’s longer casts.

Granada Hills won’t be the only team in the league that threatens to attack via the airwaves. San Fernando has scrapped its traditional wishbone attack for a pass-oriented offense.

San Fernando implemented the wishbone in 1972 to spotlight the talent of running back Charles White. The current Tiger coach, Tom Hernandez, was then a sophomore at San Fernando. Fifteen years later, meet the new Flying Tigers.

San Fernando, which has won three of the past five Valley 4-A titles, counters Leach with senior Joe Mauldin (6-2, 190). Mauldin started at quarterback last season, but most of his duties consisted of handing the ball--rather than passing it--to teammates.

“I looked at how we were doing last season and I could see that we just didn’t have the personnel to run the wishbone anymore,” Hernandez said. “It was too late to do anything last year, our offense was in place. But with Joe coming back we decided to spread out the offense a little.”

Last season, it was the bodies of Tiger running backs that ended up spread out all over the field. San Fernando finished 2-8 last year, and defenses often lined up seven or more strong on the line of scrimmage.

This season, the Tigers have switched to a four-receiver formation. The lack of White-like backs has been offset by a speedy receiving crew.

“I don’t really know why, but over the last couple of years we’ve been getting the smaller and faster kids rather than the sturdy running back types,” Hernandez said.

Sophomore Maurice McFarland has been the most impressive runner in practices.

Cleveland, meanwhile, will emphasize a ground attack. The Cavaliers will have to replace Albert Fann, an All-City running back. If Chaminade transfer Sean Burwell--who rushed for 1,211 yards as a sophomore--is ruled eligible by the City next Tuesday, Cleveland will contend for the league title. Mark Mooney, a junior, will start at halfback, which could give the Cavs one of the brightest and youngest backfields in the City.

Kennedy, which sent six players to Division I colleges after last season, has lost most of the players from the City’s stingiest defense. The Golden Cougars, defending league co-champions, must rely on Ron Hardy, who has converted to running back from tight end, and junior quarterback Gino Tagliaferri.

Perennial doormat El Camino Real hopes for a resurgence behind third-year quarterback Carl McFadden, fullback Paul Hasson and Division I prospect Jack Swan, a 6-3, 240-pound lineman.