City Preview Top 10 : Carson’s Silver Anniversary Season Could Turn Out to Be a Golden One

The silver anniversary of Carson High School could be celebrated with another golden moment, a City 4-A championship. The Colts, defending champions, are favorites to win again in 1987, making them the No. 1 team in The Times’ preseason rankings.

“We opened with 10th and 11th graders and I thought we’d win then,” said Coach Gene Vollnogle, who begins the season Friday with a 190-61-1 record in 24 years at Carson. “I always think we’ll win.”

And, as always, Banning should be close by, even with John Hazelton replacing Chris Ferragamo as coach.

The top 10:

CARSON

1986 Record: 11-1

Coach: Gene Vollnogle

League: Pacific

Strengths: Passing game, with quarterback George Malauulu a returning starter, wide receivers Bryan Reeves and Brian Treggs and tight end Cephus Robey. Depth at tailback, with Tyrone Bland, Alfred Lowe and Charles Varrie. Linebackers Rick Tiedemann and Arnold Ale. Safety Charles Gardner.

Weaknesses: Inexperience in the defensive line, where all four starters are new. Inexperience in the offensive line.

Outlook: The skill positions will have to make up for the inexperience of the defensive line, at least at the start. “At the gifted positions, we’re as good as we’ve ever been,” Vollnogle said. That’s saying something.

BANNING

1986 Record: 11-1

Coach: John Hazelton

League: Pacific

Strengths: A huge offensive line--6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 from left to right with a top reserve at 6-4. The right side is the strongest, with guard Titus Tuiasosopo, who will also play some tight end, and tackle Mike Alexander. Hazelton, who coached Todd Bowser, another outstanding offensive lineman, two years ago at Montclair Prep calls tackle Bob Whitfield, a 6-7, 275-pound junior “the best big kid I’ve ever been on a high school field with.” Fullback Merle Williams and tailbacks Keith Mims and Zachariah Davis. Defensive line and linebackers.

Weaknesses: Only two starters return from last season’s team, which lost to Carson in the City 4-A championship game. An untested secondary, untested receivers and a quarterback, Robert Kapu, in his first year of varsity ball.

Outlook: “We will try to beat people physically,” Hazelton said. With that line, why not? Needs leadership from the seniors to offset the youth of the team. More than one person has said Banning will finish lower than second in the 4-A or lose to a Valley team, both rare occurrences. Opens on the road Friday with Pasadena Muir, the two-time defending Coastal Conference champion and 2-0 in 1987, at Pasadena City College.

GRANADA HILLS

1986 Record: 9-1-1

Coach: Darryl Stroh

League: Valley

Strengths: Quarterback Jeremy Leach, a returning All-City 4-A pick who threw 14 touchdown passes and only 3 interceptions last season. Tight end Sean Brown, an All-City pick in 1986 and one of the best all-around athletes in Southern California. Wide receivers Kyle Jan and Daryl Stephenson. Running back Jamal Farmer. All-league safety Kevin Carmichael. Brown and Farmer at cornerbacks.

Weaknesses: Both lines, especially depth.

Outlook: Bombs away. Their passing attack makes the Highlanders a threat to any team, including Carson Oct. 16. They will, however, need to have some running game to keep the defenses honest and, of course, protection from the offensive line.

CLEVELAND

1986 Record: 8-2

Coach: Steve Landress

League: Valley

Strengths: Secondary, with David Mack and Turhon O’Bannon. Wide receivers Sean Burwell, Lee Gatewood and Mario Hull, and Burwell at running back. Mack and O’Bannon at wide receiver. All-league tackle Jason Silverstein, a three-year starter. Tight end Chaka Milby. Defensive tackles Shawn Marshall and Cedric Ellis. Depth at linebacker.

Weaknesses: Special teams. Landress likes the depth at running back, but none has ever played on the varsity. Probably more of a question mark than a weakness.

Outlook: After posting a 3-14 record in the previous two years, the Cavaliers had an 8-1 regular-season mark in ’86 before losing to Carson in the playoffs. “I think we’ll be real competitive,” Landress said. “I don’t think we have any real glaring weaknesses.” Burwell, the new running back is hardly a newcomer to the position. He was a 1,000-yard rusher for Chaminade last season, then transferred and will be eligible the second week. Hull and Jaime Grossman split time at quarterback last season and both are back, supplying depth at yet another position.

DORSEY

1986 Record: 6-4

Co-Coaches: Paul Knox and Eugene McAdoo

League: Pacific

Strengths: Quarterback Roman Foster, who started three games last season. Wide receivers Damon Beckom and Saditte Green. Tailback Cheka Jenkins, who can also catch passes. Tackle Steven Echols and guard Kenneth Fluellen, both on the right side. Linebackers Lidge Proutt, Shariff Shah and Ross Harris. Defensive end Chris Mimms. Safety Shawn Miller and cornerback Henri Spears.

Weaknesses: Inexperience in the defensive line, with Mimms the only returning starter in the 4-3 setup. Untested secondary and offensive line.

Outlook: The Dons, who have had their share of good runners and receivers the last few years, figure to have a balanced attack this season. Their ultimate success should be determined inside. “The key to the team is the offensive and defensive lines,” Knox said. “If they come through, we’ll be in all the games and be competitive in league.” Will get a pretty good test in the opener from Locke, which has some size in the line and running back-quarterback Darian Hagan.

GARDENA

1986 Record: 2-8

Coach: Dale Hirayama

League: Pacific

Strengths: Wide receivers Damon Mack, with speed and good hands the best in the City, and Phil Eddy. Running backs Khybdeed Hairston, an all-league pick, and Derrick Duran. Tight end Robert Reid. All-league guard Terry Louis. All-league defensive tackle Demetrius Jennett. Defensive end Mike Mimms. Linebackers Aman Hicks and David Timoteo.

Weaknesses: Untested offensive line, with two of the three returnees switching positions. Untested cornerbacks. Lack of size and depth.

Outlook: Does this look like another 2-8 year? “I feel good about this team overall because we have 14 starters back,” Hirayama said. “After last season, which was my first as a head coach, things should go a lot easier. I hope to be able to put that into wins.” The offensive line has to develop.

SAN FERNANDO

1986 Record: 2-8

Coach: Tom Hernandez

League: Valley

Strengths: Eleven starters back, including quarterback Joe Mauldin. Wide receivers Tommy Howard, an all-league pick, and Sean Williams, and slotback Danny Leos. Linebackers Robert Garcia and Eric Lee, both all-league in ’86. Defensive tackle Anthony Hall. Cornerback Brent Huff.

Weaknesses: Depth in the offensive line.

Outlook: For the first time since 1971, the Tigers will not run the wishbone offense, long a trademark with backfields that have included Anthony Davis, Charles White, Kevin Williams and Kenny and Manfred Moore. “We’ll still run option plays, but we just don’t have the type of kids who can run the wishbone,” Hernandez said. “We don’t have anyone who can fly.” Actually, the Tigers may pass as much as 70% of the time. On the ground or through the air, they must avoid the turnovers that hurt them so much last season.

RESEDA

1986 Record: 10-2

Coach: Joel Schaeffer

League: Pac-8

Strengths: Tight end-linebacker David Wilson, the 2-A Player of the Year in ’86. All-City tailback Ronald Wilkinson, a 1,000-yard rusher. All-City defensive back Sam Edwards, who had nine interceptions. Fullback Chris Vargas. Kicker George Konstanpinopoulos. Center-linebacker Shawn Peet , and linebacker Kevin Gravning. A senior-dominated team.

Weaknesses: Lack of size in the offensive line, and lack of depth in the backfield.

Outlook: Four All-City players return for the defending 2-A champions and the team to beat again in ’87. “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.” Or, as North Hollywood Coach Fred Grimes said: ‘I’ve given this a lot of thought and I think that on paper they’re a 4-A team. To even be competitive with them, we’d have to play our best game of the year and catch them on a down night.”

LOCKE

1986 Record: 4-5-1

Coach: E.C. Robinson

League: Freeway

Strengths: Darian Hagan, who plays running back and quarterback, is probably the most versatile player in the City. Running back Donovan Moore. Linebacker Robert Smith. Two-way tackle Vincent Smith, who goes 6-4 and 295. Defensive tackle Samuel Jones and defensive end Alphonso Allen.

Weaknesses: The passing game, if Hagan spends much time at running back. Lack of depth, with eight players having to go both ways.

Outlook: Hagan alone makes this a team to watch and having 9 of 11 starters back on defense helps. He’ll start most games at running back but will be moved to quarterback when the Saints need to pass. Also plays defensive back. A team that consistently played to the level of its opponents last season, Locke has to be able to put the experienced defense together with Hagan and Moore in the same game or be a disappointment. Robinson is setting his sights high. “We have to come out motivated after the preseason,” Robinson said. “If we do that, I believe it will be a cakewalk through league.” Franklin and San Pedro may have something to say about that.

GRANADA HILLS KENNEDY

1986 Record: 6-4-1

Coach: Bob Francola

League: Valley

Strengths: Offensive line, led by center Albert Richardson and guard Steve Yurosek. Depth at running back with Ron Hardy, Willie Marshall, Zeus Woody and Demetrie Cooley. Either Gino Tagliaferri or Tony Smets at quarterback. Linebackers Billy Dykes and Yurosek. Defensive tackle Lester Larry.

Weaknesses: Tight end, where five players have been tried in hopes of finding one starter. Inexperienced secondary.

Outlook: “Cautiously optimistic,” Francola said. Will be mostly a running team, looking to sustain long drives, but some competent receivers are needed. “If we only throw eight times a night, they’d better catch 90%,” Francola said.