Carson Grabs No.2 Spot in National Super 25 Grid Rankings

Carson High School, which climbed as high as No. 2 in USA Today’s national football rankings last year, will open the 1988 season in the same position.

The newspaper ranked the Colts second behind Brockton, Mass., in its Super 25 preseason poll Wednesday.

“It’s nice, but like they say, it’s where you wind up that counts,” said Carson Coach Gene Vollnogle. “I think it’s a compliment to the program. It’s based on how you did the previous year and how much you have returning.”

Carson returns six starters from last year’s team that finished 11-1 and was ranked No. 2 nationally before losing to Granada Hills, 24-14, in the L.A. City 4-A championship game. And the Colts have added quarterback Perry Klein, a transfer from Palisades who passed for a state-record 3,899 yards in 1987.

Heading the list of returners are three all-City players--running back Errol Sapp, offensive guard Morris Unutoa (6-3, 240) and kicker Louis Perez.

“I think we are pretty good, but of course I believe that every year,” Vollnogle said. “(The ranking) can only make us better. It makes other teams get up for us. I think our kids like that.”

The No. 1 team in the USA Today poll at the end of the season is generally regarded as the mythical national champion. Unbeaten North Hills of Pittsburgh finished in the top spot last year. Carson wound up 25th.

Vollnogle said he is not worried that the high ranking will place pressure on his team, which opens the season Sept. 9 on the road at Sweetwater of San Diego.

“I wouldn’t be in this business if I didn’t like the pressure,” he said. “I’ve learned that if you don’t start pretty high (in the rankings) you never make it to the top.”

The only other Southern California teams ranked in the Super 25 are Loyola of Los Angeles (No. 3) and Crespi of Encino (No. 18).

Brockton, the No. 1-ranked school, is 42-1 over the last four years and returns 14 starters from last year’s 11-0 team.