VALLEY PREVIEW : FOOTBALL ’88 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS : ALPHA LEAGUE

L. A. Baptist

COACH: Mike Boshers, 3rd year

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Leading the offensive attack will be junior quarterback Danny Stepper (5-10, 175), who started nearly half the games last season but completed only 4 of 10 passes for 49 yards. The Knights will try to fill the shoes of Cliff Robinson (1,087 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns) with Jeff Hampsten (5-10, 165), an untested junior who will start at fullback, and Chris Robinson (5-7, 155), the tailback. L. A. Baptist has experience on the offensive line in returners Mark Pederson (5-11, 195) and Dan Shearin (6-2, 190) at guard and Thomas Gandera (5-9, 175) at center. With a turnout of only 24 players, most Knights will play both ways. Shearin is a returning starter at linebacker. “He anchors our offensive line and our defense,” assistant coach Mark Bates said. Pederson is a returning starter on the defensive line and Hampsten is a returning starter at defensive end. Jason Coleman (5-8, 160), a junior transfer from Texas, will play linebacker as well as wide receiver, and Robinson will play cornerback. Sophomore Rob Kalinowski (6-0, 185) a tight end or tackle on offense, also will start at linebacker.

OUTLOOK: “Our strength is in our experience on the offensive line,” Bosher said. “We’re pretty strong, physically, but we lack in depth. We should be a playoff contender along with Montclair Prep, Village Christian and Western Christian.”

Montclair Prep

COACH: George Giannini, 10th year

LAST SEASON: 6-5; 1st in league, 4-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Giannini returns to Montclair Prep for his 10th season, but his first since leaving the school in 1982. He led the Mounties to 9 league titles and a 1976 Southern Section title and has a career mark of 89-20 at the school. He directed Aspen (Colo.) High to a 7-2 record last year. This season, however, Giannini and the Mounties need a big season from running backs Michael Jones and Jamal Swinton. “We expect over 2,000 yards from Jones,” Giannini said. Jones (6-1, 205), is a big, quick tailback who rushed for 683 yards and averaged 5.5 yards a carry last year as a sophomore. Swinton (5-10, 180), a fullback, is Montclair Prep’s 2-year team captain. “Our running game will be strong and we’ll complement it with a lot of play-action passes,” Giannini said. Quarterback Keyaan Cook (5-10, 190), an all-league selection last year, will throw to Ennis Howard (6-1, 185), a returning starter at wide receiver, or tight end Tom Kilby (6-2, 210). Chris Anderson (6-2, 240) and Greg Nicoles (6-2, 220) are 3-year starters on the offensive line. The defense will be led by Kilby, an all-league linebacker, and Swinton, an all-league cornerback.

OUTLOOK: “I think we will be real sound, fundamentally, and will have a very good season,” Giannini said. “I think there’s a lot of talent, but we have a lot of guys going both ways.”

Village Christian

COACH: Mike Plaisance, 8th year

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Fifteen starters return from a team that lost two league games by a total of 5 points. The offense will revolve around wide receiver Greg Lloyd (5-10 1/2, 180), whom Plaisance says is “one of the best players I’ve ever coached.” Lloyd caught 26 passes for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns last season. Joe Everett (5-7, 170) led the Crusaders with 804 yards rushing in ’87. “He has very quick feet,” Plaisance said. At quarterback, Matt Bates (5-10, 165) is challenging Drew Martenson (6-3, 210), a converted tackle who threw for 639 yards as a sophomore last season. Village Christian’s defense, which yielded only 174 total yards a game last season, will be led by linebacker Jeff Hersh (6-2 1/2 185), the team’s defensive MVP last season. Also expected to play at linebacker will be Eddie Piromsuk (5-10, 180), Jeff Cortez (6-1, 180), Matt Smay (5-9, 150) and Craig Fromel (6-1, 205). Other key players include defensive end Jason Willey (5-11, 190), Craig Hudspeth (5-11, 205), a 3-year starter at fullback, Kevin Ebenhoch (6-2, 215), a tight end and fullback, and Frank Castellucci (5-11, 190), a returning starter at guard.

OUTLOOK: “We don’t have a lot of size, but everyone is really quick and we don’t lack aggressiveness,” Plaisance said. “We were very small and very young last year, but I think we have a legitimate shot.”