A Change in the Schedule Should Give Fountain Valley Its Toughest Test

The Sunset League season could be over as soon as it begins.

Defending champion Fountain Valley is everyone’s favorite, and Edison appears to be the only team with a legitimate shot at knocking off the Barons. So what else is new, right? Only this year, their annual clash has been moved from the end of the league season to the second game, on Oct. 21.

“I’m not really sure why we’re playing so early,” Fountain Valley Coach Mike Milner said. “I think it has something to do with some new rotation schedule, but I have mixed emotions about it. There’s no doubt it’s a big game. They’re our archrivals, and we’re so used to playing them near the end.”

What impact the new date has on the league title cannot be gauged, but both coaches fear their teams might not be at their best so early.

“Playing so early like that, we may not have come together as we expect to,” Milner said.

It probably will not matter. Fountain Valley, ranked No. 1 in The Times’ Orange County preseason poll, might have one of its best teams in years. The Barons’ fortunes begin with senior quarterback David Henigan, but they certainly don’t end with him.

Edison is hungry. Injuries contributed to the Chargers’ 2-8 disaster last year, but if they can stay healthy this year, it could be a different story. Edison also has a top quarterback prospect in senior Mike Angelovic.

EDISON--How hungry are the Chargers?

“They are so hungry, so motivated to go out and make sure nothing like that happens this year,” Coach Dave White said. “It was a humbling experience for our players. They have plenty of motivation going into this season, that’s for sure.”

The Chargers’ offense is built around Angelovic, 6-feet 1-inch, 188 pounds. Last season, despite injuries to many of his top receivers and offensive lineman, he passed for 1,324 yards and 6 touchdowns.

“He’s a good passer, a great scrambler,” White said. “As he goes, we go.”

Angelovic’s favorite target is 5-9, 168-pound wide receiver Patrick Reilly. Tight end Brian Reider, 6-4 and 220 pounds, also will catch a lot of passes. The key variable in the Chargers’ I-formation offense will be the development of tailback Gus Miranda, who broke into the starting lineup late in 1987.

Defensive backs Scott Jarrett and Darren Lance and linebacker Kevin Roberts will lead an experienced defense.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY--What makes Henigan so good?

“He’s a great anticipator,” Milner said. “He has the greatest anticipation I’ve ever seen in a quarterback. And I think that’s the No. 1 thing a quarterback needs. He can hold off until the last moment to throw, he can imagine in his head how something’s going to happen, and it does.”

Milner said Henigan, who is 6-1 and 185 pounds, is also the smartest quarterback he has ever been around.

“I have demanded more of him mentally than I’ve ever demanded of any quarterback,” he said.

The demands are simple now: Win.

All of Fountain Valley’s offensive line has graduated except center Glenn Christy, who last year became the seventh straight Baron center to earn all-league honors.

The Barons return seven starters on defense, including defensive tackle Brent Hickman, linebacker Mike Walcott and cornerbacks Abe Yap and Rich Mott. Mott had five interceptions and five blocked kicks last year.

Milner knows he will have another good team. But he played down the No. 1 ranking.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “There’s no way we’re that good.”

HUNTINGTON BEACH--The Oilers must rebuild both offensive and defensive lines, and the prospects are dubious.

“We’re used to having some size to deal with, but not this year,” Coach George Pascoe said. “All of our big linemen have graduated. Now we’re trying to piece things together with guys who weigh 190 and 195.”

Huntington Beach, which tied Westminster for second place in the league and finished 6-4 overall last year, returns most of its top skill players. Chris Will and Eric Pittanio return at quarterback after sharing the duties last year, along with top receivers Kevin Dickey and Doug Cunningham.

The Oilers feature a veteran secondary, including Cunningham at cornerback.

MARINA--The bad news is that the Vikings were 1-9 last year.

The good news is that there’s no way to go but up. Almost.

Coach Chris Ramsey played a lot of sophomores and juniors last year, so he must hope that many of them matured in the process. Quarterback David Schultz, a 6-2, 185-pound junior, must shoulder much of the offensive load. Other offensive starters back include running back Stacy Kagasoff and tight end Eric Crocker.

On defense, the Vikings are led by linebacker David McLeod and cornerback Dean DeLucca.

OCEAN VIEW--Last year, the Seahawks went 4-6, which is a good season on the heels of a 2-8 record.

But coach Guy Carrozzo has bigger hopes for this year.

“I told our kids if they work hard and continue to improve, we can be a playoff team,” Carrozzo said. “They realize if they execute, that’s a realistic goal.”

Carrozzo is expecting big things from 6-1, 180-pound sophomore quarterback Randy Karliner, who will run the Seahawks’ new run-and-shoot offense.

On defense, all-league linebacker Todd Norman is one of nine returning starters. Others include cornerback Kevin Mullins and linebacker Dean Martinez.

WESTMINSTER--Of all the great quarterbacks the Lions have produced, Bob Elliott could be the best.

Elliott, a 6-2, 180-pound senior, already holds the school record for touchdown passes in a season with 15, and Coach Jack Bowman expects him to make a run for other records this year.

But the key to Westminster’s fortunes will be how well Elliott’s supporting cast performs.

A veteran offense with six returning starters includes receivers Al Togonon and Jim Slagle, fullback Mike Graff and tailback Osabale Fiafeu.

On defense, the Lions have four returning starters, including all-league linebackers Ray Vannatta and Richard Spear.

Bowman thinks Westminster could be stronger than last year’s team, which finished 6-4 and tied for fourth place.

“We’re probably a little better than we were last year,” Bowman said. “We’re a little bigger and a little faster. I would this is our best offense team since I’ve been here, but since they haven’t played yet, I won’t.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

SUNSET LEAGUE

1987 Overall, League Record in Parenthesis

SCHOOL ’88 COMMENT Fountain Valley (6-4, 5-0) Led by quarterback David Henigan Edison (2-8, 2-3) Has the talent to rebound from ’87 Westminster (6-4, 3-2) Quarterback Bob Elliott holds school TD record Huntington Beach (6-4, 3-2) Must rebuild offensive and defensive lines Ocean View (4-6, 2-3) Quarterback Randy Karliner keys offense Marina (1-9,0-5) Big rebuilding assignment continues