HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS : Veteran Pasadena Team Appears to Hold Edge

For front-runners, the coaches at Pasadena and Muir sure sound like also-rans.

Even though both schools are ranked in the Southern Section’s Division II preseason poll and combined for a 16-5-1 record on the field last season, Pasadena and Muir are in serious trouble--or so their coaches say.

“I find it hard to believe that we’re ranked that high,” said Muir Coach Herb Robinson, whose team is ranked seventh. “We’ve only got five returning starters and the rest are all juniors and sophomores. That ranking is a credit to the past program.”

Said Pasadena Coach Gary Griffiths, whose team is ranked fifth: “We’ve got some nice kids, but I don’t know how good we will be. I think we’ll be decent.”

Those laments find little sympathy among other league coaches.

“Pasadena and Muir have definitely dominated this league and unless they stub their toe or someone gets hot, you’ve got to give them the nod,” Arcadia Coach Dick Salter said.

Pasadena has advanced to the Coastal Conference quarterfinals four consecutive years and to the semifinals twice in that span.

Muir, which had to forfeit eight victories last season for using an ineligible player, won conference championships in 1985 and ’86.

Coach’s comments notwithstanding, Pasadena is the favorite this season. Twenty-one lettermen, including nine starters, return for the Bulldogs, who tied for the league title and lost to Canyon, 22-21, in the conference quarterfinals last season.

Pasadena is led by Terry McDaniel (6 feet, 5 inches, 245 pounds), an offensive tackle and defensive end who is being recruited by Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Notre Dame, among others. Chris Jeter, (6-0, 185), a two-time all-league selection, returns at fullback and outside linebacker. Solidifying the linebacking crew is Aaron Brance (6-1, 210).

The offensive backfield will feature two inexperienced players in quarterback Kyle Washington, the backup last season, and tailback Tahrell Miles, a converted cornerback.

Griffiths gives both players high marks, but Pasadena could stumble during its difficult preseason while Washington and Miles learn the offense.

In the first five weeks, Pasadena plays Palmdale, ranked No. 8 in the Division II preseason poll, and Division I teams Riverside Poly and St. Francis.

Eight lettermen, including three all-league choices, return for Muir. Derrick Holmes (6-1, 180), an all-league split end last season, will play quarterback and safety. Holmes combines with junior cornerback Stefan Crutchfield and all-league cornerback Jerry Phillips in the league’s most experienced defensive backfield.

And with all-league center George Bugarin (6-0, 210), tackle James Ellison (6-2, 250) and guard Henry Johnson (6-0, 230), Muir has the potential to push opponents around.

With Muir and Pasadena likely taking the league’s first two playoff positions, the battle for third should come down to three teams--Glendale, Hoover and Crescenta Valley. Glendale gets the preseason nod because the Dynamiters feature quarterback Rick Callister and the league’s biggest collection of linemen.

Callister (6-0, 175) threw for 815 yards in nine games last fall and plays behind center Joe Graciano (5-10, 210), guard Eric Giden (6-0, 235) and tackle John Garrett (6-4, 255), a three-year varsity letterman who is being recruited by USC, BYU and Georgia.

Hoover tied Pasadena for the league championship last year because of Muir’s forfeits and a tough defense that ended the regular season with back-to-back shutouts.

But Hoover lost nine of 11 defensive starters and is relying on returning offensive backs Eric Mussal, Steve Solano and Chad Rinn.

Despite the inexperience, Coach Dennis Hughes expects the team to do well because Hoover’s soph-frosh teams have gone a combined 14-5 the past two seasons.

“We’re not rebuilding. We expect these kids to play well for us,” Hughes said.

Crescenta Valley, which has a streak of 10 losing seasons, starts eight returning players on defense and five on offense.

That experience might be enough to get by a tough league schedule in which the Falcons play at Pasadena and Muir in the first three weeks.

“We’re real happy with the fact that we have the sound personnel returning,” Coach Jim Beckenhauer said.

Arcadia, which also plays Pasadena and Muir on the road, has only five returning lettermen and will struggle to escape the cellar.

“It’s a good group of kids but the inexperience will definitely show in the first game,” Salter said. “I hope that they learn quickly.”

PACIFIC LEAGUE Predicted Finish

1. Pasadena (9-1)

2. Muir (7-3)

3. Glendale (6-4)

4. Hoover (5-5)

5. Crescenta Valley (4-6)

6. Arcadia (3-7)

Predicted record in parentheses.