Grossmont 2-A Preview : Santana’s Status Will Benefit From Its Change in League

After three years of frustration, Santana has moved from the Grossmont Conference’s 3-A league to the 2-A and become a contender instead of a doormat. The Sultans have not had a winning season since they were 5-3-1 in 1973.

“It’s a lot better than before,” Santana Coach Doug Coffin said. “Our kids are real excited. The program is real solid.”

Changing divisions should give Santana a boost, although it has fared only slightly better against the 2-A teams. Since the conference split into two leagues in 1985, Santana is 2-7-1 against 2-A teams, 0-12 against 3-A.

Santana’s most-recent victory in the conference was a 19-6 decision over El Cajon Valley in 1985. The last time the Sultans beat a 3-A division team was a 20-0 victory over Monte Vista in 1982.

But Coffin is rebuilding the program, and the team started last year 2-0-1 before nine starters were injured.

This will be the last season 2-A will have four teams. West Hills High School in Santee will start varsity football next season. The addition of West Hills also means the league will get two automatic playoff berths instead of one.

El Cajon Valley

Last season’s record: 5-5, 1-1-1 in league.

Finish: Second (tie).

Coach: Don George.

Top returners: Bill Rudd (6-2, 195, Sr., LB), Ron Johnson (5-11, 185, Sr., WR), Don Johnson (5-11, 190, Sr., RB), Kelly Birt (6-2, 205, Sr., OL/DL).

Top newcomer: Mike Paris (5-10, 185, Jr., QB).

Outlook: George, who coached El Cajon Valley in 1979 and was an assistant last year and from 1974-78, has 13 starters returning but is missing several key players, including all-league quarterback Jimmy Dutra. It will be hard to top last year’s team, which ended its 44-game league losing streak by beating Valhalla, 22-10. The five victories equaled the total number for the previous five seasons. Paris was a fullback for the junior varsity last year.

Grossmont

Last season’s record: 3-5-2, 1-1-1 in league.

Finish: Second (tie).

Coach: Judd Hulbert.

Top returners: Rick Daynes (6-2, 185, Sr., QB), Tom Liles (5-11, 170, Sr., WR).

Top newcomers: Keith Price (6-1, 180, Jr., TB), Chris Travis (6-0, 215, Jr., OL/DL).

Outlook: Grossmont might be the youngest team in the county, with 17 juniors starting. Daynes, an all-league running back last season, moves to quarterback. The team always has had a hard-hitting defense under Hulbert, who moved from defensive coordinator to coach last season. Now Hulbert has to work on an offense that averaged 9.4 points last year. “I spent a number of years blaming the offense, so now I can only blame myself,” Hulbert said.

Santana

Last season’s record: 2-6-2, 0-4 in 3-A.

Finish: Fifth.

Coach: Doug Coffin.

Top returners: Steve Cardoza (5-11, 170, Sr., RB), Richard Sager (6-3, 185, Sr., WR), Paul Mosher (6-2, 205, Sr., LB).

Top newcomer: None.

Outlook: Coffin has 24 returners from last year’s team, which had one of its strongest starts in recent history (2-0-1). Santana will have the benefit of a bigger team, including an offensive line averaging 225 pounds and anchored by David Downs (6-4, 267) at center. Cardoza, an all-league running back, returns after rushing for more than 700 yards last year. Quarterback will be the big question for Santana, with several players battling for the starting spot.

Valhalla

Last season’s record: 2-7, 1-2 in league.

Finish: Fourth.

Coach: Carl Iavelli.

Top returners: Jason Peltier (5-10, 185, Sr., TB), Mark Iveson (6-4, 190, Sr., QB), John King (6-0, 225, Sr., NG).

Top newcomers: Scott Lapinski (5-10, 205, Jr., FB), Joe Tropp (5-10, 190, Jr., SS).

Outlook: Valhalla had the dubious distinction of being the end of El Cajon Valley’s 44-game league losing streak last season and now hopes to end its own streak. The Norsemen have not made it to the section playoffs since the school opened in 1975 and have had only one winning season (5-4 in 1982). Iavelli thinks an extensive off-season weight program will change that. “The kids had a meeting and decided not to let this season pass them by,” Iavelli said. “Last year we’d get manhandled and physically beat up.” Iveson returns at quarterback after playing part of last season.