COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS : SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE : Resurgent Defenses Could Command Attention

Whittier College Coach Hugh Mendez says many SCIAC schools have a tough time luring top-notch offensive linemen to their Division III programs.

“We don’t even get a second or third shot at those guys,” Mendez lamented.

But he sees a bright side.

Because hulking offensive linemen are a scarce commodity in the SCIAC, Mendez says, the defenses are flourishing.

Other conference coaches are noticing the defensive resurgence, too.

“When I first came, everybody had a wide-open, score-a-lot-of-points-type offense,” said Occidental Coach Dale Widolff, who has coached the Tigers for six years. “Now everybody’s defensive oriented.”

Both Occidental (6-2-1 overall, 5-1 in SCIAC last season) and Whittier (4-6, 2-4) lost key defensive players but neither team is hurting. Eight defensive starters return for Occidental, seven for Whittier.

Todd Stoney, a cornerback who was cut by the Los Angeles Raiders in August, was the Tigers’ main stay in the defensive backfield. If junior Ronnie Cunningham’s performance last Saturday was any indication, he should be able to take up the slack. Cunningham had two interceptions and nearly picked off two more in the 17-13 loss to Azusa Pacific.

Tiger linebackers Pete Tucker and Dave Hodges make up the core of a defense that limited Azusa to 39 total first-half yards before coming unglued on Azusa’s game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

Whittier lost free safety Rod Pesak to graduation. Pesak had 10 interceptions last year and was named SCIAC Player of the Year. However, Mendez said defensive co-captain Charles Castille might be better than his predecessor. Linebacker Steve Ramsey, also a defensive captain, will be a front-runner for an all-conference bid.

Claremont-Mudd (5-4, 5-1), which won the conference title in 1986 and tied Occidental for first last season, has seven returning starters, including a veteran defensive backfield comprising Rory Wilson, Tony Ferrentino and twins Jon and Geoff Bagatelos.

The Stags’ biggest loss is All-SCIAC nose guard Brian Kent.

Kent’s brother Chris is a starting defensive tackle. Seven players return for La Verne (3-6, 3-3), a team that historically has had the hardest-hitting defense in the conference. The team’s best player might be cornerback Anthony Grove, a two-year starter who could see action as a receiver.

But nose guard Mike McKernan, a two-time all-conference player, has the biggest impact on the team.

“If he doesn’t play well, our whole defense doesn’t play well,” defensive coordinator Rex Huigens said.

Graduation was kindest to Pomona (3-6, 2-4), which lost only one defensive starter. The defensive line, featuring junior Chris McReynolds and sophomore Steve Patterson, is probably the team’s strong suit.

Redlands (1-8, 1-5) has two outstanding returning linebackers--John Thompson and Doug Bos--to anchor the defensive unit. Mike Maynard, last year’s defensive coordinator at Claremont-Mudd, takes over as coach.