Desert-Coastal Football Preview : Several Appear Worthy of 1-A Title

Football coaches in the Desert-Coastal League are either modest or using reverse psychology. But no one will admit that their team in the section’s only 1-A football league is ready to claim the championship.

What it means is that there is no clear-cut favorite. Defending league champion Marian and runner-up Holtville will undoubtedly be near the top. But the No. 3 and 4 teams are harder to predict.

Of Holtville, Marian, Army-Navy and Mountain Empire, Imperial Coach Mike Swearingen says, “You could shake those four teams in a hat and pick one.”

Others would include Imperial in the list, although Swearingen says this is a rebuilding year for his Tigers, who have played in six league championship games, winning three titles and sharing one, over the past 10 years.

At the end of last season, coaches and athletic directors discussed playing two rounds of playoffs instead of one, and some coaches have said they expected two to be played. But CIF Commissioner Kendall Webb said only one is scheduled.

THE RACE

Top contenders: Marian (1-A champions, 7-4), Holtville (9-1), Army-Navy (5-3).

Surprise potential: Imperial (4-6).

Hoping for improvement: Mountain Empire (2-8), Calipatria (0-10).

Game of the year: Holtville at Marian, Oct. 13. As the league opener for both teams, and Marian’s homecoming, this could set the tone for the season.

THE PLAYERS

The man: Holtville’s strength is the arm of third-year starting quarterback Alex Wells. Last year as a junior, Wells threw for 1,700 yards and 27 touchdowns, better than any returning quarterback in the state, and led Holtville to the 1-A championship game against Marian. As a sophomore, Wells threw for 1,400 yards.

“He’s doing real well,” Coach Sam Faulk said. “He’s just where we want him.”

Who will fill Tommy Provencia’s shoes? Provencia, a wide receiver, was Wells’ favorite target last season and a key to his success.

“He was an outstanding ballplayer,” Marian Coach John Pappas said. “We beat Holtville (for the league title) because we were able to stop him. We geared our defense around him.”

Senior David Amavisca played halfback the past two years, but with the addition of sophomore running back Mario Lizarraga (6-1, 175) and loss of Provencia, Amavisca will move to split end.

Others to watch on offense: Imperial’s third-year starter Leon Jackson, who has rushed for 1,658 yards in his career, returns as one of the top running backs.

Others to watch on defense: Senior John Baumgartner (5-feet-11, 185) was an all-league fullback last year but will also be a defensive key at starting inside linebacker for Army-Navy. Baumgartner has attracted attention from Brigham Young and San Diego State, Simmons said.

Marian defensive back Jamarr Brown is the player who, as a sophomore, stopped Holtville’s Provencia in the championship game. Senior teammate Raul Souza is a returning all-league defensive lineman.

Imperial is blessed with sophomore Gerardo Castillo, “a legitimate Division I punter,” according to Swearingen. Castillo averaged punted 40.6 yards last year.

THE INTANGIBLES

First Aid: When 2-A or 3-A programs have been ailing, the 1-A league has sometimes acted as an infirmary. The unhealthy school limps into the 1-A, builds up strength, then returns to its old league. Three out of the past four years, the 1-A champion has been a former 2-A or 3-A school.

Defending champion Marian, new to the 1-A this past season, will move to the newly formed 2-A Harbor League next year.

Coaches have mixed opinions on schools being able to invade their league, but most agree it is to their teams’ advantage.

“Most 1-A coaches don’t like it. They come into our league, get fat and leave,” Mountain Empire Coach Rick Abood said. “I look at it as we play a 2-A nonleague schedule every year anyway, so it doesn’t affect us as much as the 1-A schools that play other league schools in their nonleague schedule.”

Imperial’s Swearingen said that he sees the imported teams as helping preserve 1-A competition, and since the schools have been honest about the reason they are coming in--”to rebuild”--he doesn’t mind.

“I think it enhances the league,” Simmons said. “We played up to 2-A level. I like the competition, and hopefully it pays dividends.”

Pappas thinks the 1-A is the best place for his team because of Marian’s enrollment but said he is looking forward to the 2-A challenge and hopes he doesn’t regret the move.

No. 1 enemy--depth: Mountain Empire and Imperial are in a bind as they try to field a team. Abood must bring up 10 players from the junior varsity to fill out Mountain Empire’s varsity roster.

“You don’t lose 10 kids and replace them,” Abood said. “It’s really going to hurt us, and most of the kids have to go both ways. If we are really healthy, we could surprise some people and be a factor, but after this year, watch out, we’ll be tough for a long time.

Imperial lost its offensive and defensive lines and linebacking.

“Of 22 kids, 13 are seniors, and of those seniors, a lot are inexperienced as starters,” Swearingen said. “There are a couple kids who haven’t played since Pop Warner.”

Paybacks due: There was a three-way tie for the No. 2 league playoff spot last year. A league ruling allowed the team that hadn’t been to the playoffs in the longest time to earn the spot. Imperial had gone the previous year and Army-Navy in 1982, so Marian, the new kid on the block, made it.

Army-Navy Coach Steve Simmons, whose team defeated Marian and only lost to Imperial by one point, says “paybacks are due”.

“We don’t forget year to year,” Simmons said.

Kings of the hill: Holtville surprised a lot of people last year by climbing out of the cellar and remaining undefeated until the championship game. Now, Sam Faulk said, his team is in a position it’s not used to.

“I’m stressing that we can’t let up. Everyone is gunning for us. We have a harder work ethic this year,” Faulk said.

Marian, also a long shot last year, must also adjust to their new-found status.

“We have a small team, so I’m trying to get their mind set for the long road ahead,” Pappas said. “People tend to come looking for the team on top. My kids are ready and have worked hard this summer.”