FOOTBALL ’89 : TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE

Moorpark

COACH: Rob Dearborn, 2nd year

LAST SEASON: 1-9; 6th in league, 0-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior quarterback-free safety Robert Hernandez (6-2, 170) already has caught the attention of local college scouts. Now he needs to find a receiver to catch his passes. Last season, Hernandez threw for 615 yards and two touchdowns but had a completion rate of 37% (56 of 151). “Our biggest weakness is our receivers,” Dearborn said. “Hernandez throws really well, but we have no one that can catch.” Senior fullback-strong safety Jeff Cox (6-0, 200), a two-time varsity letterman, was second on the team with 10 receptions for 109 yards. Senior tailback-cornerback Tony Upshaw (5-10, 180) has above average speed and is the Musketeers’ biggest running threat. Senior tackle Pedro Lozano (5-11, 230) and senior guard Victor Magdaleno (6-1, 210) are Moorpark’s strongest and best blockers and should provide better protection for Hernandez. Dearborn plans to use them on the strong side and run most of the plays in their direction. Defensively, Moorpark has two good inside linebackers. Senior Tom Uphoff (5-11, 190) led the team in tackles and was a second-team all-league selection. Senior Rick Ray (5-11, 190) is also a returning starter.

OUTLOOK: Eventually, Moorpark, which has not won a league championship since 1941, will compare its roster to those of neighbors Agoura and Thousand Oaks. Until then, the Musketeers will continue to experience growing pains. “We worked hard in the weight room this summer and played well in passing leagues,” Dearborn said. “But the biggest thing I was banking on last season was the offensive and defensive lines and they didn’t do the job. Hopefully, one year of experience will make a difference.”

Oak Park

COACH: Ron Veres, 3rd year

LAST SEASON: 10-2; 2nd in league, 4-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The super class of ’89 (Jason Stein, Jess Garner, Gary Silverman, etc.) has graduated, leaving Oak Park little behind from last year’s offense that was seventh best among Southern Section Valley-area schools. Worse still, the Eagles have but 12 players on the team. Senior Kent Richter (5-9, 145), who sat out last season, will be the tailback and has as much speed as his predecessor, Stein. Both were members of the school’s 400-meter relay team that was second in the Southern Section 1-A Division. Senior Carlos Pena (5-10, 185) earned all-league honors as a two-way lineman and will start at fullback and middle linebacker. Junior Mike Stern (6-1, 185) will shift from receiver to quarterback. “He saw limited action as our backup QB, but he’s an athlete,” Veres said. He’ll have senior Erikk Cass (6-1, 175), senior Mike Devine (5-11, 165), junior Chris Ruhle (5-11, 165), and sophomore Jeff Gibbons (5-10, 165) for targets. None has caught a pass on the varsity level. Strong tackle-defensive end Aaron Majors (6-2, 195) and guard-defensive tackle Adam Jones (5-10, 150) are the returning starters on the front line. Juniors Zach Siciliano (6-2, 190) and Chris Kelly (6-1, 175) and sophomore Mike Banks (6-1, 185) are the other linemen.

OUTLOOK: This will be the third consecutive season in which the Eagles have had fewer than 25 players on their roster, but that hasn’t separated them from success. Since Veres has taken over, he has compiled a 17-6 record, and twice guided Oak Park to the playoffs. Before his arrival, the Eagles had trouble winning one game. Team speed will again be the key to their success. “The 12 kids we have are pretty good players,” Veres said. “With a little bit of luck and no injuries, we could do all right.”