High School Football Preview : FRONTIER LEAGUE : Title Contenders Will Feature Contrast of Styles

Santa Clara High’s schedule the first two weeks makes it difficult to evaluate how much the defending Frontier League champion has slipped from last season’s 11-1 overall record.

Certainly, graduation took most of the talented Saints.

Certainly, a few excellent players remain.

But when the first two games are scheduled against traditionally weak teams like Bell-Jeff and Bishop Diego, the jury remains out until Friday night when the Saints play host to hard-hitting Rio Mesa.

Sure, frolicking over Bell-Jeff, 35-7, and Bishop Diego, 33-20, allowed quarterback Tim Gutierrez to set the county career passing record and allowed tailback Kwinn Knight to amass piles of yardage.

But if lowly Bishop Diego can score three touchdowns and keep Santa Clara fans in their seats until the final gun, what will happen when the Saints visit rugged Agoura and seasoned Santa Ynez?

Even Santa Paula, which is similarly untested after falling to Fillmore and whipping St. Bonaventure, could test Santa Clara. Once Cardinal quarterback Ben Fausett gets the touchdown passes flowing, he is difficult to shut off. Fillmore shut him down but against St. Bonaventure, Fausett fired five scoring passes.

There are two distinct styles in the Frontier League; the wide-open aerial shows of Santa Clara and Santa Paula and the closed-fist, grind-it-out approach of Agoura and Santa Ynez.

A look at each team:

Santa Clara: Senior quarterback Tim Gutierrez, a three-year starter, has the composure and talent to keep the offense moving despite the loss of most of the line to graduation.

Center Ted Lawrence (6-2 1/2, 237) and tackle Leo Berry (6-2, 225) are the only experienced linemen, which concerns first-year Coach Larry Lawrence.

Opponents cannot focus exclusively on the pass, however, because of tailback Kwinn Knight, a tough, versatile player who gained 334 yards in total offense last week against Bishop Diego.

Fullback Augie Maciel, who like Berry and Knight also starts on defense, has looked good. So has running back Scott Trip.

Other top players include Carlos Martinez, who starts at tight end and defensive end, guard Joe Cabrerra and linebacker Mike Hager, a senior transfer from Ventura.

Senior Jason Daw has been Gutierrez’s favorite target so far. Daw also leads the secondary.

Agoura: The Chargers, as usual, are playing the most difficult nonleague schedule. They join the Marmonte League next season and proved once again last week that they can meet the challenge, defeating Royal, 14-6. Newbury Park defeated Agoura, 17-3, two weeks ago.

Once league play begins, Agoura should be physically challenged only by Santa Ynez, although the passing attacks of Santa Clara and Santa Paula usually give the Chargers problems.

Quarterback Josh Smaler is providing expected leadership in his second season as starter, but he has not passed well. Smaler (5-10, 165) has completed 13 of 36 passes for 134 yards and zero touchdowns.

Veteran Agoura Coach Frank Greminger is utilizing several running backs. Senior Dave Caramanis, the leading returning rusher, has 81 yards in two games. Matt Francisco, a promising junior, has 45 yards.

Wide Receiver Greg Ochoa (5-11, 160) has shown an ability to get open, hauling in six passes for 92 yards.

Santa Paula: After being unable to get off the ground in a 14-8 opening loss to a surprising Fillmore team, the Cardinals exhibited their traditional explosiveness through the air against St. Bonaventure.

Despite the slow first week, Ben Fausett has completed 28 of 49 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns.

Four starters return on offense for the Cardinals, including three linemen. Will Reeder, a 6-2, 225-pound three-year letterman, and Efran Sandoval (6-0, 220) make the tackle position a strength. Guard Brian Stidham (6-0, 200) is also a returning starter and center Ken Rushing (5-10, 185) started on defense last year.

Everett Corona, a senior, returns at wide receiver. Jason Freeman, a senior who is playing his first year of football, caught four passes for 157 yards last week.

Tailback Dustin Magdaleno is a versatile, experienced performer who should catch a lot of passes.

Sam Alvarez, a 6-1, 240-pound all-county defensive tackle, defensive end Jaime Jimenez and inside linebacker Tommy Frutos lead the defense. Juan Enriquez, Richard Polcarti, James Rodriguez and Pancho Escovido complete the defensive line. Magdaleno, Freeman and Corona give Santa Paula a strong secondary.

Santa Ynez: The Pirates already have shown a flair for winning close games under first-year Coach Kenny Gruendyke: They defeated both Righetti and Cabrillo by scores of 7-6. In both games, the opponent missed a late kick to let Santa Ynez off the hook.

Now to get the offense going.

The problem appears to be that Eddie Gallagher, an all-league running back last season as a junior, moved and left a hole larger than the ones he ran through. Seniors Jeff Ward and Rich Maselow, both top defensive players, are trying to fill the void at tailback, but the Pirates managed only 78 total yards against Cabrillo.

Quarterback Matt Halme is a returning starter, but senior Ryan Dowhower sees some playing time as well. Fullback Rod Smalley (6-3, 218) was the league’s defensive player of the year last season for his play at inside linebacker.

Split end David Scoggins is a three-year starter and center Lloyd Tiffany (6-3, 235) was an all-league selection last season. In fact, the entire offensive line, which consists of Ryan Blakemore (6-5, 240), Clifton Varney, Nathan Burkhart, Jason Klitgaard and Robby Johnson, is returning.

Defensively, Scott Ellis is an all-league cornerback and defensive ends Trevor Walker and Tony Zavalla are strong.

Nordhoff: Quarterback Rob Fournier (5-10, 180) and tailback Jayden Morrison are trying to get the offense untracked. Despite a roster of 41 players, Nordhoff was blanked, 56-0, by Carpinteria and was defeated last week by Desert, 26-12.

Two field goals by junior Bryan Salas, who is also a top receiver, and a three-yard touchdown run by Fournier is all the offense the Rangers have been able to muster.

A key to whether Nordhoff can match up with the league’s physical teams will be junior guards John Gatling (6-4, 220) and John Bunt (6-2, 205). Big things are expected of tackle Rich Lasby (6-1, 180).

Trevor Matheson, a 6-1, 175-pound senior and two-way starter, is a vocal leader.

Calabasas: Judging from their first two performances, the Coyotes would be hard-pressed to win in the Tri-Valley League, let alone the Frontier. Moorpark and Carpinteria--two Tri-Valley teams--have defeated Calabasas, which was 2-8 last season.

The team’s strength is offensive linemen Jamie Dinovitz (6-5, 245), Brian Kirkpatrick (6-3, 220), Craig Proctor (6-3, 200), Albert Kawaoka (6-1, 235) and Jon Zoref (6-0, 210).

Quarterback Ronnie Adelman, a bulky 5-11, 215-pound junior, has had moderate success passing the ball. He also plays linebacker.

Fullback Nick Curran has 71 yards in 17 carries. Tailback Damon Riggins rushed for 133 yards in 26 carries in the opener against Moorpark but he missed the game last week against Carpinteria.

Art Simonian and Rayne Gray are solid at linebacker.