Montclair Prep, Derek Sparks Team for Early Poll Position

Montclair Prep, featuring one of the country’s top running backs in senior Derek Sparks, is ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division X preseason poll. Montclair Prep is the only Valley-area school to be ranked in a top spot.

The Mounties, stopped one game shy of the Division IX championship game in 1989, return 18 starters including Donovan Roy (6-foot-6 1/2, 280), wide receiver/safety Leland Sparks and wide receiver/cornerback Greg Cole.

Sparks, ranked among the top 25 running backs in America by SuperPrep magazine, rushed for 1,944 yards and scored 35 touchdowns.

The Southern Section has placed Montclair Prep and the rest of the Alpha League in Division X.

Two Golden League teams--Quartz Hill (No. 5) and Canyon (No. 9)--are tabbed in the top 10 in the league’s first year in Division I.

Thousand Oaks of the Marmonte League, which returns 14 lettermen, ranks No. 5 in the Division II poll after an 11-1-1 season in ’89. League rival Westlake, led by quarterback Todd Preston, is ranked No. 9 and Ventura of the Channel League and Channel Islands of the Marmonte League are listed in teams to watch.

Traditional Foothill League power Hart, with 23 returning lettermen and coming off a 10-2 season, is ranked No. 7 in the Division III poll and Notre Dame, making the jump from Division VII to Division III in the new Mission League, is ranked No. 8.

Pass-happy Santa Clara of the Frontier League is ranked No. 8 in Division VIII, while league rivals Santa Paula and Fillmore are tabbed as teams to watch.