THE HIGH SCHOOLS : Simi Valley’s Quina Builds Foundation With Help of Royal Connection

When Stan Quina was hired as Simi Valley High’s football coach April 3, he vowed to bring enthusiasm to a program that has not had a winning season since 1985 and has won only one of its past 20 games.

Quina, a former Royal assistant, filled his coaching staff with three former players from Royal and one from Simi Valley. Ken Lutz, who passed for nearly 3,000 yards at Royal from 1981-83, is Simi Valley’s offensive coordinator. Mike Cruz, a starter at defensive back for Royal from 1980-82, will coach the defensive backs, and Mike Noone, who played with Lutz on Royal’s last playoff team in 1983, is in charge of the linemen.

Steve Pinkston, a former Simi Valley quarterback and Moorpark College tight end, will coach the sophomore team and help develop quarterbacks.

Brek Snyder, a wide receiver who played on Illinois’ 1984 Rose Bowl team, will coach receivers. Longtime freshman Coach Guy Greene will remain in his position.

“I really feel that we’ve made a lot of progress, primarily because of the staff,” Quina said. The average age of the staff is 27.

“Basically, we were looking for a young, enthusiastic staff,” Quina said. “I’m not sure if (former Royal players coaching at Simi Valley) will add to that rivalry, which is already pretty strong, but it makes a good story.”

Broadway Mike: At Village Christian, where a rivalry with powerful Montclair Prep exists in every sport, football Coach Mike Plaisance says he isn’t afraid of the big, bad Mounties.

After defeating Montclair Prep in both 1987 and 1988, Village Christian (5-5 in 1989) threw a scare into the Mounties (12-1) last year before falling, 28-20.

But this year, Plaisance said, the Alpha League title is just small potatoes because Village Christian is eyeing the biggest spud of them all. “The kids are ready to go and we’re committed to winning a Division X championship,” he said.

Plaisance admitted the possibility of finishing second in the Alpha League and still going on to win the title. The top three Alpha League teams automatically qualify for the playoffs in Division X. Besides, Plaisance said he relishes another shot at the Mounties.

“Our kids felt we played well enough to beat them,” he said. “We beat them two of the last three years and are ready to make it three of the last four. I love competing against great teams like that.”

Tailback convergence: One of the chief tasks facing Crespi Coach Tim Lins is finding a replacement for running back Leonice Brown, who transferred to San Fernando after leading the Celts in rushing last year with 1,097 yards. What they may lack in quality at the position, the Celts make up in quantity.

Four players are running an equal number of plays in practice as Crespi prepares for its opener against Kahuku High in Hawaii on Thursday. That’s one more player than Lins bargained for. Joe Ruggiero, the No. 1 tailback on the sophomore team last year, had quit the program last spring but rejoined the team this month.

He joins senior Rich Carranza (5-11, 185), Brown’s backup last fall, and sophomores Eric Curaesma and Torie Lee.

“They’re all getting equal repetitions right now now, but I’m waiting for someone to take charge,” said Lins. “I’d like to make a decision by Friday, but if not, we may run all four of them in Hawaii.”

I hear you knocking: First-year football Coach Jon Mack wasted no time rounding up players when he was hired by St. Bonaventure last spring. Mack, along with two members of his 10-man staff, knocked on classroom doors to encourage students to try out for the team. Last year the Seraphs suffered through a 1-9 season and a last-place finish in the Tri-Valley League.

Mack enticed 53 players to join him in May. The number of players has dwindled to 40, none of whom played on last year’s varsity.

“We are working as hard as anyone could work,” Mack said. “We have the same work ethic as a Division I powerhouse.”

Staff writers Paige A. Leech, John Lynch, Brian Murphy and Jeff Riley contributed to this notebook.