CENTURY LEAGUE FOOTBALL PREVIEW : Coaches Glad to See the Saints Go Marching Into the Sunset

There will be a new Century League football champion this season. We know this because Santa Ana High School has been shuffled off--mercifully, some say--to the Sunset League.

Yes, Santa Ana is gone, taking with it a season’s worth of sleepless nights for the remaining five Century League coaches.

And frankly, Century League coaches have long said that Santa Ana was out of their league.

The Saints won four consecutive league titles, played in the 1986 Southern Conference championship game (they lost to El Toro, 26-10), and sent enough players to Rancho Santiago College to keep the Dons’ roster fully stocked for years.

Among the Saints to remember (or forget, as the case may be):

--Oscar Wilson, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound tackling machine who was once seen grabbing both running backs and the quarterback, slamming the trio for a five-yard loss.

--George Tuioti, who once described his dual role of quarterback and linebacker: “I’m trying to tackle the quarterback. And then I am the quarterback. It’s a Heckly-Jeckly situation.” A knee injury cut short Tuioti’s career at USC.

--Robert Lee, who ran for 4,401 yards in three seasons (1985-87) to become Orange County’s No. 3 career rusher.

--Bobby Joyce, a defensive back whom Santa Ana fans may never forgive for one mighty gaffe. In a 1987 playoff game against El Toro, Joyce let the Chargers’ Adam Brass steal away a sure interception for a game-winning touchdown with no time remaining. Joyce has the last laugh, though. He’s playing basketball at NCAA champion Nevada Las Vegas.

These were the sort of fellows opposing coaches had to deal with. But no more. In a sweeping re-alignment of Southern Section leagues, Santa Ana has been moved to the Sunset League. Orange, a member of the Pacific Coast League, will take the Saints’ place.

“I couldn’t be happier,” El Modena Coach Bill Backstrom said. “Those guys were big over there. It’s a big school. They had that open enrollment thing. We all had a tough time with them.”

At a time when some league schools such as Canyon, El Modena and Villa Park were faced with dwindling enrollment, Santa Ana was growing. By Backstrom’s estimation, Santa Ana now has twice as many students as El Modena.

Open enrollment, which allows a student to attend any district high school,made matters worse.

“I’m kind of glad they’re out of the league,” Villa Park Coach Pat Mahoney said. “The numbers do count.”

Over the years, Foothill, El Modena and Villa Park have had strong programs, but even they couldn’t match Santa Ana in recent seasons.

At Canyon, Loren Shumer’s program has had difficulty winning, period. When he took over as coach last season, Canyon had a 17-game winless streak. Though he has since turned the program in the right direction, Shumer isn’t sorry to see the Saints go.

“It was blatantly unfair to have Santa Ana in the Century League,” Shumer said. “I’m sure Dick (Hill, Santa Ana’s coach) wants to play with the big boys. Now he has his chance. I’m sure he won’t be playing Canyon again.”

None of the five remaining schools has scheduled Santa Ana in a nonleague game. Not even Santa Ana Valley, the Saints’ long-time rival.

“I have mixed emotions,” Santa Ana Valley Coach Dan Castanon said. “For us it’s always been a good game. We enjoyed the rivalry and the competition. To be honest, we’ll probably hook up again in a couple of years.”

Santa Ana’s athletic ability, particularly its team speed, always seemed to hurt, the coaches said.

“Other schools--us, El Mo--had good quickness,” Foothill Coach Marty McWhinney said. “But not sheer speed like (Santa Ana) had. And Oscar (Wilson) always was a big factor.”

Said El Modena’s Backstrom: “We were always having a tough time matching athletes with them.”

Well, Backstrom’s worries are over.

In Orange, Century League coaches will find a school of similar size with athletes of similar caliber to their own.

Oh, by the way, Orange was the Southern Section Division VIII and Pacific Coast League runner-up and had a 10-3-1 record last season.

“Of the two, Santa Ana probably is the better program,” one league coach said. “But I’m not sure we’re getting an easy touch here.”

THE CENTURY LEAGUE DIVISION III Canyon Coach: Loren Shumer (second year). 1989 record: 3-7, 1-4. Returning lettermen: 20. Returning starters: Four on offense, three on defense. Top returnees: Steve Bosich, OL, 6-3, 245, Sr.; Tom Bottiaux, DE, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Jeff Brunswig, RB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; George Garcia, LB, 6-2, 205, Sr.; John Leos, DE, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Yannis Pappas, OL, 6-3, 225, Jr.; Jason Pu, WB, 5-10, 175, Sr. Top newcomers: Juan Cerda, DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Dan Thomas, DE/DB, 6-1, 180, Sr. Outlook: With a victory over Corona in the opener last year, Canyon ended a 17-game winless streak. The Comanches went on to win two more games. Shumer was the school’s third coach in as many years and it took time to install his system. Now Shumer’s task is raising the team’s sights. “We’re much further ahead than last year,” Shumer said. “They’re understanding what it takes to win. Our work ethic is better than last year. Even just showing up to practice.” Shumer can laugh now, but last year he had a difficult time convincing his players that hard work would pay off. “This year, we’ve got them thinking they have a legitimate shot at a playoff berth,” he said.

El Modena Coach: Bill Backstrom (fifth year). 1989 record: 4-6-1, 2-3. Returning lettermen: 27. Returning starters: Seven on offense, two on defense. Top returnees: Aaron Aguirre, C, 5-8, 170, Sr.; Gavin Brown, LB, 6-3, 185, Jr.; Adam Garcia, QB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Tim Grey, CB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Tom Mazzone, RB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Mike Pallad, RB/LB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Billy Soares, OL, 6-2, 250, Sr. Top newcomers: Sean Colgan, DB, 5-7, 150, Sr.; Nate Marcyan, OL/DL, 6-3, 260, Sr.; Fred Romo, DB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Oscar Vasquez, DB, 5-6, 140, Sr. Outlook: “I’ve been here 16 years (as an assistant and head coach) and we’ve never had a season like last year,” said Backstrom. “We just let things slip away by playing poorly. The kids have put it in their minds to not let that happen again.” Garcia is in his third season as the Vanguards’ starting quarterback. Last year, he started five games, then moved to tailback. He gained 476 yards and was picked as an all-league running back. Soares is a cousin of Fred Soares, a Louisiana State linebacker from Rancho Santiago College. Soares played tackle last season but has been moved to guard.

Foothill Coach: Marty McWhinney (second year). 1989 record: 4-6, 2-3. Returning lettermen: 20. Returning starters: Two on offense, four on defense. Top returnees: David Ackermann, OL-DL, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Justin Brizuela, LB, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Sean Saunders, TB, 5-10, 185, Sr. Top newcomers: Mike Busalacchi, QB/LB 6-2, 210, Jr.; Robbie Higby, DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Nathan Kuchera, DB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Evan Lang, QB, 6-3, 170, Sr.; Chris Salceda, DB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Jeff Sanders, OL-DL, 6-2, 220, Sr. Outlook: The Knights will start six juniors on defense and that worries McWhinney. “If we just stay healthy for the first five games, then we’ll be pretty respectable by the time league starts,” he said. “(But) we’re just too young to be a contender this time.” He says Orange and El Modena are the class of the league with Villa Park and Santa Ana Valley fighting it out for third. Ackermann is a two-way, all-league lineman. McWinney said he’s the best blocker the Knights have. Lang and Busalacchi are battling for the quarterback spot and McWhinney isn’t sure who will start in the Knights’ opener Sept. 7 against arch rival Tustin. Saunders rushed for 841 yards as the starting tailback.

Orange Coach: Tom Meiss (second year). 1989 record: 10-3-1, 4-1 in Pacific Coast League. Returning lettermen: Nine. Returning starters: Three on offense, four on defense. Top returnees: Joel Birschbach, OT, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Acen Chiles, TB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Mark Lightfoot, WR/DB, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Kris Lister, LB, 6-2, 170, Sr.; Jeff Peterson, LB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Brian Remmel, RB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; J.R. Sauni, DT, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Chris Thompson, QB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Nate White, DB, 5-8, 160, Jr. Top newcomers: Erik Guenther, C, 6-1, 240, Sr.; Noah Kimbwala, WR/DB, 6-1, 160, Jr.; Steve Miller, OL, 6-4, 225, Sr.; Evans Saole, DT, 6-0, 260, Soph. Outlook: Last season, his first at Orange, Meiss led the Panthers to the Division VIII championship game. Pacific Coast League rival Trabuco Hills held on for a 13-7 victory. “Every team in the Century League is capable of winning the league (championship),” Meiss said, adding that it’s too early to predict how Orange will do in its new league. “My biggest challenge when I came here was to convince the kids they could win,” he said. “Last year, they were hungry. Now, they have to go out and do it again.”

Santa Ana Valley Coach: Dan Castanon (fifth year). 1989 record: 3-6-1, 2-3. Returning lettermen: 14. Returning starters: Two on offense, three on defense. Top returnees: Lloyd Ape, LB, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Henry Bratton, TB, 6-1, 178, Sr.; Michael Castleberry, DB/WR, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Gary Graves, QB, 6-9, 162, Sr.; Rome Manson, DB, 5-9, 155, Sr.; Isan Najera, K, 5-8, 155, Jr. Top newcomers: James Barclay, TB, 5-8, 165, Jr.; Armando Cueva, DB, 5-10, 158, Jr.; Jamie Mejia, LB/OG, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Mike Murtaugh, WR/DB, 5-10, 158, Jr.; Dwayne Shipp, OL/DL, 5-9, 200, Soph. Outlook: Santa Ana Valley lost almost all its offensive unit, including the entire line. The Falcons also lost seven of eight on the defensive front. Among the graduated: Issac Alo and Loren Ragland, both 6-4 linemen. “How well we do depends on how well we’re able to replace those interior people by the time league starts,” Castanon said. Last year, the Falcons were projected as a playoff contender. They finished in a three-way tie for third place and did not make the playoffs. The key was that Graves injured his back and played in just three games. Now, he’s healthy.

Villa Park Coach: Pat Mahoney (seventh year). 1989 record: 8-4, 4-1. Returning lettermen: 20. Returning starters: Six on offense, six on defense. Top returnees: Damon Becknel, OL, 6-5, 240, Sr.; Jason Braun, LB, 6-3, 235, Jr.; Brad Creagan, WR, 5-10, 150, Sr.; Carter Devol, DB/RB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Jason Martian, QB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Brian Persall, DT/OL, 6-3, 230, Sr. Top newcomers: Mike Aguirre, T, 6-4, 250, Sr.; Donnie Bladow, FB/LB, 5-10, 185, Jr.; Aaron Boone, WR, 6-2, 170, Sr.; Dan Davis, LB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Jason Ochoa, OL, 5-11, 215, Sr.; Ellis Williams, RB, 6-2, 195, Jr. Outlook: The Spartans have the smallest number of senior players--16--since Mahoney has been coach. That leaves the team lacking in depth, particularly on defense. On the other hand, Mahoney said there are four or five players who are as good as any he has coached. The Spartans also have their starting quarterback back. Martian competed 43% of his passes for more than 600 yards. “I think a lot of us (Century League teams) are alike,” Mahoney said. “I think whoever develops good character and good leadership should have the best team.”