In Year of Transition, Banning Banks on Stability : Preview: After losing to rival Carson in 1990 L.A. City Section 4-A Division final, Pilots start season with top ranking among area teams.

If the law of averages holds true, it should be a big year for the Banning High football team.

After all, how long can the Pilots go without:

* Beating Carson. Banning has lost seven consecutive games to its rival, the last four by a combined score of 174-37. It is the longest streak in the series, which began in 1963 and spans 38 games.

* Winning an L.A. City Section title. After winning eight titles in 10 years, including six in a row from 1976-81, the Pilots have not finished on top since 1985.

* Winning a league title. It hasn’t happened since 1986, Chris Ferragamo’s last season as coach.

If ever a team was due, it’s Banning.

There is only one problem. The Pilots don’t appear to be particularly strong this season. Then again, neither does anyone else in the South Bay.

Turnover in personnel has affected nearly every team, and we’re not talking only about the players who graduated.

Three of the South Bay’s top four teams from last season--Carson, Hawthorne and Serra--have new coaches. That leaves Banning’s Joe Dominguez, starting his fourth year, as the dean of coaches among that elite group.

And it is one of the main reasons The Times has tabbed Banning as the No. 1 team in the South Bay going into the 1991 season.

Coaching stability should count for something, right? Especially this year. Ten area schools have new football coaches, making this a season characterized by transition.

Usually it takes time for a new coach to build a winning program, although Leo Hand’s 14-0 rookie season at Serra in 1989 does not follow that theory. Hand, incidently, is one of the coaches who stepped down. He was replaced by defensive coordinator Jon Dimalante.

But, for the most part, first-year coaches don’t do as well as their more experienced counterparts.

A rundown of the top 10 teams in the South Bay follows. Last year’s record is in parentheses:

1. Banning (9-4)--The Pilots open the season a week before everyone else, playing Kahuku High of Hawaii on Saturday in Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium, site of the Pro Bowl and home to University of Hawaii games. The game should provide Dominguez an early opportunity to evaluate his team, which returns only two players who started last year’s 37-16 loss to Carson in the City 4-A Division final.

“We have some new kids who we think are going to be really good players,” Dominguez said. One of them is junior tailback Brandon Moore, who might have started somewhere last year (the Pilots had All-City tailback Travis Davis) had he not been 14 when the season started, making him too young for varsity play.

“We think he’s going to be a great tailback,” Dominguez said.

Others who figure prominently in Banning’s plans are preseason All-America lineman Naeem Mills (6-foot-4, 295 pounds), a possible two-way starter; defensive linemen Jim Irby (6-2, 225) and Sitala Togaia (6-2, 230) and junior quarterback Andre Faavituaau, a transfer from Carson who is contending for the starting job with senior Gabe Sadi, Banning’s backup QB the past two seasons.

2. Carson (12-1)--The old cliche that Carson doesn’t rebuild, it reloads, may well apply again this season. Although the Colts return only one starter from last year’s City 4-A champion team, many of the new players are highly regarded. But that doesn’t take into account the loss of Gene Vollnogle. The veteran coach, who retired, had to be doing something right to win 10 City titles and 289 varsity games. He will be missed.

Asked to carry on Carson’s winning tradition are two of Vollnogle’s former assistants, Marty Blankenship and Jim D’Amore.

Blankenship realizes they are in a difficult situation: “If we win, people are going to say it’s Gene’s team. If we lose, they’re going to say, ‘Look what happened.’ That’s just human nature. Since we’re co-head coaches, we want all the (assistant) coaches to think they’re just as responsible for getting their players ready.”

Opponents were rarely ready for the Colts’ pass-happy, double-slot offense last season. Replacing record-breaking quarterback John Walsh (now at Brigham Young) is junior Jamie Sander, whose father, Jimmy, quarterbacked Carson to the 1966 City title. All-City receiver Theron Hill returns after catching 50 passes for 771 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. There is no shortage of size and speed at the other positions, but varsity experience is lacking.

3. Peninsula (17-18 combined: 8-6 Palos Verdes, 6-5 Rolling Hills, 3-7 Miraleste)--After 13 years of fielding competitive teams at Rolling Hills and Miraleste with relatively low turnouts of players, Gary Kimbrell finally has some numbers to work with. The veteran coach said 73 varsity candidates were at practice this week. “We’ve got some decent athletes and a little bit of depth,” he said.

The major task confronting Kimbrell and his staff is getting everyone working from the same page of the playbook. Players from Miraleste and Palos Verdes are learning a new system. “Once we find out what direction we’re going in, we’re going to be a fine football team,” Kimbrell said.

Competition is fierce at most positions. Three quarterbacks, including Miraleste’s 1990 starter, Steve Cooper, are vying for the starting job. The top running backs are Brian Durbin from Palos Verdes (1990 CIF Division VIII runner-up) and Dan Sarner, who rushed for 1,066 yards and 11 touchdowns for Miraleste last season.

Sarner, though, has been slowed by a sore knee. Other standouts include offensive lineman James Pratt, linebackers Taso Papadakis (6-1, 235) and Jerry Pilato and safeties Rich Radford and Smiley Sanchez.

4. Hawthorne (10-3)--First-year Coach Dan Robbins welcomes eight returning starters, including the area’s top running back. Tailback Morell Ollis rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, helping the Cougars to the Bay League title and the CIF Division III semifinals. Ollis will operate behind a large line led by tackles Jesse Herrera (6-7, 275) and Mostafa Sobhi (6-5, 270) and center Adam Torres (5-11, 225).

Junior Ronnie Morrissette (6-3, 215) takes over at quarterback, where he saw limited duty last season. How quickly he develops figures to be one of the keys to the Cougars’ season. Defensively, Hawthorne will rely on safety Joe Latu, who is rated as one of the state’s top 100 seniors by Cal-Hi Sports, and returning linebacker Solomon Kupu. Several untested juniors make up most of the defensive unit.

5. Serra (10-1)--The numbers are down at Serra, where only 25 varsity players turned out for practice this week. Still, it is hard to forecast a drop-off year for a team that has a 24-1 record over the past two seasons. Look for the Cavaliers to challenge for their fifth consecutive Camino Real League title.

Reasons for optimism include a veteran offensive line that returns three all-league picks--brothers Corey and Chris Long (both 5-10, 200) at guard and tackle Marlon Anderson (6-1, 250)--and an inexperienced but talented group of skill-position players led by quarterback Eugene Davis and running backs Louis Williams and Rashaan Shehee. Receiver/defensive back Jermaine Ferguson is another standout. Several players will be forced to go both ways.

Because of low player turnout, Dimalante says Serra will incorporate a run-and-shoot scheme into its run-oriented T-bone offense. “We’ll be more in a passing mode,” he said. “We’re not going to be as much of a smash-mouth football team as we’ve been in the past.”

6. Torrance (8-4)--The Tartars will hinge their fortunes on the right arm of quarterback Jason Kendall, who passed for 1,689 yards and 18 touchdowns last season in earning Pioneer League co-Back of the Year honors. First-year Coach Bill Bynum says Torrance will execute a double-slot offense with four receivers to take advantage of Kendall’s talents. “The offense is designed around him,” Bynum said. “We want him to throw the ball.”

Kendall figures to distribute his passes among several players, including his favorite receivers from last year--tight end Colby Kaopua (20 catches, 524 yards, five TDs) and wideout Ralph Martinez (18 catches, 336 yards, four TDs). Running back/kicker Scott Hagerman, who kicked 10 field goals and scored 80 points last season, is another important offensive cog. The line is anchored by tackles Steve Davis (6-2, 240) and Salman Nazir (6-4, 255), but the middle is questionable. How well they protect Kendall will be critical.

Bynum says the defense is solid up front with John Portillo (5-11, 205) and Mike Ford (6-0, 230) at tackle and Davis and Dennis Lefevre (6-0, 195) at inside linebacker. Whether the Tartars have enough speed on the outside to effectively run an aggressive split-six scheme is Bynum’s main concern.

7. Morningside (10-3)--Not since Curtis Conway roamed Hawthorne High’s HalCap Field has the South Bay had a quarterback with the talent possessed by Morningside junior Stais Boseman. He can run. He can pass. And, if needed, he can catch. Most of all, Boseman can beat teams with the big play, as he did on many occasions last season. He was named offensive player of the year in the Ocean League as a sophomore, helping the Monarchs win the league title and reach the CIF Division VIII semifinals.

The question is: Does Morningside have an adequate supporting cast to again contend for the Ocean title? Only six starters and 10 varsity lettermen return from 1990. Some of the key returnees are all-league fullback Jesse Swayze (694 yards rushing), wide receiver/safety Keith Long (an All-South Bay choice as a defensive lineman last year) and two-way tackle Pauliasi Taulava (6-8, 230), another all-leaguer.

8. Leuzinger (8-4)--One can’t help but wonder what toll the departure of longtime Coach Steve Carnes will have on the Olympian program. First-year Coach Tom Jessee has brought in an entirely new staff, and they will be tested early--playing Carson and Paramount, last year’s CIF Division II runner-up, in their first two games. After that, Leuzinger should be ready for anything.

Expect the Olympians to do a good share of running over the left side of the line, where All-Bay League tackle Erik Donnelly (6-3, 250) and guard Sean Powell (6-3, 255) return. Quarterback Gary Mumin, who passed for 1,035 yards and seven TDs last season, will be at the controls of the team’s new wing-T offense. Fullback Otto Aholelei (6-0, 215) also has varsity experience. The Olympians’ most glaring weakness is an inexperienced defense.

9. South Torrance (4-7)--The offense appears in good hands with the return of All-Pioneer League quarterback Alan Hook, whose quickness makes him adept at running the option, and tailback Ryan Brady, the league’s co-back of the year last season when he rushed for 612 yards and 12 touchdowns. Others who are expected to play key roles are fullbacks Travis Park and Doug Dossey and wide receiver Kevin Lines.

“We’ve got a lot of good runners,” Coach Don Morrow said. “If our line play develops, I think we’ll be OK.”

The Spartans have good size up front with tackles Shane Daywalt (6-2, 260) and Chad Sauter (6-4, 245), all-league guard Jacob Bianchi (6-1, 230) and tight end Mike Reade (6-3, 240). Sauter, a talented junior, has an injured knee and could miss some early games, Morrow said. The defense returns five starters, but must replace three starters in the secondary.

10. Mira Costa (6-5-1)--Bill Lysle, a longtime assistant on the prep and community college levels, begins his first head coaching job prepared to continue the fine work of his predecessor, Larry Petrill, who in two seasons turned around the Mustang program.

“There’s a good foundation here,” Lysle said. “I honestly believe that we can play with everybody.”

But Lysle will need big performances from several untested varsity players.

The backfield is inexperienced, but Lysle has confidence that quarterback Greg Gilmer (6-3, 190) and running back Miguel Garcia will develop into solid players. The offensive line returns four starters, and both wide receivers are back, including All-Ocean League pick Cam Kissel (27 catches for 389 yards in 1990). Defensively, the Mustangs boast good quickness and five returning starters, led by Kissel at safety and tackle Jason Barnes (6-1, 200).

Other teams to watch:

San Pedro (4-6) figures to make some noise in the Southern League with the return of all-league quarterback Rino Marconi, who passed for 1,212 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and a seasoned offensive line.

West Torrance (9-3) lost some key players from last season’s team that tied South and Torrance for the Pioneer League title, but the return of quarterback Steve Sarkisian (1,290 yards passing) and wide receiver-free safety Jason Orpe (seven interceptions) will help make things easier for new Coach Kerry Crabb.

After enjoying a fine summer, North Torrance (2-8) hopes to turn things around in its second season under Coach Joe Austin. Reasons for optimism include a talented young quarterback in junior Frank Ramirez, returning running back Jose Gomez (803 yards, 10 TDs) and All-Pioneer League lineman Mike Thomas (6-3, 225).

Many believe Inglewood (1-8-1) is primed for a comeback under first-year Coach Angelo Jackson, who guided St. Monica to a 27-9 record the past three seasons. Tailback Nai’l Benjamin and offensive tackle Jerrick Hayes (6-4, 275) have followed Jackson from St. Monica.

Coach Steve Carroll is counting on tailback Koury Clark, a transfer from the Army-Navy Academy in Carlsbad, and an offensive line anchored by tackle Matte Zovich (6-3, 275) to help Bishop Montgomery (3-7) become a contender in the competitive Mission League.

Redondo (5-5) hopes to overcome a lack of size with quickness to mount a challenge in the Ocean League. Key players include returning quarterback Ted Silva, lineman Ryan Turner (6-5, 245) and tight end/free safety Jeremy Veasey (6-3, 200).

Coach Steve Newell believes El Segundo (5-5-1) will become a good team if the squad’s many juniors develop as the season progresses. Strength lies in a defense that returns two all-league players--junior outside linebacker Hauss Hancock (6-3, 210) and middle linebacker Jake Howard (6-0, 200).

Defending Santa Fe League champion Mary Star (7-4) returns nine starters, led by fullback/linebacker Mike Baker (5-11, 200), an all-league pick in 1990.

South Bay Top 10

RANKING, LEAGUE LAST YEAR’S RECORD COMMENTS 1. Banning, Pacific League 9-4 Due for big year 2. Carson, Pacific League 12-1 Ready to reload 3. Peninsula, Bay League 17-18* Good depth, coaching 4. Hawthorne, Bay League 10-3 Skilled athletes abound 5. Serra, Camino Real League 10-1 Low turnout could hurt 6. Torrance, Pioneer League 8-4 Armed and dangerous 7. Morningside, Ocean League 10-3 Bose knows football 8. Leuzinger, Bay League 8-4 Carnes will be missed 9. South Torrance, Pioneer League 4-7 Seasoned backfield 10. Mira Costa Ocean League 6-5-1 New coach is confident

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Player School Pos. Ht Wt Class Stais Boseman Morningside QB 6-3 180 Jr. Ryan Brady South Torrance RB 6-0 190 Sr. Erik Donnelly Leuzinger OL 6-3 250 Sr. Jermaine Ferguson Serra WR/DB 5-10 165 Sr. Hauss Hancock El Segundo LB 6-3 210 Jr. Jesse Herrera Hawthorne OL 6-7 275 Sr. Theron Hill Carson WR 5-10 175 Sr. Colby Kaopua Torrance TE 6-1 205 Sr. Jason Kendall Torrance QB 6-0 185 Sr. Cam Kissel Mira Costa WR/DB 6-2 200 Sr. Joe Latu Hawthorne DB 6-2 180 Sr. Corey Long Serra OL/LB 5-10 200 Sr. Rino Marconi San Pedro QB 6-1 185 Sr. Naeem Mills Banning OL/DL 6-4 295 Sr. Brandon Moore Banning RB 6-0 190 Jr. Morell Ollis Hawthorne RB 5-11 185 Sr. Jason Orpe West Torrance DB 5-10 170 Sr. Taso Papadakis Peninsula LB 6-1 235 Jr. Sean Powell Leuzinger OL 6-3 255 Sr. Pauliasi Taulava Morningside OL/DL 6-8 230 Sr. Eric Taulua Carson DL 6-0 245 Sr. Ryan Turner Redondo OL 6-5 245 Sr. Mike Thomas North Torrance OL/DL 6-3 225 Sr. Matte Zovich Bishop Montgomery OL 6-3 275 Sr.

* Combined 1990 records of Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Miraleste