FOOTBALL ’91 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: CITY SECTION : NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE : NORTH VALLEY LEAGUE (3-A) : Chatsworth

COACH: Myron Gibford, 12th season

LAST SEASON: 2-8; 4th in West Valley League, 1-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Quarterback Brian Comer, a part-time starter a season ago, returns for his senior year. Comer (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns as a junior and seems poised for a solid year. “He’s the first returning quarterback I’ve had in a while,” Gibford said. “He can throw with the best of them.” Montay Hardison (5-10, 185) and Nestor Davila (5-10, 170) are battling at tailback, and judging by the size of the offensive line, the pair should see plenty of daylight. Several players with experience on the offensive or defensive line return, including Craig Holloway (6-0, 250), Torano Hunter (6-1, 230), Rozheh Nahapetian (5-8, 210), Ralph Testa (6-2, 215) and Mitch Rutherford (6-2, 215). John Gamm (5-10, 160) and Lamont Carroll (6-0, 160), who played sparingly last season, will start at receiver. The defense is considerably less established, especially in the secondary, which in the past has been patrolled by the team’s speedy running backs.

OUTLOOK: The team has the blockers to fuel a solid running game, but does it have the ballcarriers? “I think we’ll be good on both lines,” Gibford said. “But I don’t know that we’re very proven at running back. There’s nobody with game experience there, and nobody in the secondary.” All things considered, Chatsworth might have the talent to challenge Reseda.

Cleveland

COACH: Everett Macy, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 0-9-1; 4th in league, 0-7

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Cleveland fired blanks most of last season and it is up to Macy to shore up the store. The Cavaliers should improve as the season progresses, but their youth will work against them. “We’re young all over,” Macy said. The kiddie corps is led by junior tailback Ibn Bilal (5-10, 160), who rushed for a team-high 402 yards last season. Junior Derrick Dumas (5-8, 170) also will play running back. Manny Valencia (6-1, 200), a linebacker who bench-presses 325 pounds, will play at fullback. Freshman Greg Gines (5-8, 150) and sophomore Brian Spear (5-10, 180) are racing neck and neck at quarterback. Ryan Fox (6-2, 230) is a returning starter in the offensive line, where he will be surrounded by inexperienced players. Possible starters are sophomores Juan Lopez (6-3, 280) and Phil Hladky (5-10, 195) and junior Steve Nguyen (5-10, 205). Other linemen are seniors Phil Dahdouh (6-1, 210) and Sal Martinez (6-0, 210). Senior linebackers Darrell Davis (6-0, 190) and Mike Smith (5-10, 180) should be solid. Brent Sapiro will kick and punt.

OUTLOOK: Despite its inexperience, Cleveland, which had 55 players turn out for the team, will try to use a two-platoon system. It will ensure that the Cavaliers mature at an appreciable rate, which could make the team a force by next season--if not sooner.

Reseda

COACH: Joel Schaeffer, 14th season

LAST SEASON: 5-5; tied for 3rd in league, 3-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Back in the 3-A Division, Reseda again will rank among the tough guys on the block. The Regents, unlike most teams, have two returning lettermen at quarterback in Deon Edwards and Jeff Kent. Which player is used depends on which offensive set Schaeffer wishes to run. Edwards (5-9, 165) is a mobile, sprint-out player who passed for 475 yards as a junior. Kent (6-4, 190) is a pocket passer who threw for 220 yards. Henry McAlpine (6-0, 175) and DeWayne Johnson (5-10, 160) inherit the running back positions. Johnson will be a breakthrough player, Schaeffer predicted. Ricky Ray (5-11, 185) will start at fullback and linebacker. Ray rushed for 128 yards in part-time duty a year ago. Reseda’s offensive line should be solid behind returning starters Russell Nordsted (6-4, 235) and Daniel Kaminsky (6-2, 215). Big-play receiver Larry Trammel (5-10, 160), who caught five passes for 115 yards as a junior, returns. John Buckley (6-4, 185) has the physical attributes to stand out at tight end and linebacker. Three-year letterman Daniel Zaffuto (5-11, 235) will start alongside Nordsted, Kaminsky and Hector Castillo (6-1, 200) on the defensive line. Kicker Gerald Cohl (5-6, 140), an All-City 4-A selection last year as a sophomore, made 21 of 21 PATs and kicked seven field goals.

OUTLOOK: Reseda is always sound fundamentally and this year’s team will not change the tradition. Its swarming, aggressive defense should keep the score well within striking range for its conservative offense.