FOOTBALL ’91 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: CITY SECTION / SOUTHERN SECTION : CHANNEL LEAGUE : Buena

COACH: Rick Scott, 4th season

LAST SEASON: 5-6; 2nd in league, 5-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sophomore running back George Keiaho (5-foot-10, 190 pounds) gained 1,134 yards last season and was the first California freshman to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Senior defensive end Duane Hurst (6-2, 205) was an All-Ventura County selection as a junior. Senior defensive end Scott Wilding (6-4, 210) is a returning starter. Other returning starters on defense include senior linebacker Brian Eberharb (6-0, 195) and senior defensive backs Jeremy Bolton (6-0, 160) and Dan Lemp (6-2, 185). The defensive line will include senior Ted Ramirez (6-0, 220) and junior Gary Lipp (6-0, 200). The linebackers include senior Ryan Minkel (6-3, 205) and sophomore Brett Phillips (6-1, 190). Kevin Moran (6-1 1/2, 205), a projected two-way starter at offensive guard and linebacker, will miss at least four weeks after undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery last week. Hurst and senior Josh Calderon (5-10, 205) will start at offensive guard. Wilding, a backup tight end last season, will start at offensive tackle. Sophomore Brian Williams (6-4, 220) might start at strong tackle. Moran and junior Brian Rice (6-3, 210) will add depth to the offensive line. Senior wide receiver Chris Denger (6-1, 165) caught only eight passes last year but is expected to blossom into a strong receiving threat. Senior David Furst (6-4, 200) could emerge as a fine tight end. Senior quarterback Matt Ertman (6-0, 155), son of former Buena Coach Hank Ertman, will lead the offense. Senior Matt Kemsley (6-1, 200) is one of the league’s most talented fullbacks. Sophomore running back-linebacker Shawn Popken (6-1, 175), who played as a freshman last season and was a projected two-way starter this year, has moved to Kansas.

OUTLOOK: Buena, the only league team to qualify for the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, should battle Ventura for the league title, which the Bulldogs have not won since 1973. Keiaho, physically stronger than last season, has forced Scott, a fanatic of the passing attack, to alter his approach. But stopping Keiaho doesn’t mean stopping Buena. “If you stop one facet of our game, we’ll find another to beat you,” Scott said. Buena is inexperienced in key positions and isn’t overwhelmingly large. The Bulldog defense, which is strong along the perimeter but suspect up the middle, will determine how far the team goes.

Hueneme

COACH: Ed Knight, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 1-9; 8th in league, 1-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior David Andrade (6-2 1/2, 190), who passed for 1,509 yards and seven touchdowns last season, is one of Ventura County’s most talented quarterbacks. Senior receiver Chris Zapata (5-8, 150) led the team last year with 39 receptions and 678 yards. Andrade also will have quality targets in junior receivers Dwan London (5-10, 170) and Sharif Waldrum (5-8, 170). Senior guards Javier Bautista (5-9, 220) and Jim Clark (5-9, 220) will anchor the offensive line. Free safety David Simerly (5-10 170), linebacker Luis Rojelio (5-8, 180) and defensive back Adam Anaya (5-8, 160) are other significant returnees.

OUTLOOK: Hueneme, which has lost 22 of its past 23 games, won’t find the going any easier this season. Hueneme’s roster dwindled to 18 players by the end of last season and Knight has just 35 varsity players. Andrade, who may have the finest passing skills of any quarterback in the league, provides Hueneme with some hope but he must reduce the number of interceptions (15) he threw last season. The Vikings, who will send as many as four receivers out on patterns, must protect Andrade. Knight’s passing attack helped Walnut, which was picked to finish last in the Valle Vista League last season, win the league title. “Frankly, I like that kind of challenge,” he said.

Oxnard

COACH: Jack Davis, 13th season

LAST SEASON: 4-6; tied for third in league, 4-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior quarterback Larry Bumpus (5-10, 170), a tremendous athlete, passed for 598 yards and rushed for 322 last season. Senior running back Dan Duchai (5-10, 175) rushed for 371 yards and will play in the backfield with seniors Rocky Lewis (6-0, 225) and John Skidmore (5-11 170). Junior fullback Lloyd Mix rushed for 1,092 yards last season at Santa Clara. Senior John Schaller (6-2, 295) is a returning starter at tackle. Gilbert Hernandez (6-2, 245), a starting tackle last season, will move to guard. Senior John Smith (6-1, 230) is a two-year starter at guard. Junior Charles Jones (6-5, 245) will start at tackle. Senior Abel Romero (6-0, 215) will play tight end. Senior Jasper Satterwhite (6-4, 190), who did not play last season, will combine with seniors Jason Bell (5-8, 140) and Josh Smith (5-10, 160) to provide Oxnard with quality receivers. The defense will be led by senior lineman Armando Salazar (5-8, 205), an all-league selection last season. Senior Gerry Cedillo (5-11, 210) is a returning starter at lineman. Hernandez (lineman), Smith (linebacker), Skidmore (defensive back) and Bumpus (defensive back) also will start on defense. Junior Sean Sebastian (5-11, 205) will play linebacker and running back.

OUTLOOK: Oxnard has the size and speed to compete for a playoff berth. Bumpus has developed his passing skills to complement his outstanding running ability. “We’ll open it up this season,” Davis said. “We have some pretty good receivers to work with.” A large offensive line and talented skill players again will allow the Yellowjackets to be an offensive threat. If the Yellowjackets play defense, they will be a contender.

Rio Mesa

COACH: John Reardon, 24th season

LAST SEASON: 6-5; tied for third in league, 4-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior tailback Gordy Abellera (5-9, 165), a two-year letterman, rushed for 816 yards and scored eight touchdowns last season. He also will start at defensive back. Senior Swanson Nunnery (5-10, 170) is a returning starter at wide receiver and cornerback. “Both those kids have very, very good speed and good athletic ability,” assistant George Contreras said. Senior Andy Contreras (5-9, 155), George’s son, will play quarterback and cornerback. Senior Willie Flores (5-11, 260) will start at offensive guard and might start at defensive tackle. Senior Jon Burleson (5-11, 195) is a returning starter at center but might see most of his action at outside linebacker. Rio Mesa’s kicking game received a boost when McLane Hansen, who was 33 for 41 on conversions last season, transferred from Camarillo. Hansen has kicked a 52-yard field goal in practice. The defensive line will be led by senior Jose Escudero (5-11, 195), a returning starter. Senior Jim Starr (6-0, 215) will play either tight end or offensive tackle. Senior Chase Fitzpatrick (5-8, 160), who suffered a dislocated elbow and missed much of last season, will play wide receiver and free safety.

OUTLOOK: Rio Mesa came on strong last season, winning its last three league games and sneaking into the Division II playoffs. This season, the Spartans won’t have as much talent or depth as in past years, but they’ll be competitive. An injury to either Nunnery or Abellera could prove devastating. “We might get beat because we’re not as fast, or not as big,” George Contreras said. “But we’re not going to roll over.”

Ventura

COACH: Harvey Kochel, 12th season

LAST SEASON: 7-3-1; 1st in league, 5-1-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior quarterback Trevor Rumsey (5-11, 175), a part-time starter last season, might be the best all-around quarterback in the league. Junior running back Derek Swafford (5-11, 165), who rushed for 1,069 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, might be the best running back. Swafford also will start at cornerback. Sophomore tailback Jake Kochel (6-0, 175) will push Swafford. Junior Devon Passno (5-10, 190) will start at fullback. Ventura’s offensive line will be led by senior tackles Justin Werth (6-3, 250) and Travis Walters (6-3, 260). Jason Griffith (6-2, 215) will start at tight end. Senior Bill Dzuro (6-1, 265) started on the defensive line last year but might play more offense this season. Senior Elan Walshe (5-11, 185) will start at defensive back and wide receiver. Griffith also will start at defensive end. Juniors Alex Juarez (5-9, 195) and Erik Givens (6-1, 195) will play linebacker. Senior nose guard Scott Adams (6-0, 195), a returning starter, will lead the defensive line.

OUTLOOK: Ventura relied on an enormous offensive line last season, and the Cougars must reload if they expect to again contend for the league title. “We think we have the kids,” Kochel said. “We’re not as big, but we’re not small, either.” Swafford can score any time he touches the ball, Rumsey seldom makes costly errors, and Passno has the talent to join Swafford as a 1,000-yard rusher. A key will be the development of several juniors. Ventura’s offense, which averaged 361 yards a game and was second in the region, should again have no trouble moving the ball. But its defense, which allowed 312 yards a game last season, must improve.