FOOTBALL ’91 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: CITY SECTION / SOUTHERN SECTION : VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE : MID-VALLEY LEAGUE (3-A) : Canoga Park

COACH: Rudy Lugo, 6th season

LAST SEASON: 1-8; 4th in league, 1-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior multipurpose player Andy Lerma (6-foot-1, 180) is one of four returning starters. In addition to the kicking duties, Lerma will be used at fullback, tight end and linebacker. Senior Kevin Blount (6-0, 230) returns at tight end and defensive end. After three years of handling the starting duties at quarterback for the B team, senior Adam Ferris (5-10, 165) should be ready to step up to varsity. “He’s confident, has a real good arm and he’s a good leader,” Lugo said. Junior David Krieder (5-10, 160) will be the primary running back. Offensive linemen include senior Eddie Barrientos (6-0, 200) and juniors Keith Jardine (6-2, 210) and Don Bauer (6-0, 215). Jardine and junior Marco Granados (5-9, 180) are linebackers. Rafael Palacios (5-10, 150) and Luis Meza (5-11, 160) are junior defensive backs, and senior Randy Fort (5-10, 150) has good hands at wide receiver.

OUTLOOK: The Hunters were outscored, 253-67, last year, their first in the Mid-Valley League. And the team is 2-16 over the past two seasons, so Lugo’s goal of “taking it all” seems a little unrealistic. The B team won the league title last year behind Ferris. If the line can develop, the Hunters could win. “We’re going to be much more competitive than last year,” Lugo said.

Grant

COACH: Bill Foster, 7th season

LAST SEASON: 3-7; 4th in East Valley League, 1-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Grant’s move into the Mid-Valley League should be considered a blessing. The Lancers, who lost their final six games last season, had a decent defense but the offense averaged just 11 points a game. Five starters return, three on offense. Senior running back Adam Rose (5-9, 200) was the team’s second-leading rusher a year ago, gaining 214 yards in 44 carries, and will shoulder most of the load. Rose will run behind senior offensive linemen Rudy DeLaTorre (6-3, 255) and Steve Farrington (6-2, 235). Jeff Cohen (5-11, 225), Kris Coleman (6-2, 210) and Jose Sandoval (6-2, 210) will help out on the line. There are several candidates for quarterback, including senior Eddie Moreno (5-8, 150) and juniors Doug Shapiro (5-11, 180) and Jason Arnold (6-2, 195). Moreno also is a wide receiver and defensive back. Sandro Perez (5-11, 165) and Victor Anguiano (5-11, 165) also are receivers, and Alvin Rose (5-1, 170) and Roy Rodriguez (5-11, 165) are defensive backs.

OUTLOOK: Grant finished 9-2 with a league title in 1989, so last season’s showing was somewhat of a disappointment. “I’d like to think that we’ll be there in the end,” Foster said. “We’re going to be better than last year.”

Monroe

COACH: Dave Lertzman, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 2-6-1, tied for 2nd in league, 2-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Monroe has won just three of its past 18 games in two years under the guidance of Lertzman, but the Vikings showed vast improvement last season. The Vikings were outscored, 229-84, in 1989, but narrowed the gap to 168-129 in 1991. Monroe has just three returning starters but 60 players are out for the team. Headlining the returning starters is senior Sean Bell (5-10, 175), who Lertzman said is “right up there among the best (running backs) in the Valley.” Bell averaged less than 10 carries per game last year but amassed 513 yards (5.3 average) with six touchdowns. Clearing the way for Bell will be junior tackle Jabarha Henry (6-7, 265), who also will start at outside linebacker. Senior Ed Carias (6-0, 230) is a returning starter at center, and senior Kewon May (5-10, 175) will return at linebacker. May also will start at tight end. Senior Lewis Pittman (6-1, 175), a reserve last season, will play quarterback. “He is one of the most improved players on the team,” said Lertzman. Andrew Rich (5-6, 160), a junior returning letterman, will start at cornerback, and junior Isiaif Rojas (5-8, 155) will start at linebacker. Junior Andy Green (6-3, 235) will start at guard. Junior James Owen (5-8, 155) and sophomore Michael Johnson (5-8, 160) are the safeties.

OUTLOOK: Lertzman is hoping the enthusiasm of the team will make up for the lack of speed and inexperience. “The bottom line is that they have to commit themselves to improving every week,” Lertzman said. “And if we can do that, we will be competitive.” Lertzman hopes the Vikings will be fighting for the league championship with Van Nuys when the teams meet in the final league game.

Van Nuys

COACH: Kenji Mochizuki, 5th season

LAST SEASON: 2-7; 3rd in league, 2-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Van Nuys suffered a big blow to its ground-oriented offense early last season when running back Harold Boudreaux was declared ineligible. Boudreaux (6-0, 190), a senior, is back and he might play quarterback and linebacker in addition to his running duties. “He’s excited about getting another shot at it,” Mochizuki said. Junior quarterback Bill Calhoun (6-0, 165) and senior running back-wide receiver Robert Franklin (6-1, 205) are among the seven returning starters. Calhoun completed just 40% of his passes (48 of 120) last season and was picked off 12 times, which is why Boudreaux might take over. Franklin was the team’s leading rusher (314 yards) and receiver (208). Junior John Frausto (6-1, 245), a starting guard last season, will play fullback and linebacker. Mochizuki is hoping Garrett Crawford (6-0, 165), a converted basketball player, will make an impact at split end and safety. Senior Gary Guemiksikian (5-10, 165) is a receiver. Senior linebacker Abner Martinez (5-6, 170) “is short, but a real fireplug,” according to Mochizuki.

OUTLOOK: Van Nuys went from being league champion in 1989 to finishing a game out of last place last year. Mochizuki said that speed and a larger defensive line will help the Wolves improve. “We’re going to hit harder,” Mochizuki said. “We’ll be successful, but just how successful we’ll have to wait and see.”