FOOTBALL ’91 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: CITY SECTION / SOUTHERN SECTION : VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE : EAST VALLEY LEAGUE (4-A) : Birmingham

COACH: Chick Epstein, 12th season

LAST SEASON: 8-3; 1st in Mid-Valley League, 6-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Braves, who move into the tougher East Valley League this year, dominated the Mid-Valley League last year. Quarterback Vince Lampkin (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) was the primary reason. Lampkin, a senior who has attracted interest from Colorado State and Washington State, led the team in rushing (636 yards in 123 carries) and scoring (14 touchdowns) last season. He also completed 52% (51 of 98) of his passes for 689 yards and three touchdowns. “(Lampkin) has to be one of the top football players in the region,” Epstein said. Senior wide receiver Mike Moguel (6-0, 180) was one of Lampkin’s primary targets, catching 28 passes for 289 yards. Senior Erick Williams (5-10, 170) returns at safety and Ray Banner (6-2, 170) will line up at tight end. Epstein is hoping transfers Benito Johnson (5-11, 215) and Scott Valdez (6-0, 170) will be able to make an impact. Johnson, a senior from Detroit, will start at outside linebacker and fullback. Valdez, a senior transfer from Walnut High, will start at wide receiver and cornerback. Senior Sergio San Vicento (6-5, 265) is at offensive tackle and John Smith (5-11, 185) will play on both sides of the line. Epstein calls senior cornerback Tuan Tran (5-6, 150) “the best man-to-man DB there is.”

OUTLOOK: With nine returning starters, Birmingham should give Sylmar and Poly a run for the championship in the realigned East Valley League. “This is a very good group,” Epstein said. “Discipline problems are nonexistent and there is great leadership. We can’t wait to go out and hit somebody.”

North Hollywood

COACH: James Lippitt, 1st season

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

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Last year the Huskies kept their playoff hopes alive until their final league game. But a 56-19 loss to Poly, the eventual City 3-A champion, ended North Hollywood’s playoff hopes as well as the stellar high school career of scatback Leon Gable, who rushed for nearly 1,800 yards and 24 touchdowns. Lippitt, an assistant last season, has four prospects to replace Gable: Diego Lopez (5-6, 135), Ted Arlington (5-11, 175), Omar Aguilar (5-8, 160) and Danny Fusella (6-1, 185). Fusella, a junior transfer from Campbell Hall, also will start at cornerback. Chris O’Connor (5-7, 150), a junior transfer from Rio Mesa, will command the ground-oriented offense at quarterback. Lippitt is excited to have senior Allan Wing (6-0, 220), a three-year starter, anchoring his defensive unit at linebacker. “He is everything you could want in a player,” Lippitt said. Martin Castellanos (6-1, 225), who led the team in sacks last season with six, will start at defensive tackle. Juniors Augie Nelson (6-1, 225) and Tai Takapu (6-1, 230) are defensive linemen, and Chris Casarez (6-0, 190) is a senior linebacker.

OUTLOOK: “This is a rebuilding year,” Lippitt said. “It’s not a reloading year, that’s for sure. I’m a big dreamer--I have to admit that. But you have to have experienced players to win games.” North Hollywood has three returning starters on a 30-player squad.

Poly

COACH: Fred Cuccia, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 11-3; 2nd in league, 5-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Poly won the City 3-A title last year after a one-win season in 1989. The Parrots’ ground game amassed 3,724 yards last season, by far the most potent running attack in the region. Credit Jonathon Campbell, the City’s leading rusher with 2,091 yards and 31 touchdowns. Campbell is gone, but don’t be surprised if senior running back Jermaine Pledger (5-9, 170) or newcomer Ronald Botley (5-7, 160) put up similar numbers in 1991. Pledger, who rushed for 903 yards in 109 carries and seven touchdowns, has some worthy competition in Botley, who Cuccia calls “a pleasant surprise.” Senior quarterback Lance Garcia (5-9, 165), the City’s most accurate passer last year, is returning. Garcia, an option quarterback, completed 59.1% of his passes (55 of 93) for 1,076 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he rushed for 542 yards and 11 touchdowns. Other returning senior starters include tackle Francisco Flores (6-5, 270), center Art DeLaTorre (6-2, 270), defensive linemen Steve Chavez (6-0, 190) and Chris Grimaldo (6-4, 250), and linebackers Ryan McFarland (6-1, 205) and David Vargas (5-8, 185). Cuccia is expecting big things from junior Lonnie Newhouse (6-6, 275), who didn’t play football last year but has earned a starting position at guard.

OUTLOOK: Poly’s outstanding 1990 season should have a lasting effect. Poly learned how to score and how to win. “They know now what it takes to be a champion,” Cuccia said. With 12 returning starters on a squad of 55, the Parrots are poised to challenge Sylmar for the league title.

Sylmar

COACH: Jeff Engilman, 5th season

LAST SEASON: 10-1; 1st in league, 7-0

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sylmar dominated all but one opponent last year, thanks in great part to tailback Toby Brookins. Brookins (6-0, 182) is a senior who was the City’s third-leading rusher with 1,674 yards in 282 carries last year. “I think he’ll be the class of the Valley,” Engilman said. Only one starting offensive lineman returns, but last year’s backups saw plenty of action and gained enough experience to make them a strong unit this season. Senior guard Manny Vasquez (6-2, 265) is the veteran and he will be helped out by a supporting cast that includes Danny Kelly (6-2, 235), Art Larrea (6-4, 270), Mario Olivio (6-1, 240) and Albert Contreras (6-1, 225). Senior Brian Roberson (5-10, 165) will play free safety and flanker and return kicks. “He is the fastest man in the league,” Engilman said.

OUTLOOK: Sylmar, the defending East Valley League champion, outscored opponents, 345-98, last season, but a 17-15 loss to Belmont in the 3-A quarterfinals left a bitter taste. Expect Sylmar to come back strongly and challenge Poly for the league title. “We are the best team in the Valley,” Engilman said. “We showed it last year.”