Prep Football ’91

Sunset League

Edison

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 9-2 6-0

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Dave White 38-18

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 5 5

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Travis Balding, 5-8, 170 RB -- Sr. Ryan Belitz, 5-9, 175 FB LB Sr. Jeremy Brown, 5-10, 210 OG -- Sr. Mike Eidam, 5-10, 165 WR DB Sr. Chris Harris, 5-10, 190 -- DT Sr. Josh Klinge, 6-1, 180 -- LB Sr. Mark Lamson, 5-11, 190 -- LB Sr. Rod Lippincott, 6-2, 210 TE LB Sr. Tim Shaw, 6-0, 175 PK P Sr. Mike White, 6-1, 215 C -- Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Brian Caldwell, 6-2, 195 -- DE Sr. John Khamis, 6-2, 195 QB -- Sr. Hong Kim, 6-0, 175 -- DE Sr. Mike Leboff, 5-10, 155 WR DB Sr. Matt Nowotny, 6-2, 200 -- DE Sr. Justin Polosky, 6-4, 300 OT DT Sr. Bram Riederich, 6-2, 210 -- DT Sr.

OUTLOOK

Edison wasn’t challenged for the league title last year and should repeat this season. Much of the Chargers’ success will rest on the shoulders of Khamis, the quarterback who has the imposing task of replacing record-breaking Josh Gingrich. Khamis took about 20 snaps as Gingrich’s backup and threw a touchdown pass against Westminster. “He’s a 3.8 student and I expect him to improve throughout the year,” White said. Khamis led Edison to the championship of a 20-team passing tournament at Rancho Santiago College. Khamis’ primary target will be Lippincott, a tight end whom White said is comparable to former Edison stars Vic Rakhshani or Mark Boyer.

Fountain Valley

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 1-9 1-6

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL George Berg First Year

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 2 6

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Ryan Bertoni, 6-2, 180 QB -- Sr. B.J. Crabtree, 6-3, 190 TE -- Sr. Eric Falcinella, 5-9, 155 WR DB Jr. Brian Gail, 6-1, 175 WR DB Jr. Parham Gorban, 6-0, 175 WR DB Sr. Rocky Gubernick, 5-9, 175 WR DB Sr. Nart Ibrahim, 5-10, 195 OG LB Jr. Pete Reynolds, 5-9, 205 FB LB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Mike Gillis, 6-2, 185 TE DE Jr. Mafoa Sapini, 5-11, 240 OT DT Jr. Brian Spiridonoff, 5-11, 185 TB DB Sr.

OUTLOOK

It was hard times at Fountain Valley High in 1990. The Barons lost nine consecutive games before upsetting Marina, then lost 12-year Coach Mike Milner when he accepted a position at El Toro. Berg, a 19-year assistant, replaced Milner. He had 39 players report this year, one more than last season. Among the top returners is Bertoni, an all-league quarterback, and Crabtree, a tight end who caught eight touchdown passes as a junior. The most pleasant surprise in camp has been Spiridonoff, a running back who played as a sophomore but decided to concentrate on baseball last year. Berg, who coached the team’s running backs the past six seasons, said Spiridonoff will complement Bertoni’s passing. Two defensive linemen--Damian Peters and James Corpus--also have been impressive. Both are 200-pound sophomores. “We’re not treating this as a rebuilding year,” Berg said. “I think we have a legitimate shot at a playoff berth.”

Huntington Beach

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 5-5 1-5

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL George Pascoe 28-52-2

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 5 4

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Travis Anderson, 5-11, 180 TB DB Sr. Mike Bolster, 6-3, 255 OT -- Sr. Jack Friend, 6-3, 205 QB -- Sr. Steve Martinez, 5-9, 175 WR DB Sr. Troy McWhinney, 6-2, 210 TE -- Sr. Nola Sipan, 5-10, 190 FB -- Sr. Vince Timoschuk, 6-2, 215 OG LB Sr. Steve Venne, 6-0, 200 TE LB Sr. Eric Williams, 5-10, 205 OT DT Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Eric Escobedo, 5-10, 190 TB SS So. Jon Wimbish, 6-3, 185 WR FS Jr.

OUTLOOK

It was a tale of two seasons for Huntington Beach in 1990. The Oilers were 5-1 and ranked among the county’s top 10 teams midway through the season. But the bottom fell out when Huntington Beach lost its final four games and missed the playoffs. “We got beat in two of those games by a two-point conversion and a ‘Hail Mary’ pass, but our biggest problem was that we had too many kids going both ways,” Pascoe said. “We were dragging in the fourth quarter. This year, we’re committed to platooning.” Pascoe said if Bolster, a returning all-league offensive lineman, was two inches taller, “everybody would be recruiting him.” Quarterback Jack Friend, who was erratic as a junior, has developed into a more consistent passer this year. The Oilers meet Paramount, a finalist in the divisional playoffs for three consecutive years, in a nonleague game in the ninth week of the season. Pascoe says goals include upsetting Edison and Marina and playing for the top spot in the league.

Marina

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 6-4 3-3

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Dave Thompson 58-32-4

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 5 6

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR David Anderson, 6-1, 160 WR FS Sr. Mike Darling, 6-0, 173 TE DE Sr. Chris Della Croce, 5-10, 155 QB DB Sr. Greg Escamilla, 6-0, 210 C -- Sr. Robert Fiesler, 6-0, 215 FB LB Sr. Chad Henderson, 5-10, 210 OG DE Sr. John Housman, 6-5, 250 OT -- Sr. Steve Jackson, 5-11, 186 WR SS Sr. John McLeod, 5-11, 220 OG DE Sr. Ingmar Northcott, 5-11, 235 -- DT Sr. Bob Stewart, 5-11, 215 OG LB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Tim Donegan, 5-7, 135 WR DB Jr. Mark Mahone, 5-10, 150 WR -- Sr. John Marvos, 5-9, 165 FB LB Jr. Donny McMahan, 5-8, 140 PK -- Sr. Greg Sato, 5-8, 170 -- LB Jr.

OUTLOOK

Only a loss to previously winless Fountain Valley in the final game of the season kept Marina out of the playoffs last year. “We could have easily been 8-2 and going to the playoffs,” Thompson said. “Our opener against Los Alamitos could have gone either way and we failed to score on first and goal at the two-yard line against Fountain Valley.” At defensive tackle, Northcott set the school’s single-season sack record last year with 10 and is closing in on Tyrone Youngblood’s career mark of 16. Defensive end McLeod is the younger brother of former all-county linebacker David McLeod (Class of ‘89). Future Dept.: Thompson calls freshman quarterback Matt Roberson, “the best-looking young thrower that I’ve coached in 20 years.”

Ocean View

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 5-4-1 3-2-1

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Howard Isom 12-8-1

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 2 3

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Joel Campbell, 6-2, 255 OL DL Sr. Albert Fanoga, 6-1, 195 QB FS Sr. Joe Fraser, 6-1, 205 QB LB Sr. Eric Hatfield, 6-0, 190 FB DL Sr. Russ Keller, 6-0, 255 OL DL Sr. Chris Muat, 6-0, 200 OL DL Sr. Peter Ohm, 5-10, 180 WR DB Sr. Shawn Park, 6-2, 255 OL DL Sr. Robert Romine, 6-0, 235 OL DL Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Gabe Bullo, 6-0, 200 TE LB Jr. Mike Coerper, 6-2, 200 WR LB Jr. Jamal Hills, 5-8, 150 WR DB So. Scott Park, 6-1, 210 FB LB Jr. Kyle Simpson, 6-3, 235 OL LB Jr. Mark Wersching, 6-0, 210 OL LB Jr.

OUTLOOK

The Seahawks are the youngest team in the league with 10 juniors and a sophomore among the starters. The most impressive underclassman is Park, a 215-pound junior fullback with good speed. Another speedster in the backfield will be Coerper, the league’s track sprint champion as a sophomore. Fanoga, a two-year starter at wide receiver, has been moved to quarterback to provide leadership. “He’ll be doing everything but selling popcorn for us,” Isom said. “He makes things happen. One area we were concerned about was leadership with such a young team, but Albert has come on very strong.” Ocean View has reached the playoffs two consecutive years, but Isom was disappointed when only 35 players reported to camp. “I don’t know what else to do to get kids interested,” Isom said.

Santa Ana

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 3-7 2-4

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Dick Hill 191-82-3

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 6 5

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Jorge Avalos, 6-1, 225 OT DT Jr. Terry Annu, 6-0, 180 SB SS Sr. Mike Boyd, 5-10, 160 SE DB Sr. Armando Gonzalez, 5-10, 190 FB LB Sr. Tommy Gray, 6-1, 225 OG DT Sr. Horacio Guerra, 5-10, 150 SE DB Sr. Rudy Orejel, 6-2, 200 TE DE Sr. Kevin Pola, 6-0, 220 TB LB Sr. Adrian Rios, 5-10, 160 SE CB Sr. Jaime Rivas, 5-7, 240 OG MG Sr. Alonzo Ruiz, 6-0, 185 FB LB Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Jose Aguilar, 5-9, 160 TB CB Jr. Albert Castruita, 6-1, 170 QB FS Jr. Mark Fausto, 6-0, 160 QB FS So. Joey Martinez, 5-10, 170 QB -- Sr.

OUTLOOK

Hill, dean of Orange County coaches, returns for his 38th year in coaching. Hill is tied with former Loara Coach Herb Hill for most career victories (191) in county coaching history. Hill has a career mark of 191-82-3 coaching at Santa Ana and Santa Ana Valley and won 27 more games at Downey High. Santa Ana slumped to a 3-7 record last year but this could be one of Hill’s best teams in 11 seasons at Santa Ana. “We can be a great team,” Hill said. “We have some players going both ways, which could create some problems.” Annu, a slot back/safety, Gray, a two-way lineman, and Pola, a fullback/linebacker, are quality players. Sophomore quarterback Fausto will be the key to the Saints’ success. Fausto is coming off an excellent summer passing season.

Westminster

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 5-5-1 4-1-1

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Stan Clark 16-26-1

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 5 6

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Matt Bailey, 6-1, 175 RB DB Sr. Robert Besanson, 5-11, 165 WR DB Sr. Bill Cathey, 6-1, 205 TE DE Sr. Christian Moore, 5-11, 170 WR DB Sr. Howard Tafua, 6-2, 310 OT DT Sr. Robert Vasquez, 6-3, 260 OT DT Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR John Mahurien, 5-11, 185 QB DB Jr. Tony Shallah, 6-1, 260 OL DL So. Jared Wells, 6-2, 165 QB DB Jr.

OUTLOOK

Clark insisted each player learn an offensive and defensive position, because there are only 40 players on the squad. Nine players will go both ways for the Lions. “We’re going to have to be real skillful with our substitutions,” Clark said. “I think our first 11 can play with anybody.” Westminster’s depth was diluted when two wide receivers quit to concentrate on baseball and several other players were declared academically ineligible, Clark said. Last year’s starting quarterback, Bailey, has been moved to running back and his backup, Mahurien, will start. Mahurien, who throws the ball better than Bailey, played a few minutes at quarterback in every game as a sophomore and started one game. Westminster’s newcomers are up from a sophomore team that tied Edison for the league title. “We have a good class of juniors,” Clark said. Westminster ran the veer offense last year and Clark said he’ll “keep with it to a certain extent this season.” The most experienced player on the team is Moore, a returning all-league defensive back who is starting his third season.