HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW : At Ventura High, Three of a Kind Makes Full House

Everyone knows three of a kind beats a pair. Which means a Channel League title could be in the cards for Ventura High.

Only a handful of top running backs return this season in the eight-team league. Three of the best are in Ventura’s backfield. And teams with traditional two-back offenses will have their hands full trying to keep up with Ventura’s three-back attack that features seniors Derek Swafford and Devon Passno and junior Jake Kochel.

All are experienced ballcarriers. Swafford (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) enters his third season as starting tailback after consecutive years of rushing for more than 1,000 yards. Passno (5-11, 195), the fullback, last season rushed for 997 yards and 14 touchdowns. Kochel (5-11, 190), son of Ventura Coach Harvey Kochel, rushed for 426 yards and six touchdowns as a backup at both positions.

“With three running backs back with the varsity, we feel running will be one of the strong things we’ll do,” Harvey Kochel said.

The trio will operate much the same way as last season. However, Swafford, who said he is itching to run the option, is expected to shift to quarterback for some series, allowing Kochel to come in at tailback.

The result: A full-house backfield that many league coaches say makes Ventura a hands-down favorite to run away with the league race.

“I would lean toward Ventura because of their depth in the backfield,” Santa Barbara Coach Manuel (Lito) Garcia said. “They’ve got so many backs, they don’t know what to do with them. It’s a nice dilemma to have.”

Swafford has it all figured.

“I’m going to jump in everywhere,” said Swafford, who rushed for 1,016 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. “I know our offense so well, I can run it. We’ll be a rare passing team. We’re going to run everywhere. We’ve got runners who can run inside and go outside. No one is going to stop us.”

Ventura’s toughest challenge likely will come from Buena, which tied the Cougars for the league title last season with a 6-1 record.

The Bulldogs’ answer to Ventura’s full-house backfield is junior tailback George Keiaho, who is one of a kind.

Last season, Keiaho (5-10, 200) rushed for 1,443 yards and 21 touchdowns and was named Cal-Hi state sophomore player of the year. In 1990, Keiaho rushed for 1,134 yards, becoming the first freshman in state history to break the 1,000-yard barrier.

“He’s the closest thing to Barry Sanders (of the Detroit Lions) you’ll see in high school,” Buena Coach Rick Scott said. “He should have an even better year this year.”

Oxnard also should have a strong running game with the return of senior quarterback Larry Bumpus (5-11, 170), who last season rushed for 492 yards--second-most among league quarterbacks--and eight touchdowns. Senior running back Lloyd Mix (5-10, 190), who rushed for 532 yards after gaining eligibility with three games left last season, poses an additional threat.

“We’ll be 50-50,” Oxnard Coach Jack Davis said. “We’ll run and throw.”

Santa Barbara’s Ray Walker (5-10, 170) returns at tailback. However, every other team will rely on a new group of ballcarriers.

Ventura’s only problem might be making sure there are enough handoffs to go around.

“I hope there will be,” Passno said. “I like to get about 15 (carries) a game. That was my average last year. I have some plays where I can get outside and Derek can be used as a receiver. We’ll see.”

CHANNEL LEAGUE

FINAL 1991 STANDINGS PROJECTED FINISH Buena 8-3, 6-1 Ventura Ventura 9-2, 6-1 Buena San Marcos 5-6, 5-2 Santa Barbara Rio Mesa 8-4, 4-3 San Marcos Oxnard 6-4, 3-4 Oxnard Santa Barbara 3-4, 4-6 Rio Mesa Dos Pueblos 1-9, 1-6 Dos Pueblos Hueneme 0-10, 0-7 Hueneme

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Player School Pos. Ht Wt Class George Keiaho Buena TB 5-10 200 Jr. Brian Williams Buena OT 6-4 245 Jr. David Andrade Hueneme QB 6-3 190 Sr. Larry Bumpus Oxnard QB 5-11 170 Sr. Jim Starr Rio Mesa G-DT 6-1 215 Sr. Derek Swafford Ventura TB 5-11 175 Sr. Devon Passno Ventura WR 5-11 195 Sr. Dan LaGreca San Marcos QB 6-0 170 Sr. Dustin Spencer Santa Barbara QB 6-1 175 Sr. Torlando Bolden Santa Barbara WR 6-3 180 Jr.