Carson Is Hopeful of a Return to Prominence, Not Problems : High schools: After a nightmarish 6-5-1 season in 1991, the Colts open 1992 with a national ranking and new attitude.

Marty Blankenship knew it wouldn’t be easy. Succeeding a legend never is.

Before the start of the 1991 football season, Blankenship talked about the pitfalls he and co-Coach Jim D’Amore would encounter replacing Gene Vollnogle at Carson High. Vollnogle guided the Colts to eight City Section titles and a 235-66-1 record in 28 seasons before retiring in 1990.

“If we win, people are going to say it’s Gene’s team,” Blankenship said. “If we lose, they’re going to say, ‘Look what happened.’ ”

After Carson finished 6-5-1 last season--its most losses since 1968--people were asking, “What happened?” The Colts, although inexperienced, were a talented team that fell far short of expectations.

“We shouldn’t have lost a game last year,” said D’Amore, the longtime Carson defensive coordinator who decided not to return to the coaching staff.

With the transition season behind him, Blankenship is confident the Colts, ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today, will solve their problems and return to prominence in 1992. They open the season at 7:30 Friday night at Mt. Carmel of San Diego.

Blankenship said Carson’s troubles in 1991 ranged from coaching miscalculations to the poor attitudes of some players. Included in that group, Blankenship said, was lightning-quick running back Damin Hurst, who transferred to Banning two weeks ago after several run-ins with Carson coaches.

“We had a few bad apples on the team,” Blankenship said. “They ruined what we needed to do. This year we’re not going to let bad attitudes happen. They won’t be around. We have guys who want to come back and win.”

Perhaps no Carson player wants to win more than senior quarterback Jamie Sander. As a junior, Sander had an inconsistent season. He passed for 1,912 yards--the fourth-best total in the South Bay--but he threw 19 interceptions, compared to 13 touchdowns, and fumbled 13 times, losing six.

In an effort to reduce the margin for error, Blankenship has scaled down Carson’s double-slot passing offense that produced an undesirable balanced attack last season of 19 interceptions and 19 fumbles lost.

“The offense will be a blend of things that (Sander) can do without the high risk of costly mistakes,” Blankenship said. “Last year it was sink or swim. When you start making mistakes, it’s kind of hard to build your morale and confidence.”

In other words, look for Carson to run the ball more often, at least until Sander establishes his confidence.

“The (double-slot) offense is not out of the picture, but it’s not going to be our bread and butter,” Blankenship said.

Relying more on the running game could result in a big year for Robert Johnson, the Colts’ fullback last season. Johnson has been moved to tailback and is expected to increase his carries. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior ranked second on the team with 223 yards rushing in 46 carries last season.

The offensive line is big and experienced with three returning starters, led by tackle Jesse Misaalefua (6-3, 285) and guard Gamiel Edmerson (6-2, 235), both All-Pacific League selections in 1991. Tight end James Pepe (6-3, 220), another returning starter, is considered one of Carson’s top college prospects.

Defensively, the Colts appear as sound as ever. Six starters return, including five all-league players: middle linebacker Sipo’u Mareko (6-0, 250), who played tackle last season; end Lomitusi Fa’avae (5-11, 245), outside linebacker Chris Vaimilli (6-1, 220), strong safety Dion Brumfield (6-1, 180), and Aaron Jackson (6-1, 220), who is being moved from linebacker to free safety. Brumfield led the team with five interceptions and ranked second with 101 tackles last season.

In all, Carson returns 12 starters from the 1991 team that lost in the 4-A Division quarterfinals to Banning and failed to reach a City final for the first time since 1980.

Several juniors from last season’s unbeaten B team also are expected to contribute. Myron Mailo (5-10, 200) will probably start at fullback and Tony Harvey (6-3, 180) will play wide receiver and back up Sander at quarterback.

Another highly touted junior is defensive tackle Sonny Thompson (6-0, 230), a transfer from Arkansas and the son of former Washington State and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jack Thompson, who was known as the “Throwin’ Samoan.”

“We had talent last year, but we didn’t have the talent we have this year,” Blankenship said. “We’re deeper at every position.”

Despite possessing depth and talent, Blankenship was surprised that Carson was ranked No. 2 in the nation last week by USA Today.

“The whole world is wondering how a 6-5 team got in there,” he said. “Time will tell if we deserve it.”