CITY EASTERN LEAGUE PREVIEW : Pointers Will Have Little Competition

Point Loma. That’s the answer offered second most often when the question is asked, “Who will win the City Eastern League football championship?”

The No. 1 response is something along the lines of “Who cares?”

Indeed. When a 2-1 record could mean “earning” a league banner, does it really mean anything?

But that is precisely what could happen, given that Serra has departed for the City Central League (football only) and there are only four teams remaining in the Eastern.

That’s it. Four teams. Three games apiece. Finishing third here is also next to last.

The reaction from the Big Four was unanimous.

“It’s stupid,” Mira Mesa Coach Brad Griffith said. “A four-team league? Come on. Oh well, you can’t fight city hall.”

Morse Coach John Shacklett: “It’s no longer a real league anymore. It’s awfully tough to get excited with only three league games. We’re looking more at the playoffs.”

Point Loma Coach Bennie Edens: “It’s not the best. But looking at it from Serra’s standpoint, it’s no fun to be the doormat. I think it’s much better for them. It’s not better for us, but we’ll have to play with it.”

Then again, Shacklett pointed out: “Patrick Henry shouldn’t really be in our league either, football-wise. They’re much smaller.”

Patrick Henry, once the largest school in the county, is down to about 1,400 students.

And, said Henry Coach Jerry Varner, “I thought we’d be out this year as well.”

Three teams? Why not two? That’s what the league comes down to every year anyway.

In fact, since 1986, Point Loma or Morse has won every Eastern League title, and at least one of them has advanced to the 3-A final each year, winning four of the last five years.

Though Mira Mesa has 10 consecutive winning seasons, look for this year’s champion to come from Point Loma vs. Morse, Nov. 13, last game of the regular season.

POINT LOMA POINTERS Coach: Bennie Edens, 38th year 1991 Record: 13-1, 4-0 Starters Returning: 17

Point Loma won the Section 3-A title last year behind the strength of its aggressive, but quirky, defense. The Pointers, who employ a safety to roam about 35 yards off the line of scrimmage in case someone slips through the front 10, allowed only 65 points during the regular season (second in the county) and 23 in four playoff games.

But all-county performers La’Roi Glover, David Cunningham, Micheal Driver and Pico Gonzalez are no longer around, forcing Coach Bennie Edens to plead: “Can I advertise in your paper? We need ballplayers.”

Save your money, Bennie. Every coach this side of El Camino is in far worse shape than you.

Edens relented: “If we, if , big if, we don’t get people hurt, we’ll be a very good football team . . . I don’t think we’ll be as good as last year. We can be good, if we get all barrels firing. But that team last year was awfully good, especially on defense.”

Edens’ concerns are quantity, not quality. As many as eight players could be starting on both offense and defense. They are: Rantie Harper (TB/S), Shaunta Baker (WR/S), Michael Logan (FB/LB), Ernie Garcia (OG/DE), Steve Duarte (C/DT), Robert Rabello (OT/DE), Jacques Ballard (WR/CD) and Gary Driver (TE/DL). All are seniors, as are the three other probable starters on offense--guard Carlos Saucedo, tackle Caires Ansen (a transfer from San Diego) and second-year quarterback Ben White.

Baker and Harper are among the county’s best on offense. Ballard and senior linebacker Rashad Lewis fit the same description on defense.

Point Loma’s only loss last year came in its opener, 20-0, to eventual 2-A champion El Camino. They meet again this year in week No. 1, Sept. 11, at Vista.

MORSE TIGERS Coach: John Shacklett, 22nd year 1991 Record: 7-5, 2-2 Starters Returning: 9

Morse, coming off a 14-0 season in 1990, lost more games last year than in any other since 1984 and finished third in league. They also finished with more points than any team in the county, 344, and racked up scores like 70-7 over Patrick Henry and 62-0 over Madison.

But with the exception of bruising fullback Conan Smith, the customary big names are missing this year, and Coach John Shacklett said he expects to start as many as six sophomores, including three--David Gates, Lamar Harris and Troy Loggins--on the offensive line. The others are defensive back Rashad Cook, linebacker Scott Johnson and kicker Brian Roberts.

“I’ve carried that many on the varsity before,” Shacklett said, “but this is the first time we’ll start six (sophomores). They’re good, and they’ll get better . . . We’re going to be real young, but I’m optimistic, as always.”

Those comments were made after the Tigers’ 22-20 defeat Friday of Honolulu Kamehameha, which lifted Morse’s record in Hawaii to 7-1.

Smith, a three-year starter, rushed for 83 yards and senior tailback Archie Amerson 94 yards. Each scored a touchdown, as did quarterback Ray Barnes. Major Latimer and Earl Smith, the lone senior and lone returning starter on the offensive line, were also cited for their outstanding play.

On the downside, Morse lost Jarett Loggins, a Division I prospect at either tight end or linebacker, for four to six weeks with a broken wrist. With Loggins out, Latimer, ideally a tackle, will likely move to tight end, and William Franklin will step in at tackle.

MIRA MESA MARAUDERS Coach: Brad Griffith, 16th year 1991 Record: 9-4, 3-1 Starters Returning: 5

Seemingly always one of the top defensive teams in the county, Mira Mesa will again rely on that aspect of the game until the offense learns to produce without Chad Davis.

Davis, the national career passing leader, last year led the Marauders to the semifinals, where they lost to Vista, 21-14. Mira Mesa’s other three losses were to La Jolla by one, Chula Vista by six and Point Loma by 10.

“We’ll miss Chad a lot,” offensive coordinator Rich Slater said. “He did it all. Both on and off the field, he was a true leader.”

Mike Nelson, Davis’ understudy last year, has been impressive this fall but is working behind five newcomers on the offensive line--Billy Jennings, Matt Allen, Brian Allen, Mark Loftus and Sidney Baquiren. The strengths, offensively, are the return of running backs Mike Pittman and David Lynch and tight end Josh Quinn. Chris Lilly and Alex Brown are capable receivers.

Only two starters return on defense--Joe Martell and Jamil Person--but they, along with Tim Fay, give Mira Mesa one of the best secondaries in the county. Kelly Shadburn and Rick Jackson are tough at linebacker, and Eugene Sotoa (6-0, 270) and George Moya (5-10, 230) anchor a young but good defensive line.

“If the offensive line comes through, I think we’ll be in good shape,” Coach Brad Griffith said.

PATRICK HENRY PATRIOTS Coach: Jerry Varner, 3rd year 1991 Record: 2-7-1, 0-4 Starters Returning: 10

If you can’t maul ‘em, trick ‘em. That was the thinking when Coach Jerry Varner switched to the Delaware wing-T, a run-oriented offense which relies heavily on deception. It normally takes a year or two for players to adjust to the offense, and this is the second year the Patriots will use it.

“I don’t think we’re a contender yet, but we’ll be better,” Varner said. “If we’re not 5-5 at the minimum, I’ll be disappointed.”

A trio of two-way starters are keys to the Patriots’ chances: tight end/linebacker Jason Holmes, wingback/cornerback Jay Curry and lineman Mike Campbell.

Others expected to have big seasons are sophomore fullback Ricky Williams, halfbacks John Staton and Jason Stone and free safety Marty Smith. Varner has yet to decide who will start at quarterback, Justin Gittleman, Loren Roseman or Ernie Robinson.

22 to Watch

Tops in the City Eastern League

Pos Name School Yr. TB Archie Amerson Morse Sr. OT Caires Ansen Point Loma Sr. WR Shaunta Baker Point Loma Sr. CB Jacques Ballard Point Loma Sr. QB Ray Barnes Morse Sr. OL Mike Campbell Patrick Henry Sr. DB Jay Curry Patrick Henry Sr. OG Ernie Garcia Point Loma Sr. OG David Gates Morse So. RB Rantie Harper Point Loma Sr. LB Jason Holmes Patrick Henry Sr. LB Rashad Lewis Point Loma Sr. TE Jarret Loggins Morse Sr. RB David Lynch Mira Mesa Jr. DB Joe Martell Mira Mesa Sr. QB Mike Nelson Mira Mesa Sr. DB Jamil Person Mira Mesa Sr. RB Mike Pittman Mira Mesa Sr. TE Josh Quinn Mira Mesa Sr. DE Robert Rabello Point Loma Sr. FB Conan Smith Morse Sr. QB Ben White Point Loma Sr.