FOOTBALL ’92 : THE COLLEGES: CAL LUTHERAN / CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE : Cal Lutheran Girds for Challenge of SCIAC

After stints in the Western Football Conference, NAIA and as a Division III independent, Cal Lutheran finds itself in another league to call its own, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

“(Being in the SCIAC) adds a little motivation for our players,” said Coach Joe Harper, whose team will open at home Sept. 12 against Pomona-Pitzer. “It gives us a specific goal to shoot for.”

A title in their first year in the conference might not be too high a goal for the Kingsmen to shoot for. Cal Lutheran was 4-1 against SCIAC opponents last season, including a 21-10 victory over conference champion Redlands. Cal Lutheran finished 5-5, its first non-losing season since 1985.

“I never like to make predictions until you go out to do it,” Harper said. “We’ve competed against these people and had some success and had our stumbling situations. It will be very competitive and we should be in the hunt.”

The catalysts for most of the Kingsmen’s offensive success return. Cassidy O’Sullivan, a senior tailback, rushed for 990 yards in 1991, the second-highest total in school history.

O’Sullivan is among four Cal Lutheran players selected as preseason All-Americans by one preseason publication.

Freshmen Ivan Moreno and Nate Olsen figure to play fullback.

Unlike in Harper’s first two years, Cal Lutheran enters the season settled at quarterback. Adam Hacker again will start. As a freshman, he threw for 1,084 yards.

Wide receivers Len Bradley (16 receptions), Rob Caulfield (11) and Tom Helmer (10) return, as does tight end Scott Wheeler, who made 32 receptions. Roger Morante, a freshman wide receiver from Santa Ana Mater Dei, could be another target.

Protecting Hacker and opening holes for O’Sullivan is a line with three returning starters, tackle Mike Clark, guard John Albert and center Ben McEnroe. Mike Salka, a guard who played at Ventura College and last year for Cal State Long Beach’s now-defunct Division I program, and Carlos Jovel are among the newcomers seeking the other two starting positions.

Cal Lutheran is rebuilding on defense. Tackle Tom Pellegrino and linebacker Chris Sestito (both preseason All-Americans) are the only returning starters among the front eight. T.J. Lawless, a starter at offensive tackle in 1991, has been shifted to defensive tackle.

The defensive backfield figures to be in better shape with returning starters Cory Undlin and John Wilson. Pete Pistone, a preseason All-American who averaged 38.2 yards a punt last season, returns.

Ben Schuldheisz, a transfer from Concordia College in Portland or Sam Cooper (Harvard-Westlake High) will kick.