FOOTBALL ’92 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: CITY SECTION / SOUTHERN SECTION : NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE : TEAM CAPSULES

WEST VALLEY LEAGUE (3-A)

Chatsworth COACH: Myron Gibford, 14th season LAST SEASON: 9-5; 1st in league, 4-3 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Many players have departed from last year’s surprise team that reached the City Section 3-A Division final for the first time since 1979. Senior center Tim Kobata (6-foot-2, 205), who also will start at linebacker this season, is the only returning starter on offense. Senior Rozheh Nahapetian (5-6, 195), an all-conference defensive tackle and “our No. 1 man,” Gibford said, also will start at tailback. Senior linebacker Frankie Jaramillo (6-0, 200) and senior defensive end Henry Landaverde (6-2, 210) are returning starters. Senior quarterback David Muir (5-10, 155) started two games last season and passed for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Senior linebacker Justin Simpson (6-2, 190), who sustained a season-ending knee injury in the first game last season, has recovered. Senior Nestor Davila (5-10, 170) caught 19 passes for 340 yards last season before becoming academically ineligible after six games. Senior Danny Batsalkin (5-10, 170) led the B team in receiving last season. Senior defensive tackle Josh Arce (6-2, 200), senior two-way lineman Michael Toren (6-2, 190) and junior offensive tackle David Fajardo (5-10, 215), one of the few juniors on this year’s roster, were varsity reserves last year. Senior offensive tackle Jack Arciniega (6-0, 240), who did not play last season, could emerge as an outstanding lineman. Senior Doug Sidwell (5-10, 180), off the baseball team, enters his first year of football and will be the kicker. OUTLOOK: “The big five,” as Gibford refers to the team’s nucleus, “is as solid as I’ve ever had.” However, the Chancellors lost virtually all their skill-position players from last season and most of their offensive line. Without standouts at tailback and quarterback, Chatsworth is unlikely to repeat as league champion.

*

Cleveland COACH: Everett Macy, 2nd season LAST SEASON: 1-8; 3rd in league, 1-6 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Jachin Jenkins (6-1, 175), who started the second half of last season and passed for 114 yards and one touchdown, remains the starting quarterback. Senior tailback Coron Lewis (5-9, 175) started part time last season and rushed for 306 yards and one touchdown. With a much-improved Lewis, Macy said, the Cavaliers will run often behind mammoth offensive tackle Juan Lopez (6-5, 295), a senior with good speed. Junior center Phil Hladky (5-10, 180) is a returning starter and another exceptional blocker. Senior Miguel Rivera (6-1, 190), who averaged 40 yards a punt, also will play tight end and linebacker. Sophomore guard Josh Rhoades (5-10, 190), up from the B team, and senior defensive lineman Javier Anguiano (5-10, 230) are the strongest players. Senior Dionza Blue (6-2, 185), a transfer from Monroe, will play wide receiver and defensive back. Senior wide receiver Derrick Dumas (5-8, 160), a varsity reserve last season, is fast and a good jumper. On defense, senior outside linebackers Ty Washington (6-0, 185) and Darnel Goodman (5-10, 180) and senior defensive back Jeron Rolison (6-0, 180) are returning starters. Sophomore linebacker Jerome Taylor (6-0, 185) played on the B team. Sophomore defensive back Russell Burwell (5-8, 160) is the brother of former Cleveland tailback and 1989 graduate Sean Burwell. OUTLOOK: Macy is hopeful last year’s predominantly young team will emerge as seasoned seniors. “We’re installing our work ethic in our program and we’re going to be improved,” Macy said. Cleveland should have a better-than-average running attack, but the lines on both sides of the line of scrimmage are a big question mark.

*

Reseda COACH: Joel Schaeffer, 15th season LAST SEASON: 5-6; 2nd in league, 3-4 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Schaeffer has his work cut out for him. Besides being young and inexperienced, the Regents lack depth. Nine players will play both offense and defense. The brightest light at the end of Schaeffer’s tunnel is senior kicker Gerald Cohl (5-6, 160), a two-time All-City selection. In his two-year career, Cohl has converted 37 of 43 point-after attempts and kicked 14 field goals, including one of 47 yards as a sophomore. “He’s kicked them over 55 yards in practice,” Schaeffer said. Senior John Buckley (6-3, 195) and junior DeWayne Johnson (5-10, 165) are the only returning starters. Buckley will start at linebacker and tight end. Johnson, who rushed for 116 yards in 23 carries last season, returns at defensive back and tailback. Senior Isaac Diaz (6-1, 225) will go both ways at tackle. Junior Travion Trammel (6-0, 205), who was too young to play varsity last year, hopes to make an impact at fullback and linebacker. Junior Reggie James (5-9, 160), a transfer from Inglewood, appears to be the front-runner for the quarterback position. Giving James competition for the job is sophomore Nilson (Red) Espana (6-2, 195). At center and linebacker is junior Mike Zaffuto (5-11, 200), whom Schaeffer “expects a lot from.” OUTLOOK: Depth is Schaeffer’s biggest worry. “I might even try to sneak in there myself,” he said. Reseda was outgained by an average of 100 yards a game last season. With so many newcomers in the skill positions, that average does not figure to diminish much. “They’re enthusiastic, but they’re not as good ability-wise as I have had in the past two years,” he said.

*

Taft COACH: Troy Starr, 1st season LAST SEASON: 1-8; 5th in league, 1-6 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Toreadors will sink or swim with a young but talented offensive backfield. Junior quarterback Mike Ferguson (5-10, 160) is a converted wide receiver who spent last season with the varsity. Junior fullback Dion Patton (5-10, 175) rushed for more than 600 yards last season as a part-timer. Sophomore tailback Jerry Brown (5-11, 165) a half-brother of former USC tailback Charles White and an uncle of former Crespi tailback Russell White, “is the real thing,” Starr said. They will run behind offensive tackles Joey Rothman (6-3, 220), all-league as a sophomore last season, and senior Tom Meier (6-0, 215), also a returning starter. Senior center Darian Shimy (5-11, 205) also is a returning starter. Starr is very high on sophomores Dion Gaston (6-2, 220), who will play tight end, and Dayon Shaw (5-11, 150), a wide receiver. Together with Brown, “I’ve got three sophomores who are potential blue-chippers,” Starr said. On defense, senior free safety Randy Shelton (5-8, 170), senior cornerback Alim Ball (5-9, 160) and junior inside linebacker Leo Robateau (5-11, 210) are returning starters. Senior outside linebacker Aldon Bordenave (5-10 210) is entering his third varsity season as a starter. Junior defensive back Ben Peiny (5-9, 150) and junior defensive lineman Jonathan Johnson (6-3, 215) were varsity reserves. Strong safety Deshon Polk (6-3, 180) is another talented sophomore. OUTLOOK: With Taft possessing plenty of young talent, the future looks bright. Starr, an assistant at San Fernando the past four years, figures the Toreadors will run and pass well. Taft won the Cal Lutheran passing tournament during the summer, and, if Patton and Brown turn out to be as good as advertised, the Toreadors should be an offensive power.