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

FOOTHILL LEAGUE

Burbank COACH: Randy Stage, 5th season LAST SEASON: 6-5; 3rd in league, 3-2 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Burbank is coming off its best season since 1988, when the Bulldogs went 7-4, and they could be better this year, although it might not be evident in their record because of an upgraded schedule and league. Senior defensive end Rod Blythe (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) is an NCAA Division I prospect and a key member of a solid defense. Defensive tackle Sal Valadez (6-3, 230), inside linebackers Jeff Lamoureaux (6-1, 205) and Kevin Kleidon (6-2, 210), and defensive back Brian Cyphers (5-11, 190) were all-league second-team selections as juniors. Junior Brian Allado (6-0, 220) and senior Matt Margolis (6-0, 250) will alternate at nose tackle. Burbank also might rotate players at quarterback with senior Kendrick Lewis (5-10, 185) running the option and the I formation, and junior Brian Casey (6-2, 170) directing a pass-oriented attack. Lewis, who also will play free safety, will be a two-way starter, as will junior tight end-defensive end Willie Perryman (6-3, 200). Seniors Steve Hall (6-1, 180) and Hector Valencia (6-0, 200) are expected to be the Bulldogs’ top receivers with all-league kicker Alfonso Velasco returning for his junior season. OUTLOOK: “This is the best team we’ve had here in 10 years,” Stage said. “But it’s probably our hardest schedule in 10 years too. We could go anywhere from 7-3 to 3-7, depending on how things break for us.”

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Burroughs COACHES: Marty Garrison, Jay Gudzin, 1st season LAST SEASON: 1-8-1, tied for 4th in league, 1-3-1 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Garrison and Gudzin take over a program that has become progressively worse since posting a 12-2 record and advancing to the Northwestern Conference title game in 1987, but they are optimistic. Junior offensive-defensive tackle Mike Reily (6-3, 275) is the top player and the only returning all-league selection. He is one of four players who will be asked to start on offense and defense. The others are tailback-defensive back Dylan Washausen (5-9, 165), wide receiver-defensive back Richie Parra (5-9, 155), and tight end-defensive tackle Theo Busse (6-0, 200). Junior Jimmy Thompson (6-1, 165), who rushed for 400 yards at the junior varsity level last year, is loaded with potential, according to Garrison. Seniors Richard Flores (5-10, 170) and Jason Arnold (6-2, 205) will battle for the quarterback job. Ken Bess (6-3, 220) is a returning starter at offensive tackle. Seniors Matt Ayon (5-10, 200) and Eric Moon (5-10, 235) will start at defensive tackle and offensive guard, respectively. OUTLOOK: “I feel our defense is in pretty good shape, but our offense is very inexperienced,” Gudzin said.

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Canyon COACH: Harry Welch, 11th season LAST SEASON: 6-6; tied for 3rd in Golden League, 3-2 PLAYERS TO WATCH: With only five returning starters (one on defense), Welch calls this his “greenest” squad. Despite the Cowboys’ inexperience, they should have a potent rushing attack behind Ed Williams (5-9, 156), who is returning for his junior season. Williams rushed for 1,554 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, and he will be running behind a line with three returning starters in senior tackle Calvin McNeal (6-2, 222), junior tackle David Pratchard (6-4 1/2, 258) and senior center Brian Scheffler (5-11, 180). Sophomore guard Mark Manskar (6-5 3/4, 225), and junior guard Tito Soto (5-10, 190) and junior tight end Ben Fields (6-1, 195) fill out what should be the Cowboys’ biggest strength. Senior Sean McDermott (5-10, 176), a transfer from Burroughs High, will join Williams in the backfield, and Welch hopes to also utilize him as a receiver for junior quarterback Sean Connelly (6-1, 170). Senior inside linebacker Chad Brown (6-1, 205) is the lone returning starter on defense. OUTLOOK: “I don’t know about this team,” Welch said. “A lot of kids have to grow up and play well. If we do that, we should have a good season. If we put it together, we’ll be a very competitive football team.”

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Hart COACH: Mike Herrington, 4th season LAST SEASON: 9-4; 1st in league, 5-0 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Davis Delmatoff (6-1, 190), who had 25 receptions for eight touchdowns as a wide receiver last year, will take over at quarterback for the graduated Ryan Connors, who passed for 39 touchdowns and a Southern Section record of 4,144 yards last season. “We don’t expect to drop off any with Ryan gone,” Herrington said. “We expect to just keep moving along.” Senior running back Deriek Charles (5-9, 170), the team’s leading rusher (494 yards), receiver (85 receptions for 1,090 yards) and scorer (21 touchdowns) last season, and senior wide receiver Jared Halverson (33 catches for 337 yards) are the other returning offensive starters. Senior Kai Chauncey (5-9, 170), a transfer from El Segundo High, and juniors Soren Halladay (6-2, 170), Cameron Perry (5-8, 160), and Jason Medearis (6-1, 180) will add depth to the receiving corps. Halladay also will start at strong safety. Nathan Thompson (6-6, 245) started at defensive tackle as a junior but is expected to anchor the offensive line at tackle. A porous defense, particularly against the run, was the Achilles’ heel of a young defense last year, but with seven starters returning, inexperience should not be a problem. Senior middle linebacker Travis Rappleye (5-8, 180) and senior defensive lineman Ryan Hourigan (6-3, 230) are expected to be standouts. OUTLOOK: “If we can keep the offense as productive as it’s been in the last few years, and tighten up the defense, we should be in pretty good shape,” Herrington said.

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Saugus COACH: Jack Bowman, 2nd season LAST SEASON: 6-5; tied for 3rd in Golden League, 3-2 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Centurions had their first winning season since 1984 last year, and several talented starters return, including senior quarterback Bobby Cowan (6-1, 182), who threw for 1,607 yards and 10 touchdowns, and junior running back Chris Johnson (6-1, 211), who gained a team-high 744 yards. Shawn Stewart (6-4, 280), an All-Division I selection last year and preseason All-American center, and guards Troy White (5-11, 218) and Mike Watner (6-2, 215) are returning senior starters. Senior wideout Jibri Hodge (5-9, 155) and senior tight end Scott Himes (6-0, 183) should be the Centurions’ leading receivers, and the seniors also will start at defensive back and linebacker, respectively. The line appears to be the defense’s strength, led by junior tackle Matt Speranza (6-2, 245), senior tackle James Walker (6-2, 210), and senior end Eric Tapia (6-0, 195). Senior transfers Jason Ebertson (6-2, 230) and Chris New (6-2, 215) are expected to make an impact. Ebertson, from Ohio, will start at offensive tackle. Former Oregonian New will start at linebacker and could be the best defensive player. OUTLOOK: “The biggest strength of our team is that we have a lot of good skill people on offense,” Bowman said. “And our defensive line is very good too.”