FOOTBALL ’92 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: SOUTHERN SECTION : TEAM CAPSULES

MARMONTE LEAGUE

Agoura COACH: Frank Greminger, 23rd season LAST SEASON: 2-8; 8th in league, 0-7 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Entering its third season in the Marmonte League, Agoura might find the going tougher than ever. Most of last year’s team has graduated, leaving an inexperienced and undersized roster composed largely of two-way players. The bright spot on offense is senior quarterback Jason Warren (6-foot-3, 190 pounds), who started three games last season and threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Warren has natural talent and is improving rapidly, Greminger said, but will be forced to start in the secondary too. Senior tailback Scott Mitchell (5-10, 170) rushed for 346 yards last season while battling injuries. The only returning starters are senior two-way tackle Mike Steusses (6-2, 230), senior wide receiver Josh Gunther (5-11, 170) and senior guard John Burris (6-1, 190). Gunther will play defensive back, Burris on the defensive line. “We’ve got about three people in every two-way position,” Greminger said. “They’ll go two-way, but we’ll rotate some.” Senior outside linebacker John Todd (5-10, 180) also will be a reserve fullback. Junior Damon Blechen (6-1, 190), the best linebacker on the sophomore team last year, will double as tight end. Junior David Carriea (5-11, 195), also up from the sophomore team, will play inside linebacker and offensive tackle. Senior wide receiver-defensive back Evan Sanchez (5-9, 140), a part-time starter last season, is quick. OUTLOOK: Lack of depth is the Chargers’ biggest weakness. Many league teams are improved and Agoura does not measure up in talent. “The league is probably the strongest it’s been since we’ve been here,” Greminger said. If the Chargers have a strength, it’s team speed--better than last season’s.

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Camarillo COACH: Carl Thompson, 8th season LAST SEASON: 5-5; 5th in league, 3-4 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Camarillo will switch to a wing T offense, its third offensive scheme in as many seasons. “It’s the first time we’ve ever had this much speed,” Thompson said. “We’ll take advantage of everybody.” Speedy senior tailback Fahali Campbell (5-10, 170), who rushed for 1,013 yards and five touchdowns last season, is the top weapon. Junior running backs Ryan Joyce (5-11, 170), the junior varsity’s leading rusher last season, and Robert Smith (5-9, 185) will see plenty of action. Junior quarterback Jim Hansen (6-4, 175), who started every down last season and passed for 639 yards, has a lot of raw talent. However, Thompson is impressed with junior Jay Nirenberg (6-3, 180), last year’s junior varsity quarterback, and has yet to name a starter. Senior tight end Scott Tucker (6-4, 220) caught five passes for 147 yards as a flanker last season. Junior guard Ethan Edmonds (6-2, 240) and senior center Jeremie Spatz (6-0, 205) are returning starters. Tackle Brock Elder (6-4, 270) missed most of last season because of an ankle injury. Returning all-league senior linebacker John Freedman (6-2, 210), a three-year starter, and senior nose guard Jason Sandel (6-1, 215), one of the fastest linemen in the league, anchor the defense. Campbell, Joyce and Smith all are expected to start in the secondary. Junior Bennett Wutkee (5-10, 160), a three-sport athlete up from the junior varsity, completes the foursome. Kicker Lee Ciuffitelli, a senior, booted six field goals last season--two longer than 40 yards, including one of 48 yards in the final seconds to defeat San Marcos. OUTLOOK: Players immediately took to the wing T during spring practice, Thompson said. Whether the new offense flies on the field is a question mark. “We’re very enthused about it,” Thompson said. “We’ll do a lot of faking and things like that.”

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Channel Islands COACH: Joel Gershon, 19th season LAST SEASON: 2-8; 7th in league, 1-6 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Raiders will adopt a single-back “spread offense,” Gershon said, that resembles the run-and-shoot. Junior quarterback Mike Mariz (5-10, 165) passed for 307 yards last season after earning the starting job in midseason. Wide receivers include seniors Cesar Puga (5-11, 165), Oscar Padilla (5-8, 140) and Josh Babauta (6-0, 175). Puga played quarterback last season, throwing for 765 yards. Senior Glen Douet (6-2, 192), a starting free safety last season, will play slotback, and senior Peter Mendez (6-2, 205), a starting defensive end last year, will play tight end. Junior Raul Raya (5-10, 195), promoted from the junior varsity, also will play tight end. The fullback is senior Sal Lopez (5-9, 172), with senior Brian Ortiz (5-9, 167) in reserve. All are exciting skill-position players, Gershon said. Many starters return on both offense and defense. Among them is senior tackle Vince Serrano (6-3, 260), the team’s best college prospect, Gershon said. Others include senior center Gilbert Lamos (5-10, 235) and senior guard Gus Serrano (5-9, 205), and junior guard Mike Fisher (5-11, 245). Mendez heads a list of seven returning starters on defense. They include: senior defensive linemen David Ventura (5-11, 207) and Greg Camarillo (6-2, 240), senior inside linebacker Brian Maxion (5-11, 188) and junior inside linebacker Chris Peyton (5-11, 200), and senior outside linebackers Cesar Jimenez (5-11, 172) and Ricky Moore (5-9, 180). Senior inside linebacker Ricky Serros (6-0, 208) was a reserve last season. Sal Lopez, Babauta, Mariz and junior David Lopez (5-8, 170) compose the secondary. OUTLOOK: Gershon said that players are “intrigued” by the new offense and everyone is eager to put the plan to work. “We like our quarterback and we like our skill-position players,” Gershon said. Moreover, the Raiders have many starters returning in key positions. Channel Islands should improve.

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Newbury Park COACH: George Hurley, 3rd season LAST SEASON: 4-6; 4th in league, 4-3 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior quarterback Keith Smith (6-0, 180) and junior wide receiver Leodes Van Buren (6-1, 180) arguably are the league’s best at their positions. Smith, an unknown this time last year, passed for 2,409 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, and rushed for 342 yards and four touchdowns. Van Buren, who caught a Ventura County-leading 65 passes for 987 yards and 10 touchdowns, has exceptional hands and speed. “It’s a great combination,” Hurley said. “Obviously, we’ll run and pass.” Senior wide receiver Jason Toohey (5-9, 165), who caught 41 passes for 620 yards, has even better hands than Van Buren, Hurley said. Toohey is recovering from a broken collarbone he sustained during the summer, but Hurley said he should be ready to play. Senior Shane Smith (5-10, 170), who caught one pass last year, will play an increased role as well as start in the secondary. Junior Jason Tucker (5-10, 180), primarily a defensive back last year, also rushed for 163 yards in 30 carries. Senior Adam Greenburg (5-7, 160) rushed for 57 yards as a reserve. Junior fullback Rich Adams, a starting inside linebacker who had five carries last year, also will be used as a ballcarrier. Senior center Brad Henderson (6-3, 195) and two-way lineman James Roscoe (5-11, 190), the strongest player on the team, are returning starters on offense. Last year’s sophomore team had several good linemen, including Tony Weak (6-0, 205), Eric Masaki (5-10, 200), Jared Trefethen (6-0, 195) and Marc Davis (6-0, 205). All are more experienced on offense than defense. Junior Jason Sheiderer (6-1, 200) was the sophomore team’s best defensive lineman. Junior linebacker Justin Simo (6-0, 185) and junior defensive back Albert Reddick (5-7, 180) also played well on the sophomore team. Outside linebacker Bob Tanner (6-2, 180) missed all but three games last season because of a knee injury. Senior Matt Bovard (5-10, 170), a reserve running back last year, is the other outside linebacker. OUTLOOK: Youth and experience wedged into the same set of shoulder pads is a coach’s delight. Smith should shine, and the Panthers, who closed last season with four consecutive victories, are a legitimate threat to win the league title. “We really like our group,” Hurley said.

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Royal COACH: Gene Uebelhardt, 5th season LAST SEASON: 10-1; 1st in league, 7-0 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Last season, there was no doubt who was calling the signals. But with the departure of UCLA-bound Ryan Fien, who passed for 1,720 yards and 23 touchdowns, Matt Olsen, a 6-4, 198-pound junior, and sophomore Wes Lagotta (5-11, 165) are engaged in a battle of dueling spirals. Olsen piloted the sophomore team last season. But Lagotta, who played in a youth league last season, is talented and mature, Uebelhardt said. “They’re really neck and neck,” Uebelhardt said. Multi-threat tailback Michael Streeter (5-7, 178), a three-year starter, was the league’s second-leading rusher last season with 1,189 yards. Streeter also caught 26 passes for 340 yards, and he will be used to return punts and kickoffs. Speedy sophomore Mike Reddington (5-7, 195) rushed for more than 1,700 yards last year to lead Ventura County freshmen. Senior fullback Alie Maldonado (5-11, 195) was a reserve last season. Senior wide receivers David Brown and Ryan Campbell are 5-11, 170-pound returning starters. Tight end Sheldon Griffith (6-3, 220), who started at defensive tackle last year, is “a natural,” Uebelhardt said, and one of the league’s best athletes. Senior tackle Stuart Ae (6-3, 245) is the only returning starter up front. Senior middle linebacker Richard Wilson (6-1, 220) enters his third varsity season. Three starters return in the secondary: junior cornerback Romell Butler (6-1, 180), who had five interceptions last year, junior free safety Brian Fernandez (6-1, 185) and senior cornerback Derek Newcomb (6-2, 190), who had two interceptions. The defensive front will include Griffith and a cast of newcomers, the best of whom is junior Jason Martinez (6-0, 225). OUTLOOK: Sixteen underclassmen will start for last year’s league champion. “When you win the league title the year before, you probably had a bunch of seniors, and we had ‘em,” Uebelhardt said. “A winning season is a reasonable goal.” Most league coaches still pick the Highlanders as a team to be reckoned with.

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Simi Valley COACH: Stan Quina, 3rd season LAST SEASON: 7-4; 3rd in league, 5-2 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior quarterback Eric Bennett (6-1, 185), who passed for 2,467 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, is poised for a prolific season. “His strength has improved,” Quina said. “He’s gained about 20 pounds and cut about two-tenths of a second off his 40 time.” With a corps of experienced receivers, the Pioneers plan to do plenty of passing. Tom Herman (5-10, 170) a returning starter, caught 38 passes for 499 yards and five touchdowns despite missing five games because of a dislocated shoulder. Senior Bryan Kalbfus (5-8, 145) caught 21 passes for 312 yards and also started in the secondary. Junior fullback Jevon Markarian (5-11, 180), another returning starter, caught 29 passes for 400 yards and also rushed for 409 yards. Senior wide receiver-defensive back Aaron Whitley (5-6, 155), an All-Southern Section outfielder last spring, had 29 receptions for 191 yards. Experience is thin elsewhere. Senior tackle Brock Jones (5-10, 185) is the only returning starter on the offensive line. Senior guard Dave Fein (6-1, 215) missed last season because of a neck injury. Senior guard Joe Tharpe (6-1, 230) was a varsity reserve last season. Senior linebacker Tim Bruce (5-10, 190), who had two interceptions last year, spearheads the defense. Senior defensive back Denver Smith (5-8, 180), a starter last year, and outside linebacker Jon Brown (5-11, 200), a part-time starter, round out the experienced returnees. Strong safety Jeff Jagard (5-11, 175), a senior, is the best of last season’s reserves, Quina said. OUTLOOK: There is no shortage of talented skill-position players. The big question is whether the Pioneers can provide Bennett with the protection he will need--and whether Simi Valley can produce a pass rush of its own. The line on both sides of the ball is the only glaring weakness. Look for Simi Valley, winless two years ago, to continue to improve under Quina, last season’s Times Ventura County coach of the year.

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Thousand Oaks COACH: Bob Richards, 10th season LAST SEASON: 10-2; 2nd in league, 6-1 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Lancers always seem to have a strong offensive line, and--despite the loss of three two-year starters to graduation--this season should be no exception. Center John Norton (6-1 1/2, 265) and right tackle Eric Benson (6-2 1/2, 260), both seniors, started every game last season. Senior Oscar Acosta (6-1, 245), who started four games at defensive tackle last year, will move to offensive tackle or tight end. Juniors John Freed (6-1, 190), a guard-defensive tackle, and George McGuire (6-1, 205), who will alternate with Acosta at tackle and tight end, are the best of a good group moving up from the sophomore team. Junior defensive tackle Steve Vlasic (6-4 1/2, 220) also moves up. Senior Quincy Jacobs (5-11, 195), who rushed for 1,189 and 15 touchdowns as a fullback last season, will move to tailback, replacing the departed Corey Bowen, the league’s leading rusher last season. Junior Trevor Thompson, who joined the varsity three games into last season and passed for 272 yards and four touchdowns, returns as starting quarterback. Junior wide receiver Josh Pace (5-11, 170), who caught four passes for 37 yards last season, is a returning starter. Junior Freddie Polito (5-10, 180), who joined the varsity as a defensive end after four games last season, is the fullback. Polito rushed for 210 yards in five carries in a sophomore game. Junior wide receiver Greg Aguilar (5-11, 160) joined the varsity late last season and caught a touchdown pass in a playoff game. Junior wide receiver Matt Elam (5-9, 160) moves up from the sophomore team. The defense includes seven returning starters. Seniors Ryan Braddick (5-11, 200) and Ryan Molina (6-0, 195), a linebacker last year, are the defensive ends. Senior linebackers Kevin Krim (5-11, 195) and Manfred Wagner (6-0, 225), who will fill in at fullback, started every game last year. Senior Rob Richards (5-11, 170), the coach’s son, started part-time last season. Three-fourths of last season’s secondary returns: seniors Mac Swink (5-11, 170), Chris Barone (5-10, 155) and John Tunick (5-11, 175). Kicker Erik Kraszewski, a senior, also returns.OUTLOOK: Solid as an oak, as usual. Although Thousand Oaks missed winning its fourth consecutive league title last season by the margin of a loss to Royal, look for the Lancers to rebound. Richards, however, is cautious. “You always have more weakenesses than you think at this time,” he said. “We’ll know what they are in the preseason.” Thousand Oaks plays nonleague games against powerful Saugus, Hart and Canyon.

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Westlake COACH: Jim Benkert, 4th season LAST SEASON: 3-7; 6th in league, 2-5 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Introductions are in order. Only two starters return, one on offense and defense. Senior Rob Kaller (6-2, 270), a second-team All-Ventura County tackle last season, is among the league’s best linemen. Junior tackle Steve Merkel, promoted from the sophomore team, also is 6-2, 270 .Adding to a sizable offensive line are junior guards Jason Labarthe (6-3, 215) and Steve Sanchez (6-3, 240), both varsity newcomers. Senior center Dan DeKalb (5-10, 190) did not play last season. “For the first time in a long time, we’ll have the size up front that we’ve been playing against,” Benkert said. Senior linebacker Andrew Crisp (5-10, 200) is the other returning starter. Senior Brian Field (6-3, 160), backup quarterback last year, and junior Kevin Cook (6-3, 170), last year’s sophomore quarterback, are competing for the starting job. Junior Jeremy Bunn (6-0, 200), a transfer from Northern California, and sophomore Craig Walendy (6-0, 200), are battling at fullback. Junior Jason Bedell (5-10, 170), a three-sport athlete who rushed for more than 1,000 yards on the sophomore team, will start at tailback. Senior tight end Colby Brannan (5-10, 170) and senior wide receiver Dan Thompson (5-10, 160) were reserves last season. Sophomore Billy Miller (6-3, 200) will play wide receiver and start in the secondary. Newcomers abound on defense. Senior defensive linemen Jarrad Jenkins (6-1, 190) and Matt Matzkin (6-2, 200) were reserves last season. Junior linebackers Mike Talbot (6-0, 200) and Mike Tetzlaff (6-3, 210), junior defensive tackles Brady Willmon (6-1, 215) and John Minitello (6-1, 220), and junior defensive back Brandon Zimmerman (5-10, 170) all move up from the sophomore team. Senior defensive back Bobby Bogle (5-10, 165) sat out last season because of a broken collarbone and junior defensive back Jim Krejci (5-10, 190) is recovering from a broken collarbone. OUTLOOK: With only 10 seniors on a roster of 44, Westlake is rebuilding. “We’re going to be inexperienced with a capital I,” Benkert said. The good news is that the Warriors’ sophomore team was 8-2 last season and defeated Thousand Oaks, 7-3, for the league title. The freshmen were 8-1-1. “We could be a year away,” Benkert said. The Warriors will have to mature quickly. They have preseason games against Buena, Ventura and Hart before league games against Thousand Oaks and Royal.