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

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Calabasas

COACH: Larry Edwards, 13th season

LAST SEASON: 4-6; tied for 4th in league, 1-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: An offense that averaged 10.3 points a game and was held to 14 or fewer points eight times last season put a lot of pressure on the defense. This year should be different as six starters return on offense along with seven on defense. Edwards has so much confidence in the offensive line that he has changed from the power I to the veer as the main mode of moving the ball. Jason Rempel (6-foot-5, 265), an all-league selection as a sophomore last year, and senior Dereck Wessler (5-10, 175) lead an offensive line that includes juniors Joey Galiardi (6-3, 265), John Cipla (6-1, 235) and Terry Moran (6-2, 205) at tackle, guard and center, respectively. Senior Todd Cignarelli (5-11, 175), who took over at quarterback midway through last season, will get the call this year. Senior Scott Sistrunk (5-9, 160) will see duty at tailback, cornerback and kicker, with Rempel also starting at defensive tackle. Other two-way starters are senior fullback-defensive end Steve Malka (6-4, 220), and senior tight end-defensive end Brett Cibert (6-1, 205).

OUTLOOK: “This is one of the strongest teams I’ve ever had here,” Edwards said. “We’ve got 16 guys who have lifted 300 pounds or more in the bench-press and a slew of guys who have squatted more than 500 pounds. With our size and strength, we should be able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”

Moorpark

COACH: Rob Dearborn, 5th season

LAST SEASON: 1-9; 5th in Tri-Valley League, 0-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Musketeers opened last season with a 32-13 victory over eventual Frontier League champion Nordhoff, then lost nine in a row. Dearborn hopes that a new on-campus stadium, called the Moorpark Athletic Community Complex, will help to reverse that trend. Three starters return on offense and five on defense, led by senior Richard Hernandez (6-0, 165), who will play tailback and cornerback. The other returning offensive starters are senior fullback P.J. Johnston (5-11, 175) and senior offensive tackle Brian Carlson (6-1, 210). Senior tackles Mike Cruz (6-4, 325) and Oscar Ramirez (6-0, 185), and senior safeties Chuck Martin (5-10, 155) and Jason Livingston (5-10, 160) are the other returning starters on defense. Sophomore Jose Ceja (6-0, 155) will take over at quarterback for graduated Ryan Huisenga, who threw for 1,698 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. Junior Jared Kira (6-0, 150) is expected to be his top receiver.

OUTLOOK: “Defense is going to be our strength this year,” Dearborn said. “Last year, the opposite was true. We had a good offense, but our defense gave up a lot of yards. Hopefully, our offense will be better this year than our defense was last year.”

Nordhoff

COACH: Cliff Farrar, 6th season

LAST SEASON: 7-4, 1st in league, 4-0

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Running back Nacho Vega, the league’s offensive player of the year, graduated in June, but the offense figures to remain potent with seven returning starters. Senior quarterback Steve Saum (5-10, 180), who will be a three-year starter, threw for 761 yards and seven touchdowns to earn second-team all-league honors, and senior running back Adam Blundell (5-10, 170) was a first-team selection after rushing for 317 yards and four touchdowns. Seniors Andy Briglio (5-9, 165) and Mike York (6-1, 195) are also returning second-team picks. Briglio is a fullback and York will move to tight end after playing wide receiver last season. Blair Widdens (6-1, 200) will be a two-way starter at center-linebacker, and fellow senior Justin Monical (5-10, 215) will do double duty at offensive tackle and linebacker. Senior Robert Young (6-3, 220) will play offensive and defensive tackle, and junior Ben Churchill (6-0, 185) will start at guard and linebacker. Senior linebacker Ryan Cuthbert (6-1, 195) and junior safety James Colborn (6-0, 175) are expected to be the leaders of the defense.

OUTLOOK: “We’ve got a lot of skilled kids back on offense,” Farrar said. “We’re not real big, but we have real good team speed which can make up for a lack of size.” Lack of experience on the offensive line and in the linebacking corps are a concern to Farrar. “We lost four all-league offensive linemen and three all-league linebackers,” he said. “If we have a weakness, it’s in those areas.”

Santa Clara

COACH: Tom O’Brien, 2nd season

LAST SEASON: 3-7, tied for 4th in league, 1-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: With only seven seniors on the team, the Saints appear to be building for the future, although O’Brien expects results this year. Twins Andrew (5-10, 240) and David Faalevao (5-11, 265), and Armando Macial (5-7, 150) are returning two-way senior starters. Andrew Faalevao will play fullback and nose tackle, while David will be a tackle on both sides of the line. Macial will double at wide receiver and defensive back. Senior transfer Alex Vega (5-11, 185) and junior Albert Caranza (5-11, 168), up from the junior varsity, will battle for the quarterback job. Junior tight end Joshua Wittbeck (6-0, 202) should be an able target. Junior Sergio Haros (5-10, 175) is a returning starter at linebacker. Junior Ernesto Valenzuela (5-9, 215) will play alongside Haros, and junior Joe Angeles (5-10, 280) will start at offensive and defensive tackle.

OUTLOOK: Despite his team’s inexperience, O’Brien figures that the Saints have a good shot at a playoff berth. “I think Nordhoff is the team to beat,” he said. “But I’d pick us second. . . . We’re a young team, but we’re highly motivated. We’re very strong and quick for our size.”

Santa Paula

COACH: Rick Shoup, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 5-6, tied for 2nd in league, 2-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior quarterback Brian Whittaker (5-11, 165) and senior defensive back Danny Alcantar (5-11, 165) should be the leaders of the Cardinal offense and defense. Whittaker threw for 731 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a part-time starter last season, but it is his running ability that impresses Shoup. The coach plans to run the option frequently and have Whittaker roll out when he passes. Alcantar intercepted five passes last season and returned two for touchdowns. He will head a secondary that includes senior Steve Gonzales (5-11, 165), who also will start at wide receiver. Senior Eric McAlister (6-4, 222), a second-team all-league selection at defensive end last season, also will start at offensive tackle. Senior Brian Lister (6-1, 220) will see action at fullback, tight end and linebacker, and junior Joseph Jauregui (5-10, 165) will play wide receiver and kick. Senior linebacker Rene Jimenez (6-1, 195) is another returning second-team all-league pick.

OUTLOOK: “The defensive backfield and the overall athletic ability of our defense is our strength,” said Shoup, the son of former Cal Lutheran Coach Bob Shoup. “Our goal is to get to the playoffs. All of the sportswriters in Ventura County seem to be picking Nordhoff and Calabasas to battle for the league title, but we feel that if we can get through the nonleague season healthy, we’ll be a factor in Frontier League play.”