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

HIGH DESERT LEAGUE

Paraclete COACH: Steve Hagerty, 1st season LAST SEASON: 2-8; 6th in Desert-Inyo Large League, 0-5 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Paraclete had not won a Desert-Inyo Large League game since 1986, but its chances for a league victory might improve in the new league, which lost traditional power Tehachapi to the Central Section and picked up Silver Valley and Rosamond. Senior quarterback Brian Lathrop (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) and sophomore offensive-defensive lineman Matt Thelan (6-4, 275) are talented newcomers. Lathrop did not play football last year, but Hagerty describes him as a good all-around athlete with a strong arm. Thelan is up from the frosh-soph team. Senior defensive back John Martinez (5-9, 165), an all-league selection, is one of six returning starters. Senior kicker Andy Ward (5-10, 160) also earned all-league honors. Senior tight end-linebacker Al Solorzano (6-2, 228), senior running back-linebacker Paul Lopez (5-6, 155) and junior offensive-defensive lineman Jeff Kiang (6-1, 225) are returning two-way starters. Josh Knittle (6-3, 195) returns at offensive tackle. OUTLOOK: “The people up front will be our biggest strength,” Hagerty said. “We have decent size and a weightlifting program I started last spring has seemed to pay off. Our defense and kicking game should be a strength.”