CITY WESTERN LEAGUE PREVIEW : Kearny Still In the Running for League Championship

City Western League coaches appear ready to handoff the 1992 championship to Coach Willie Matson and Kearny. Matson wants to lateral it to University City.

“I never pick myself,” said Matson. “That’s bad luck.”

Many think Kearny running back James Curtis will be packing the league crown every time he gets a handoff this season. In other words: As goes Curtis, so go the Komets.

That is pressure Matson can accept, considering Curtis, a third-year starter, has scored 41 touchdowns and gained nearly 3,000 yards in two seasons.

“People will gang up on James Curtis, and that’s fine,” said Matson, 38, himself a former Kearny standout. “We’ve got other weapons.”

The top three teams in the league last year all had gifted running backs. The fortunes of La Jolla, which lost E.J. Watson (2,501 yards rushing, 30 touchdowns in 1991), and University of San Diego High, which lost Chris Lewis (nearly 1,700 yards), will have much to do with who they find as replacements.

La Jolla Coach Dick Huddleston says he has found somebody equal to Watson, the Times All-County Offensive Player of the Year last year: James Rudolph. He did not play football last year.

KEARNY KOMETS

Coach: Willie Matson, 6th year

1991 Record: 7-4, 2-2

Starters Returning: 14

The agenda is clear for this team, which won its first seven games last year but takes a four-game losing streak into 1992: play to potential.

The Komets started on a roll, but when things got tough, ex-receiver and game-breaker Darnay Scott was no longer there. Kearny should have adjusted by now. After fading out of the league-championship picture and losing to Oceanside in the first round of the playoffs, the Komets, who won back-to-back league titles with Scott, had lots of free time to watch Scott play for San Diego State in the Freedom Bowl.

Matson said his defense will be dominating with the return of outside linebacker Rashad Wright (6-feet-3, 200 pounds, 33 sacks in two years), cornerback Billy Baker, nose tackle Seepoleta Imo (5-11, 245) and tackle Kenny Hood (6-1, 240), Scott’s cousin.

Kearny’s has eight linemen who can bench-press 240, led by Steve Butler (6-4, 240) and Will Clemons (6-1, 255). The offense returns eight starters, including Curtis (6-0, 205, 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash), who has recovered from wrist surgery.

LA JOLLA VIKINGS

Coach: Dick Huddleston, 3rd year

1991 Record: 13-1, 4-0

Starters Returning: 8

In two years since taking over as head coach, Huddleston has renovated the locker room, restocked the weight room, reconstructed stadium lights and restored a sense of pride and belief at La Jolla. His record in that span is 23-3-1, including a 1991 season-ending 29-7 loss to El Camino in the section 2-A championship game.

What he will do for an encore with the departure of Watson and all-county safety John Zuanich is anybody’s guess. Including his own.

“This could potentially be a real good football team; they know what it takes to win,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean that you can win, because there are so many things that can happen. And we’re only one deep.”

Pilar Flores, the kicker last year, and Haik Kevorkian are battling for the quarterback job. Rob Fipp and Trenell Bento are pass-catching threats, and--hard to believe--Huddleston thinks Rudolph has the same potential as Watson.

MISSION BAY BUCCANEERS

Coach: Jerry Surdy, 3rd year

1991 Record: 3-6, 0-4

Starters Returning: 6

Touristy Pacific Beach, with its surf and sand and laid-back attitude, is a lot things to a lot of people. But to Mission Bay High, P.B. is anything but a football training ground. Nearly all of the school’s incoming players must be introduced to the blocking and tackling version of this sport.

The Bucs have their share of big people and fast people, but only a few have shown they can play the game, said Surdy. To make matters worse, some proven commodities like tight end Andy Sherrin (broken wrist) and defensive back Sheldon King (jaw surgery) are out.

Blocking and tackling is a big question mark, which means a potentially potent areal scheme with quarterback Steve Vincent and receivers Sunny Miller (4.7 speed), Jeff Hornacek (4.8) and Glenn Udvarhelyi (4.6) has uncertain flight plans. Center Ed Olson (6-0, 185) and guard Lucian Pimentel (5-10, 185) were only part-time starters last year. The team’s secret weapon--the best high-school funk band in the city--performs only during play stoppages.

UNIVERSITY CITY CENTURIONS

Coach: Steve Vukojevich, 12th year

1991 Record: 5-5, 1-3

Starters Returning: 13

A typical University City team plays nine games, finishes 5-4 or 4-5, makes the playoffs and loses. Some say this is no typical University City team. The Centurions have all the signs of a potential league champion: size, speed, depth, experience and all of their skill players back.

What more could they want?

Chemistry.

“We’ll be very competitive if we come together,” Vukojevich said. “Last year, this team was very fragmented.”

UC will line up a track team behind an offensive line that averages 226 pounds and centers around third-year starter Jack Dailey (6-0, 226). Quarterback Daranzol Sheppard and wide receiver Greg Russell ran on the 12th fastest 400-meter relay team in the state, and running back Paul Turner runs 10.5 in the 100 (third fastest at the 1992 state meet) and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Ed Miller, who runs 4.7 in the 40, joins Turner in the backfield.

USDHS DONS

Coach: Ron Hamamoto, 8th year

1991 Record: 10-2, 3-1

Starters Returning: 7

The Dons have faced manpower shortages before and have found a way to contend, but Hamamoto might need a magic wand and a book of tricks if that is the case this year. His entire offensive line graduated and no new linemen have shown up.

Fifty boys signed up for the freshman team, but the JV roster is busting at the seams with 15. Hamamoto had to promote four sophomores to keep his varsity roster at 38.

“I just know we gotta stay healthy,” he said. “We’ll have eight guys going both ways. We lose one, we’ve lost two positions.”

The offense has potential. Quarterback Mike Sexton, who started as a sophomore, can throw it. The question is, can anybody catch it? Running backs Brady Walker, Scott Pharis and Chris Mattix run it. But who’s going to block?

“We’re just looking for people,” Hamamoto said.

22 to Watch

Pos Name School Yr. DB Billy Baker Kearny Sr. WR Trenell Bento La Jolla Sr. OL Steve Butler Kearny Sr. OL Will Clemons Kearny Sr. RB James Curtis Kearny Sr. OL Jack Dailey University City Sr. WR Rob Fipp La Jolla Sr. LB Hugh Hester USDHS Sr. LB Seth Hidalgo La Jolla Sr. WR Jeff Hornacek Mission Bay Sr. DL Seepoleta Imo Kearny Sr. RB Chris Mattix USDHS Sr. RB Ed Miller University City Sr. WR Sunny Miller Mission Bay Sr. WR Greg Russell University City Sr. QB Mike Sexton USDHS Sr. G Brandon Sprague La Jolla Sr. RB Paul Turner University City Sr. WR Glenn Udvarhelyi Mission Bay Jr RB Brady Walker USDHS Sr. LB Ken Williams University City Sr. LB Rashad Wright Kearny Sr.