METROPOLITAN CONFERENCE PREVIEW : Coaching Changes Alter the Picture

No one has even tried to sort out the probable contenders from the likely also-rans in the Metro Conference. Everyone’s still confused as to who’s coaching where.

Carl Parrick, long a fixture at Southwest, decided to move across town to Bonita Vista last spring. Alan Kaylor took Parrick’s old job, but in doing so he also created another vacancy. Kaylor had been the coach at Mar Vista for one year.

Gary Pugh, an assistant at Southwestern College, also interviewed for the job at Southwest. Once he found out who got it, he immediately called up Mar Vista’s principal to apply for that school’s post.

Principal Jaime Mercado was puzzled after hearing from Pugh.

“He said, ‘But we already have a football coach,”’ Pugh explained. “And I had to tell him, ‘No you don’t.”’

Being first in line paid off and Pugh was hired.

Those dominoes having toppled, there still were openings at Castle Park and Montgomery. Gil Warren, who coached Castle Park in the late 1960s and 70s, decided to return after coordinating Southwestern College’s offense for the past 15 years. He enticed several top-notch assistants to join him, including Dave Lay, offensive coordinator at San Diego State for the past few years.

And at Montgomery the job was given to Roger Rice, 29, who graduated from that school in 1981 and has been an assistant there since 1985.

Only three coaches remain from last season: George Ohnesorgen at Chula Vista, Joy Gritts at Hilltop and Gene Alim at Sweetwater.

So who’s going to win? Everyone answers Chula Vista, since the Spartans have done so for the past four years. But they’re wrong. Coach O’s reign is about to end because no Metro team will be able to solve Montgomery’s defense.

MONTGOMERY AZTECS

Coach: Roger Rice, 1st year

1991 Record: 3-5-2, 3-3-1

Starters Returning: 17

A team that recorded four shutouts last year returns nine defensive starters: defensive backs Chris Weaver, Tom Conner, Kinnard Cook, linemen Reggie Francisco (6-2, 275), Mike Palenzuela, linebackers Alvin Meredith, Vince Meredith, Ernest Demps and Anselmo Tolentino.

“The four shutouts last year were a school record,” Rice said. “And we’re challenging these guys to beat that. That’s our goal and to achieve it we’re going to have to bear down mentally. I’m going to have to come up with better game plans, and the players are going to have to concentrate more.”

Montgomery will have to improve on offense. Last year the Aztecs were held to two touchdowns or less six times.

Improvement on that side of the ball could be difficult. The Aztecs don’t have a true quarterback. Weaver has been taking the snaps in training because he’s the team’s best athlete.

Look for him to handoff often to fullback Torey Paris (6-2, 235) and for Paris to run behind right guard Francisco and right tackle Julio Alcala (6-4, 265).

CHULA VISTA SPARTANS

Coach: George Ohnesorgen, 11th year

1991 Record: 8-2, 7-0

Starters Returning: 7.

Ohnesorgen likes to prepare his team by pitting it against the strongest possible competition during nonleague play. So the Spartans begin their season against San Marcos, Vista and Las Vegas Rancho.

“The players need to face some adversity,” Ohnesorgen said. “They need to play against very tough players to see how they stand up as a football team.”

Besides kicker Kevin Brennan, Chula Vista’s other six returning players are split equally between offense and defense. Returning on offense are fullback Michael Peterson (6-3, 250), a former lineman; guard Pablo Ramirez and junior wide receiver Johnny Robinson.

Returning on defense are lineman Angelo Llamas, linebackers Mike Hartsfield and Jermaine Campbell.

Ohnesorgen still is trying to decide on a quarterback. Battling for that position are junior Joe Zander and sophomore Orlando Sanchez. Zander has the edge.

CASTLE PARK TROJANS

Coach: Gil Warren, 12th year

1991 Record: 5-4-1, 4-2-1

Starters Returning: 6

Running back Anthony Davis, who rushed for 1,263 yards on 185 carries last year, an average of 6.8 yards, is easily the conference’s top performer. As excited as Warren and offensive coordinator Lay are about Davis’s potential, they are equally concerned with the bodies in front of him.

“We lost our entire offensive line,” Warren said.

Worse is that Castle Park lost the services of Andre Stevenson, projected as the starting guard, for at least four weeks when he badly injure an ankle in Saturday’s scrimmage against El Capitan.

“We thought he’d be a good one,” Warren said. “That’s going to be a big loss.”

Davis will not be the only returning starter hoping for quick progress from a young line.

SWEETWATER RED DEVILS

Coach: Gene Alim, ninth year

1991 Record: 4-6, 2-5

Starters Returning: 8

When Alim came back last year to the post he left in the mid 1980s, he found a program in disrepair with players coming to and going from practice at their convenience.

After a couple star players decided they didn’t need as much practice as the rest of the team, Alim kicked them off the squad.

He was making a point--football is a discipline.

Now in Alim’s second year back, players are taking the game seriously and the program has begun to show stability.

Fullback Tai Lepule returns for his third year on the varsity and quarterback Dennis Gregorio (5-9, 150), despite his size, displayed steady improvement during the summer passing league.

Other top returners include: offensive lineman Olive Tauanuu, linebacker Hector Wright, defensive end Lynne Smith, offensive lineman Mike Tatingfong, defensive backs Reggie Mitchell and Robert Soderberg.

HILLTOP LANCERS

Coach: Joy Gritts, eighth year

1991 Record: 8-2, 6-1

Starters Returning: 8

The Lancers most likely will shift from a predominantly throwing team to a mostly running team.

Gone is Times All-County quarterback Jorge Munoz, but returning is junior running back Terry Battle (5-10, 170), who Gritts insists is among the top backs in the county.

BONITA VISTA BARONS

Coach: Carl Parrick, first year

1991 Record: 2-6-2, 2-4-1

Starters Returning: 6

The Barons likely will have the second stingiest defense in the conference. They will be led by David Dare (6-3, 225).

SOUTHWEST RAIDERS

Coach: Alan Kaylor, first year

1991 Record: 3-6-1, 2-4

Starters Returning: 5

The Raiders aren’t sure where they will open their season, at home or in Pasadena. The uncertainty is due to the school’s stadium lights, which were supposed to be installed prior to last season, but still aren’t up. If they aren’t in place by Friday, the contract between Southwest and Pasadena Blair calls for the game to be switched to Pasadena.

MAR VISTA MARINERS

Coach: Gary Pugh, first year

1991 Record: 2-7, 0-7

Starters Returning: 7

Pugh was hired less than two months ago--a start so late it could foreshadow a disastrous season, but the first-year coach is keeping a positive outlook.

His top returning player is quarterback Jake Meyer, a senior who many thought should have been the starter last year. He’ll be throwing to senior receivers Travis Brown and Josh Garrett.