Southwest Is Hoping to Reload, Harbor Tries to Rebuild : Cougars: They may be motivated by apparent snub in state poll after 8-2-1 record in 1991.

It will not be easy for the Los Angeles Southwest College football team to match last year’s record, but Coach Henry Washington remains optimistic about the Cougars’ chances entering Saturday’s home opener against Citrus College.

Southwest finished 8-2-1 and 7-1-1 in the Western State Conference in 1991, second to powerful Santa Monica College in the Southern Division of the WSC. Southwest also beat Antelope Valley College, 28-0, in the Southern California Bowl, the school’s first-ever appearance in a bowl game.

But the Cougars failed to make the JC Athletic Bureau’s final ranking of the state’s top 20 teams. Southwest was also excluded from the 1992 preseason top 20. Washington, who is also the school’s athletic director, remains puzzled about not getting recognition.

“I just don’t know what to think,” said Washington, who has a 43-48-1 record in 10 years as Southwest coach. “I really don’t understand it.”

Washington prefers not to dwell on the lack of respect his team has received. His biggest worry is the Cougar offense, which must replace quarterback Jesse Wallace, who is attending San Francisco State.

Untested Bobby Savannah is expected to start, with John Cotton, a freshman from Leuzinger High, to be the backup. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Savannah spent 1991 as a backup to Wallace.

“A lot of our success is going to depend on how fast he develops and grows,” Washington said. “Bobby throws a pretty nice ball. He’s not a runner or a scrambler, but he sets up well in the pocket.”

With an untested quarterback and no returning wide receivers, the Cougars are expected to be primarily a running team.

Fullback Takim Brown, a 1991 first-team All-WSC selection, will do most of the running. The 6-foot, 250-pound Brown scored eight touchdowns and gained 902 yards in 162 carries as a freshman.

“He’s really going to carry the load for us,” Washington said. “He’s a bona fide fullback.”

The Cougars’ offensive line has two returning starters, Khary Wilder (6-4, 320) and Preston Curtis (6-5, 275). They will be joined by several newcomers, including freshman center Kevin Body (6-4, 240).

“Khary and Preston are two very big and agile kids,” Washington said. “They’re also very intelligent. They will end up at a local (NCAA) Division I school next year.”

Freshman Luis Diaz of Inglewood High is the kicker and Anthony Haddrick returns to do the punting.

Tim Gardner (6-3, 230), a 1991 All-WSC honorable mention selection, is the only returning defensive lineman. The Cougars’ defensive strength is the secondary, which includes cornerbacks Quan Banks, a 1991 second-team All-WSC selection, and Donovan Johnson. The safeties are Robert Avery and John Jackson.

1992 Schedule

Southwest

Date: Opponent, Time

Saturday: Citrus, 1 p.m.Sept. 26: at Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.Oct. 3: Moorpark, 1 p.m.Oct. 10: Compton, 1 p.m.Oct. 17: at Glendale, 1 p.m.Oct. 24: West Los Angeles, 1 p.m.Oct. 31: Los Angeles Pierce, 1 p.m.Nov. 7: at Los Angeles Valley, 7 p.m.Nov. 14: Bakersfield, 1 p.m.Nov. 21: at Santa Monica, 7 p.m.