HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW : Saunders Strengthens Chaminade’s Attack

The summer before his senior season, a summer after he gained more than 900 yards, Franklin Saunders decided it was time to get serious about football.

Rather than taking a vacation, as he had the previous two summers, the Chaminade High tailback stayed close to home lifting weights and adding 10 pounds of muscle. He’ll need the bulk, because he’s not Justin Giovannettone’s caddy anymore.

Last season, when teams overplayed the middle to stop Giovannettone, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher and All-Southern Section selection, the Eagles pitched the ball to Saunders and let him break off 10 yards on a sweep.

This season, Saunders is the headliner. He’ll still be running the sweeps. But he’ll also be running dives. And counters. And traps. And draws.

“Wherever they want me,” he said, “I’ll go.”

Considered by one publication among the top 25 running backs in the country, Saunders is No. 1 among a talented class of returning running backs in the Mission League.

Notre Dame’s Lei Malieitulua, Harvard-Westlake’s Don Donester and St. Francis’ Ben Collins are back after leading their teams in rushing.

Saunders did not lead the Eagles last season because of Giovannettone. But he gained 930 yards in 105 carries. His goal for this year is simply to lead state rushers. Or, at least, Valley rushers.

On his locker, Saunders has posted an article about Sylmar’s Tyrone Crenshaw, considered by some the favorite for area rushing honors, to remind him of his competition.

“This year, I’ve got something to prove,” Saunders said. “I can do it if I get the carries.”

Saunders, who is 6-feet-1, 195 pounds, took advantage of his 4.5 speed last season, but this year his strength will be a, well, strength.

“He’s the strongest guy on the team,” Chaminade Coach Rich Lawson said.

Saunders said he undertook the off-season weight program in response to the interest he earned from recruiters.

“Football is my priority now,” he said. “I realized I had a chance to go somewhere good. I have some offers, but it’s up to me not to lose them.”

His college preferences at the moment are Colorado and California, though subject to change. Last week, for example, he listed Washington among his choices.

Recruiters who want to see Saunders run will have plenty of chances. Lawson said he might give Saunders the ball 30 times a game, if he can handle it. But Lawson insists the Eagles’ offense will be more than pitch after pitch to Saunders.

“We’re going to throw the ball. . . . I’m going to throw it to Franklin,” Lawson said. “We may have some big yards passing, but it will be a one-yard completion to Franklin, then we’ll let him run the rest of the way.”

Saunders will be paired with another Giovannettone in the backfield, Justin’s younger brother Jason, who gained more than 1,000 yards on the freshman team last season.

Among the other returning backs in the league, Malieitulua, a three-year starter, has the most experience. There is nothing fancy about the way he runs.

He is a 5-9, 225-pound up-the-middle machine. When Jabbar Craigwell moved from tailback to quarterback in midseason last year, Malieitulua became the team’s top ballcarrier. He plowed for 693 yards in 123 carries.

“He’ll get the yards when they need him to,” Lawson said. “I remember seeing him as a freshman. The kid had giant calves. He’ll be hard to bring down. You’ve got to hit him solidly.”

One of 13 returning starters on the Knights, Malieitulua is a reason Notre Dame is considered the favorite in the Mission League.

Beyond Malieitulua, the Knights also expect rushing yardage from junior John Garcia, who gained more than 1,000 yards for Notre Dame’s 10-0 junior varsity team last season. Craigwell and Jon Velasquez each ran for more than 300 yards.

Donester had not played running back until last season, and it showed. Although he gained 717 yards in 149 carries, he fumbled frequently.

But Harvard Coach Dave Bennett, an assistant last season, said Donester has improved in that area over the summer.

“He’s a pretty good-sized kid,” Lawson said of Donester, who is 6-2, 215 pounds. “If he has improved in his ability to see the field and make cuts, then I’d say he’s a force to be reckoned with.”

Collins joined the St. Francis varsity last season after a 1,000-yard junior varsity campaign. A 6-3, 190-pound tailback, he gained 331 yards in 71 carries, good enough to lead an anemic offense.

Coach Bill Redell, in his first year at St. Francis, hopes a big offensive line--the Golden Knights’ strength--can help clear room for Collins to become a dominant runner.

Bishop Montgomery’s Eric Chaney, who gained more than 700 yards last season, has transferred to Hawthorne.

Mission League at a Glance

1992 STANDINGS OVERALL LEAGUE PROJECTED FINISH Chaminade 8-3 5-0 Notre Dame Notre Dame 6-5 4-1 Chaminade St. Bernard 5-6 3-2 St. Francis Harvard-Westlake 4-6 2-3 St. Bernard St. Francis 3-6 1-4 Harvard-Westlake Bishop Montgomery 2-6-2 0-5 Bishop Montgomery

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Player School Pos. Ht Wt Class Jabbar Craigwell Notre Dame QB/DB 5-9 175 Sr. Adam Crecion Chaminade WR/DB 6-1 190 Sr. Don Donester Harvard-Westlake RB 6-2 215 Sr. Matt Higgins St. Bernard OL 6-6 270 Sr. Ben Kadletz St. Francis OL/DL 6-4 270 Sr. Lei Malieitulua Notre Dame RB/LB 5-9 225 Sr. Brandon McLemore Bishop Montgomery TE 6-3 175 Jr. Joey Orlando Notre Dame WR/DB 5-10 170 Sr. Chris Sailer Notre Dame K 5-10 175 Jr. Franklin Saunders Chaminade RB/DB 6-1 180 Sr.