FOOTBALL ’93 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS / CITY SECTION : VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE : EAST VALLEY LEAGUE

Birmingham

1992: Did not make playoffs

OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 5-4 4-3 Tied 2nd

*COACH: Chick Epstein YEAR: 16th RECORD AT SCHOOL: 67-72-2 *

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Marvin Powell, 6-3, 220 QB MLB Jr. James Uline, 6-0, 215 C NT Jr. David San Vicente, 6-4, 280 OT DT Jr. Anthony Cady, 6-2, 235 OL DL Jr. Mario Navarro, 5-11, 220 OG Jr. Keyote Gilmore, 5-5, 140 WR DB So. David Taufahema, 6-3, 215 -- LB Sr. Courtney Blunt, 5-7, 160 RB DB Jr. Emilio Sosa, 5-7, 180 OG -- Jr. Evan Papel, 5-10, 185 OG -- Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Ron Serpas, 5-5, 160 RB DB Jr. Tony Nichols, 5-8, 160 WR -- Jr. Anthony Thomas, 6-1, 215 -- OLB Sr.

FAST FACT

Marvin Powell III is the son of Marvin Powell Jr., a two-time All-American selection at USC and a former All-Pro offensive tackle.

OUTLOOK

With Sylmar the clear front-runner, Birmingham should battle Van Nuys for second place. Epstein had planned on converting the Braves’ offense to a run-and-shoot, but his starting quarterback moved to Seattle. Birmingham returns 10 starters and boasts one of the most-experienced lines in the conference. Now all the Braves need is someone to run the ball and throw it effectively behind that line. Powell, who caught 29 passes for 367 yards at tight end last season, is Epstein’s newest quarterback candidate.

Canoga Park

1992: Lost in first round of playoffs

OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 6-5 4-3 1st in Mid-Valley

*COACH: Rudy Lugo YEAR: 8th RECORD AT SCHOOL: 24-43 *

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Matt Groff, 5-11, 185 FB DE Sr. Phil Duffield, 6-1, 200 OG DE Sr. Mario Arce, 5-11, 170 TE LB Sr. Chris Woowine, 6-1, 190 TE LB Sr. Pete Holtrichter, 5-10, 160 WR DB Sr. Greg Goldstein, 5-10, 180 OL DL Sr. Lupe Gutierrez, 6-3, 225 OL DL Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Roger Sanchez, 5-10, 160 RB DB Jr. Dennis Murillo, 5-9, 155 WR DB Jr. Marco Nives, 6-0, 190 OL DL So. Esteven Navarez, 6-0, 235 OL DL Sr. Gus Herrera, 5-11, 165 TE LB Jr.

FAST FACT

Canoga Park had third-best defense in the conference last season (202.7 yards per game).

OUTLOOK

The football team draws from a campus with the least number of students (1,500) in the conference, which will make it tough for the Hunters to compete at the 4-A level. The Hunters won the 3-A Mid-Valley League title last season with nine returning starters--most of whom filled the skill positions. Five starters return for 1993--none in the skill positions. Lugo is hoping to find a quarterback who can stick to the basics each week. Canoga Park figures to be grossly overmatched in the East Valley League.

Sylmar

1992: City Section 4-A champion

OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 13-1 7-0 1st

*COACH: Jeff Engilman YEAR: 7th RECORD AT SCHOOL: 51-14-1 *

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Tyrone Crenshaw, 6-0, 185 TB SS Sr. Dwight Patton, 6-0, 180 FL CB Sr. John Gonzales, 6-3, 300 T -- Sr. Robert Camacho, 5-11, 180 WR DB Sr. Louis Mack, 6-1, 220 G -- Sr. Brandon McGee, 6-3, 250 C T Jr. Victor Cardenas, 6-2, 175 WR DB Sr. Flint Hardman, 6-1, 245 G -- Jr. Frank Fuentes, 6-3, 260 T DL Jr. Ed Lopez, 6-1, 175 QB FS Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Mark Reynosa, 6-0, 190 RB SS Sr. Anthony Muse, 6-2, 190 QB FS Sr. Robert Epperson, 6-6, 275 OL DL Sr. Durrell Price, 6-0, 210 FB MLB So. Mike Sotelo, 6-1, 270 G -- Sr.

FAST FACT

Sylmar, a three-time defending league champion, has won 25 consecutive league games since losing to Reseda, 20-6, in 1989.

OUTLOOK

The Spartans are clearly the team to beat in the region. That fact is not lost on Engilman, who guided Sylmar’s 17-0 victory over Carson in the City Section 4-A final. “Every team is out to get us. They’ll play us like it’s their Super Bowl,” he said. “That’s why it’s so tough to repeat--at any level.” The Spartans are ranked No. 9 in the state according to Cal-Hi Sports. The main reason: Tyrone Crenshaw, the 4-A player of the year who played most of last season on a broken ankle and still managed 1,875 yards. If the Spartans have a weakness, it’s their offensive line: Only Gonzales returns.

Van Nuys

1992: Lost in 4-A semifinals

OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 8-5 4-3 2nd

*COACH: George Engbrecht YEAR: 2nd RECORD AT SCHOOL: 8-5 *

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Miguel Romo, 6-1, 230 OL MLB Sr. Juan Garcia, 6-1, 210 FB MLB Sr. Anthony Patricio, 6-3, 280 OT -- Jr. Chad Ealy, 6-1, 230 OL -- Sr. Steve Kang, 5-10, 165 -- DB Sr. Mike Delgado, 5-9, 155 -- DB Sr. Mario Leon, 5-7, 165 -- DB Sr. Hubert Kim, 6-0, 165 WR DB Sr. Larry Reed, 5-11, 160 TB -- Jr. Justin Gombos, 5-10, 180 -- DL Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Jose Cortez, 6-1, 185 TE -- Sr. Shon Brame, 6-2, 180 WR -- Sr. Damion Boudreaux, 6-1, 170 WR DB Jr. Chris Byfield, 5-11, 160 QB Jr. Robert Levy, 5-10, 165 RB -- Sr. Duke Kim, 6-0, 205 C -- So.

FAST FACT

Van Nuys overcame a 21-0 deficit late in the first half and beat Birmingham, 38-27, in the final league game, stealing a playoff berth.

OUTLOOK

There will be a dozen more bodies on the Van Nuys sideline this season, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to improvement. The Wolves lost most of their skill-position players, leaving the less-experienced to fill the voids. The Wolves’ strengths lie in their defense and their offensive line--which returns three starters. Engbrecht’s greatest off-season coup is Cortez, a soccer player who can kick a football 70 yards with consistency. The Wolves scored 36 touchdowns last season but attempted just 15 extra-point kicks. Van Nuys should battle Birmingham for second place with the showdown being Nov. 5.

MID-VALLEY LEAGUE Grant

1992: Lost in first round of playoffs

OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 4-6-1 3-4 2nd

COACH: Bill Foster YEAR: 9th RECORD AT SCHOOL: 29-48-2 *

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Ray Singleton, 5-11, 170 QB -- Jr. Alex Rose, 5-9, 145 WR CB Sr. Rod Singleton, 5-9, 180 TB DB Jr. Arsenio Carrillo, 5-9, 270 OL DL Sr. Jose Plancarte, 6-1, 200 OL DL Sr. Jason Beckman, 5-10, 185 C LB Sr. Matt Schwartz, 5-9, 200 C LB Sr. Sergio Flores, 5-9, 200 FB LB Sr. Adam Crespo, 5-9, 150 WR DB Sr. Pat Roskowick, 6-2, 185 TE LB Sr. Edwin Moreno, 5-10, 210 OL DL Sr. Sean Kuykendall, 6-1, 185 TE LB Sr. William Salazar, 6-1, 230 OL DL Jr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Di-onte Smith, 5-9, 165 RB DB Jr. Carlos Echeverria, 5-11, 175 TE LB Sr. Vic Velasquez, 5-8, 185 FB LB Jr. Jimmy Marmol, 5-9, 160 WR DB Sr. Ruben Montoya, 5-11, 160 WR DB Jr.

*

FAST FACT

Since winning the East Valley League title in 1989, the Lancers subsequently finished fourth, third and second.

OUTLOOK

With 14 returning starters, Grant is poised to reclaim a league title. “The guys are out of diapers now,” Foster said. With more than half the offensive line returning, twin brothers and backfield mates Ray and Rod Singleton should get ample opportunity to lead the Lancers to success. Ray got his feet wet as a sophomore quarterback last year, starting the Lancers’ last five games. He is the only returning quarterback in the Valley Pac-8 Conference. This is the most-experienced team Foster has had at Grant and he plans to make the most of it. “We feel like it’s our turn. We expect to be vastly improved. We expect to come in first,” he said.

Monroe

1992: Did not make playoffs

OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 2-8 1-6 4th

COACH: Dave Lertzman YEAR: 5th RECORD AT SCHOOL: 7-28-2 *

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Mike Johnson, 5-7, 175 QB DB Sr. Eric Bruen, 5-11, 245 C -- Sr. Domenic DeLillio, 6-1, 160 WR DB Jr. Jean Espinoza, 5-9, 240 OT DT Sr. Maurice Martin, 5-11, 170 FB ILB Sr. Robert Nunn, 5-6, 150 TB DB Sr. Jason Frenzell, 6-2, 250 OT DT Sr. Anthony Alonso, 6-3, 275 OT -- Sr. Jair Lafon, 5-10, 260 OG -- Jr. Micah Evans, 5-10, 195 OG DE Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Kashan Griffin, 6-1, 172 WR DB Sr. Marcel Jones, 5-8, 150 WR DB Sr. Arm. Montelongo, 5-10, 165 -- DE Jr. Kevin Stewart, 5-9, 165 FB LB Jr. Jerry Ohigashi, 5-6, 150 TB CB Jr. Reggie Dallas, 5-10, 170 -- OLB Sr.

*

FAST FACT

Monroe, which last won a league championship in 1988, has made the playoffs only twice in the past 10 years.

OUTLOOK

The teams in the Mid-Valley League should again be close to equal with the exception of Grant, which holds the edge based its many returning starters. Monroe, Poly and North Hollywood should battle for the league’s second playoff spot. Monroe will work with 21 returning lettermen, only three of whom were starters last year. Lertzman is hopeful that speedster Johnson will provide the leadership. “We don’t have like a Tyrone Crenshaw or an established star, so it will be interesting to see which kid will step up and be the star.” he said. The Vikings will face defending league champions Westchester and Taft in preseason games.

North Hollywood

1992: Lost in first round of playoffs

OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 5-6 2-5 3rd

*COACH: Gary Gray YEAR: 2nd RECORD AT SCHOOL: 5-6 *

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Rafat Kerkonian, 6-0, 170 WR DB Sr. Damien Foster, 5-11, 180 RB DB Sr. Ricardo Anaya, 6-1, 205 -- LB Sr Oliver Cajina, 5-9, 240 C NG Sr. Alvaro Castillo, 6-0, 160 QB -- Sr. Patrick Fields, 6-0,155 QB DB Sr. Brian Costales, 5-10, 230 OG LB Jr. Fred Vasquez, 6-0, 190 OT -- Sr. Carl Evans, 5-9, 160 RB DB Sr. Lee Jefferson, 6-0, 240 OT DE Jr. Stefano Sykes, 6-1, 220 OG -- Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Martinez Franklin, 6-0, 160 WR -- Sr. Towan Franklin, 5-8, 140 WR -- Jr. Ryan Jones, 6-1, 150 WR -- Jr. Randy Timbas, 5-9, 225 OL DL Jr. Oscar Urrutia, 5-11, 135 WR -- Sr.

FAST FACT

North Hollywood’s defense last season held Sylmar tailback Tyrone Crenshaw to a regular-season low of 62 yards.

OUTLOOK

The Huskies made tremendous strides under Gray’s tutelage in his inaugural season. Gray took over a winless Husky team that was outscored 328-11 in 1991 and turned it into a club that a year later started 3-0 and made the playoffs. Now that Gray has the Huskies headed in the right direction, North Hollywood should find it easy to compete in this league. The Huskies lost a lot of size to graduation, but now sport a speedier offense. To take advantage of the newfound speed, Gray implemented a run-and-shoot offense in the off-season.

Poly

1992: Did not make playoffs

OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 6-4 3-4 4th in E.Valley

*COACH: Fred Cuccia YEAR: 5th RECORD AT SCHOOL: 26-18-1 *

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Don McCrary, 6-1, 255 -- ILB Sr. Johnny Lewis, 6-1, 215 -- ILB Sr. Ricky Gamboa, 6-1, 172 WR DB Jr. Nelson Rivas, 6-3, 215 OT -- Jr. Elmer Sanchez, 5-10, 215 OL -- Jr. Eddie Batras, 5-10, 235 OL -- Sr. Jose Jimenez, 5-8, 210 -- NG Sr. Roy Jones, 5-11, 225 -- DT Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Kiejun Douglas, 5-6, 150 QB -- So. Sur-on Sykes, 6-1, 185 RB -- So. James McCrary, 5-11, 170 -- DB So. Leford Hackett, 5-6, 150 WR -- So. Aeirl Munoz, 6-0, 235 OL DL So.

FAST FACT

The Parrot offense and defense ranked fourth and third, respectively, among area City teams.

OUTLOOK

Dropping down to the 3-A this season is the best thing that could have happened to Poly, which will start 10 sophomores. Not one starter returns from 1992. Understatement of the year: “It all hinges on how well our 10th-graders play,” Cuccia said. The Parrots are down, yes, but don’t count them out. This is possibly the strongest team Cuccia has had at Poly, he said. Strongest player: Don McCrary benches 400 pounds and recently pressed 37 repetitions of 185 pounds. Cuccia: “He’s the best defensive player in the Valley.”