FOOTBALL ’93 : The High Schools: Southern Section : FOOTHILL LEAGUE

Burbank

1992: Did not make playoffs

OVERALL: 4-6

LEAGUE: 1-3

PLACE: 4th

COACH: Dave Kemp

YEAR: 1st

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 0-0

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Willie Perryman, 6-4, 215 TE DE Sr. Brian Casey, 6-3, 175 QB -- Sr. Dan Cotti, 6-5, 260 OT DE Sr. Carlos Baker, 6-1, 185 TB DB Jr. Vaughn Lucas, 5-11, 195 FB SS Jr. Gurdip Pallah, 6-3, 245 OG -- Sr. Brian Allado, 6-0, 220 FB LB Sr. Rick Lozano, 5-10, 170 WR -- Sr. Alfonzo Velasco, 5-10, 180 K -- Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Merlin DeMartinis, 6-2, 180 QB FS So. Jason Jonas, 6-1, 175 QB -- Jr. Jason Parr, 6-0, 185 -- CB Jr. Jason Mazziotti, 6-3, 215 OG -- Sr. Julio Ramos, 6-0, 205 FB LB Jr.

FAST FACT

Burbank fans fondly remember 1972, the only season in the past 36 years in which the Bulldogs won a league championship.

OUTLOOK

In 28 years at Burbank, Kemp has coached soccer, track, cross country and golf. Now, at 54, he’s a rookie football coach trying to boost a floundering team that went 12-19 the past three seasons. Perryman will be a force, as will Cotti--younger brother of former all-section pick John Cotti, now at San Jose State. Casey is a sleeper coming off an eye-opening summer passing league performance. Team has size but lacks depth, with many starters pressed into playing both ways. Eight starters return, while three others are trying to preserve their eligibility in summer school.

Burroughs

1992: Did not make playoffs

OVERALL: 0-10

LEAGUE: 0-4

PLACE: 5th

COACH: Gary Bernardi

YEAR: 1st

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 0-0

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Mike Riely, 6-4, 285 OL -- Sr. Anthony Perico, 5-9, 175 K -- Sr. Ken Knoop, 6-1 1/2, 190 -- FS Jr. Anthony Zaballero, 5-11, 225 -- LB Sr. Mike Sanchez, 6-0, 235 OL -- Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Bill Pavlu, 5-10, 180 -- SS Sr.

FAST FACT

Bernardi, 38, who played at Monroe and Canyons, has spent the past 12 years coaching under Larry Smith at Arizona and USC.

OUTLOOK

Bernardi has got a staff of former college players, but don’t expect sudden success after the first winless season in school history. The roster is top-heavy with seniors but 17 of them played on the JV team last year. Said Bernardi, “I really don’t understand the emphasis of that, but I’m not going to judge these kids on their past.”

Canyon

1992: Lost in first round of playoffs

OVERALL: 7-4

LEAGUE: 2-2

PLACE: 3rd

COACH: Harry Welch

YEAR: 12th

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 114-27-2

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR David Pratchard, 6-5, 263 OT DE Sr. Marc Uda, 5-10, 152 RB DB Sr. Jared McKeon, 5-11, 176 WR DB Sr. Mike Leary, 6-0, 158 WR LB Sr. Sean Connelly, 6-1, 176 QB DB Sr. Ed Williams, 5-8, 166 RB DB Sr. Korvin Kraics, 6-1, 183 OT DL Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Joe Robles, 5-9, 162 RB LB Sr. Jim Robles, 6-0, 180 TE LB Jr. Freddy Polito, 5-8, 181 RB LB Sr. Mark Manskar, 6-7, 231 OT DL Jr.

FAST FACT

Last year’s record was Canyon’s worst under Welch, on the field. The Cowboys were 6-6 in 1991, but forfeited a victory and a tie.

OUTLOOK

The Cowboys should be explosive on offense in a bid for their first league championship since 1989. Williams (a 1992 all-section pick), who enters the season with nearly 3,000 yards in two years, and Thousand Oaks High transfer Polito, who rushed for over 1,000 in 1992, will run behind a potential All-American in Pratchard and a future star in Manskar. QB Connelly threw for 1,496 yards. But the defense is small, has only three starters back and will be tested--especially up front.

Hart

1992: Lost in second round of playoffs

OVERALL: 11-1

LEAGUE: 4-0

PLACE: 1st

COACH: Mike Herrington

YEAR: 5th

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 39-11

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR John McLaughlin, 6-4, 220 WR LB Sr. Soren Halladay, 6-1, 180 WR SS Sr. Jason Medearis, 6-1, 180 WR DB Sr. Cameron Perry, 5-9, 175 WR -- Sr. Bryan Oksas, 6-3, 240 -- DT Sr. Josh Lopez, 6-3, 240 OG -- Sr. David Patrick, 6-2, 215 -- DE Sr. Marty Crowder, 6-3, 225 OT -- Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Mike Kocicka, 6-4, 200 QB -- Sr. Shane Shafer, 6-2, 200 -- LB Sr. Ted Iacenda, 6-0, 185 RB -- So. Paul Walters, 6-4, 270 OL -- Jr. Sant Sikand, 6-6, 275 OL -- Jr.

FAST FACT

Hart quarterbacks have been All-Southern Section for eight consecutive years.

OUTLOOK

The Indians, league champions four of the past five seasons, feature a run-and-shoot offense that has its best corps of receivers ever, Herrington said, and another promising quarterback in Crescenta Valley transfer Kocicka. The offensive line averages 6-4, 252, but is unproven. With nine returning starters, team lacks experience, particularly on defense. Question: Will Indians bounce back from 13-7 upset loss to Crescenta Valley in playoffs? Once again, league should be a two-team race decided the last game of the season: Hart vs. Canyon.

Saugus

1992: Lost in first round of playoffs

OVERALL: 7-2-1

LEAGUE: 3-1

PLACE: 2nd

COACH: Jack Bowman

YEAR: 3rd

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 13-8-2

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Chris Johnson, 6-1 1/2, 218 FB LB Sr. Matt Esperanza, 6-2, 250 OG DT Sr. T.J. Wiese, 6-1 1/2, 205 TE -- Sr. Nick Lawson, 5-11, 175 -- SS Sr. Todd Brethour, 5-4, 140 RB DB Sr. Trevor King, 6-3, 238 C -- Sr. Steve Van Duzee, 6-1, 180 -- LB Sr. Eric Grupp, 5-10, 183 -- DL Sr. Jeff Martin, 6-3, 276 OT -- Sr. Pancho Rivas, 5-9, 160 -- CB Sr.

*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Jeff Brown, 6-1, 212 OT -- Sr. Adrian Butler, 5-10, 175 RB -- Sr. Sean Morrison, 5-9, 165 -- LB Jr. Jesse Alvarado, 5-9, 160 -- CB Jr. James Aardahl, 6-0, 205 OG -- Jr. Dave Steinman, 5-10, 172 -- DE Jr.

FAST FACT

Centurions were 2-8 the year before Bowman arrived. Bowman’s first two seasons have produced 13 victories.

OUTLOOK

After consecutive winning seasons, Saugus believes it can catch powers Hart and Canyon. The 1993 roster is bulging with 65 players, but only six are returning starters. But with a good corps of running backs, a promising line and a healthy quarterback battle between Greg Marquez and Lonney McCoy, the offense shows promise. Pressure will be on Johnson and Esperanza, returning all-leaguers playing both ways, to solidify the defense. A 45-yard desperation pass with four seconds left in Saugus’ 38-33 first-round playoff loss leaves a bitter taste. “It’s hard not to talk about it, especially because we’re always talking playoffs around here,” Bowman said.