COLLEGE DIVISION / ARA NAJARIAN : Redlands Still Team to Beat

Redlands is getting quite a reputation as a Division III football power.

“I know they lost some great players, but they will be able to plug in new ones and do very well,” one rival coach said.

Sports Illustrated, which ranks Redlands No. 16 in the nation and Football Digest, which has Redlands at No. 3, seem to have similar thoughts.

The perception is that Redlands has so much talent, it can put anybody on the field and the Bulldogs will win the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

“The rankings are nice because it brings attention to the conference, and we like to think we have a good program here, but we lost some pretty good people,” Redlands Coach Mike Maynard said.

Redlands has won three consecutive SCIAC titles and 16 consecutive conference games. Last season, 12 starters had to be replaced. No problem. Redlands went 8-0 before losing at Wisconsin La Crosse in the first round of the NCAA playoffs.

Redlands lost last season’s backfield to graduation, including Sean Cheatham, who set the school rushing record with 1,341 yards last season, and was voted the SCIAC offensive player of the year. Quarterback Brian Harmon, a four-year starter, and wing back Chris Smith also are gone.

Sophomore Anthony Jones will replace Cheatham, but he won’t be expected to carry as much responsibility as Maynard looks to balance the offense. Mike Carter, a transfer from Fullerton College, will be the tailback.

Jon Nielson apparently will be the quarterback after completing five of six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown in a scrimmage against Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday. Nielson is a sophomore transfer from Long Beach City College.

The wingback, perhaps the most important position in Maynard’s offense, probably will be sophomore Matt Figueroa.

The offensive line, which paved the way for 2,603 yards rushing, returns intact. Tackle Scott Hartman, guard Rob Roggeveen and center Jesse Theodore were all-conference picks last season.

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Will anyone push Redlands?

Probably not.

La Verne (7-1-1) and Occidental (5-4) are expected to battle for second.

Pomona-Pitzer (4-4), Cal Lutheran (3-6) and Whittier (3-6) will be improved and might push La Verne and Occidental.

Claremont-Mudd (0-9) was on the brink of losing its program last season, but the administration is now fully behind it. Still, improvement will be slow after two consecutive winless seasons.

La Verne will have to replace star quarterback Willie Reyna, who set nearly every school passing record in his two seasons.

“We’re trying to find someone. But nobody’s Willie,” La Verne Coach Rex Huigens said.

Ryan Campuzano is the only returning player at the position, but he is being pressed by Anthony de la Vara, Phil Garcia and John Alaimo.

Wide receivers Craig Stewart and Gabe Cotero return.

Running back Darren McClellan should get more of an opportunity to run this season with a new quarterback, but he will be pushed by transfers Danny Pasquil, from Cal State Fullerton, and Greg Davis, from Chaffey College.

Occidental’s triple-option running attack was fifth in the nation last season despite not having any rushers in the top 10 of the SCIAC.

Coach Dale Wildoff likes to use a lot of players to keep legs fresh, but he might rely more on the experienced players this season. Seventy players reported to fall football camp, and 38 were either freshman or transfers.

Senior running back Brian Madlangbayan (7.8 yards per carry) returns and junior Davin Lundquist, who split time with Eric Messel last year, will be the quarterback.

Senior Andrew Wind led the nation in punt returns with an 18.7-yard average, including touchdowns of 72 and 60 yards.