Calabasas Can Afford Light Approach With Heavy Offensive Line

Larry Edwards approaches his job with a sense of humor. And when it comes to talking about his Calabasas High football team, Edwards usually punctuates his conversation with punch lines.

Example. Edwards, describing the strength of players, said, “If the bus breaks down, we’ll be able to pull it.”

Edwards on why his players can pull the bus: “Our weight room. It’s not Bally’s, but it’s one of the best in the Valley.”

Edwards on what will happen if the Coyotes lose a Frontier League game: “I’ll choke them.”

Of course, he was joking, but Edwards’ cracks are a subtle indication that he holds high expectations for his team.

In the past, Edwards said he shortchanged his program, accepting competitiveness from his players while never telling them to shoot for No. 1.

And after 10 seasons, the result was something to joke about: record of 42-56-4, winning percentage of .428. Mediocrity.

Edwards decided to adopt a new attitude best described in another quip. “If we can’t contain the line of scrimmage,” he said, “we’ll be playing the Packers or Rams that day.”

In fact, Edwards’ best line is his offensive line, which boasts four players who average 248 pounds.

This could be the year that Calabasas, with Cal-Hi Sports preseason All-State tackle Jason Rempel leading the way, finally steamrolls its way to a league title.

“This is no hype--he’s the best,” Edwards said of Rempel, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior. “All the Pac-10 schools are recruiting him. Notre Dame has asked for tape. The word is out.”

The word evidently is out on Calabasas as well. The Coyotes open Friday ranked fourth in the Southern Section in Division IX and could jump to No. 1 with a victory. Calabasas (7-4, 3-1 in Frontier League play last year) plays host to the division’s top-ranked team, Bishop Diego.

But with only 10 returning starters, Calabasas can’t afford to lose key players. And cause for concern is whether Rempel will play against Bishop Diego after he sprained his right ankle in an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday.

But regardless of Friday’s outcome, Calabasas has already made impressive strides in its quest for the upper echelon.

In 1990, Edwards decided to eliminate players who weren’t 100% committed. The result was a roster of 14 and a 3-7 record. But one of the victories was a stunner, 13-6 over Fillmore, the No. 1 team in the division.

The Fillmore victory proved to be a harbinger. The Coyotes followed with seasons of 6-4 and 7-4. They reached the playoffs last season, losing in the first round to North Torrance, 24-12.

The consensus among Frontier League coaches is that the Oct. 15 showdown between Calabasas and Nordhoff will decide the champion. Edwards believes Calabasas is ripe to take the next step and win that game. And the players might be ready to take it with him.

“We like being ranked fourth,” Edwards said. “It’s recognition that we’ve arrived. And I think the kids should expect to be there.”

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The league: Two-time defending champion Nordhoff is a team that has already tasted success, having reached the third round of the playoffs in 1992. The Rangers have undergone a rebuilding under Cliff Farrar similar to that of Calabasas.

Farrar was 6-24 his first three seasons and 18-6 the last two. The road to the Frontier crown will definitely go through Ojai again this year. The Rangers have speed: Wide receivers James Colborn and Archie Jackson and running back Josh Hawkins ran on two track-and-field relay teams that set school records last spring.

Nordhoff returns only nine starters but tends to wear down opponents because not many starters play offense and defense. And while the Rangers averaged 40 points against league opponents, most players now stepping into starting roles saw plenty of action last season.

Santa Clara boasts 20 returning starters, Moorpark 15. While coaches respect the experience of both teams, the experience last year wasn’t good. Each team finished 2-8.

Santa Paula, with new coach Paul Spinner getting only three returning starters, is rebuilding.

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The players: Rempel is the marquee name at Calabasas, and Joey Gagliardi (6-4, 270) and Jesse Zamudio (6-1, 240) also return to the league’s best offensive line. But the key to the Coyotes’ season will be the transition of Ziad Bawarshi transition from cornerback to quarterback. He was second in the area in interceptions last year with seven.

Calabasas has the line and Nordhoff has the backfield. Farrar says his tandem of Hawkins and Dallan Rigby--junior returning starters who combined for more than 800 rushing yards last season--is one of the best running back in the area.

Senior kicker Sean Leach could be the difference in tight games. He has made field goals of up to 60 yards in practice this summer.

All-league linebackers Bill Finnerty (6-2, 190) and Javier Solano (6-1, 200) are back at Moorpark, joined by a pair of impressive sophomores in quarterback Brian Paul and David Burns (both 6-3, 170).

Paul will compete with junior Tyler Dritz for the starting job.

Santa Clara faces a distinct height disadvantage in top returnees fullback Paul Soliz (5-6), halfback Billy Luhrs (5-5) and guards Mike Cabana (5-6) and Dan Uelmen (5-6).

To compensate, the Saints have hit the weights. Uelmen, for instance, bench presses more than 300 pounds.

Spinner believes he has a small-college prospect in quarterback Jeff Shea (6-2, 180). The question is how he will he perform with an inexperienced supporting cast.