PREP FOOTBALL ’94 / EMPIRE LEAGUE : El Dorado

1993 RECORDS OVERALL: 6-6 LEAGUE: 3-2

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Rick Jones: 21-33

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 3 4

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Ismail Abdullah, 5-10, 195 FB LB Sr. Kirk Badii, 6-1, 175 -- FS Sr. David Churchill, 6-4, 230 OL DL Jr. Eric LaGraffe, 6-2, 240 OL DL Sr. Mike McAdam, 6-4, 255 OL DL Sr. John McMahon, 6-2, 240 OL DL Jr. Brian Sardina, 6-1, 205 OL LB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Josh Ater, 6-4, 220 OL DL Sr. Jake Ehlen, 5-10, 180 FB DB So. DeLonne Kelly, 5-10, 165 RB DB Jr. Mike Marzicola, 6-4, 195 QB -- Jr. Richie Williams, 5-9, 180 -- DB Sr.

OUTLOOK

The Golden Hawks might benefit most by the departure of Los Alamitos and Esperanza. Co-favorites with Kennedy to win the league title, some Empire coaches believe El Dorado, which finished third last season, has the edge. McAdam and LaGraffe are among the reasons. The two give El Dorado arguably the league’s best offensive line. Churchill and McMahon, who both played plenty as sophomores, are much improved, Jones said. Inexperience is the knock on Marzicola, but if he emerges, as Jones believes he will, the Golden Hawks will be difficult to handle. Kelly, Abdullah, Jones and David Meyers provide a strong running game. Jones isn’t making any predictions on who will win the title, but believes it will be one of the county’s more interesting races. “The last few years it’s been Los Al and Esperanza and everyone else played for third,” he said. “This year will be interesting because there is so much balance.”

SCHEDULE

September 8 vs. Canyon at El Modena HS; 15 vs. Diamond Bar at Valencia HS; 23 at Valencia; 30 at Fullerton.

October 7 vs. Brea-Olinda at Valencia HS; 14 vs. Cypress at Valencia HS; 20 vs. Century at Santa Ana Stadium; 28 vs. Katella at Valencia HS.

November 3 vs. Kennedy at Western HS; 12 vs. Loara at Valencia HS.