HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / SEASON PREVIEW : The Top 20

The Times’ top 20 high school football preseason poll of teams from the City and Southern sections, with division, last year’s record and comment.

1. LA PUENTE BISHOP AMAT (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 11-1, lost to Antelope Valley, 21-7, in Div. I quarterfinals.

* Outlook: The Lancers have a new coach in Tom Salter, but the transition should be eased by returning talent. Running back-defensive back Daylon McCutcheon, fullback-defensive lineman Kory Minor and linebacker Ramogi Huma were All-Southern Section last season. Bishop Amat has won 10 consecutive league championships.

2. LOS ALAMITOS (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 14-0, beat Huntington Beach, 39-21, in Div. II final.

* Outlook: The Griffins have an unbeaten streak of 35 games due in large part to an efficient passing game. Quarterback duties have been inherited by junior Kevin Feterik, who performed well over the summer. Los Alamitos moves up to Div. I this season and has a nonleague schedule that includes powers Carson and Pasadena Muir.

3. SANTA ANA MATER DEI (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 12-2, lost to Rialto Eisenhower, 56-3, in Div. I final.

* Outlook: The Monarchs are still reeling from last season’s embarrassing performance in the title game. But Mater Dei has a better team this season, headed by returning starting quarterback John Flynn and heavily recruited offensive lineman Matt Motherway.

4. RIALTO EISENHOWER (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 14-0, beat Santa Ana Mater Dei, 56-3, in Div. I final.

* Outlook: This is supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Eagles, who are coming off their finest season. Many coaches are not even picking Eisenhower to win its league, but things should not be all that bad. Watch for receiver R. Jay Soward, one of the top juniors in the state.

5. PASADENA MUIR (Southern Section, Division II)

* Last year: 8-3, lost to Fountain Valley, 34-28, in Div. II first round.

* Outlook: The Mustangs have had trouble winning consistently under any coach except Jim Brownfield, who stepped down for the second time before last year. Jack Allen led the team to a league title in his first season but then watched a quick exit from the playoffs. As usual, Muir is loaded, with 15 returning starters.

6. ANAHEIM ESPERANZA (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 7-4, lost to Compton Dominguez, 35-19, in Div. II first round.

* Outlook: The Aztecs should bounce back from a disappointing 1993. Coach Gary Meek has 16 starters returning from last season, including his quarterback and a pair of receivers. Esperanza should also dominate on both sides of the line as it has in prior years.

7. CARSON (City Section, Division 4-A)

* Last year: 10-4, beat Dorsey, 26-0, in Div. 4-A final.

* Outlook: Coach David Williams had a successful rookie season, guiding the Colts to their ninth title. He hopes to return stability to a program that was solid until Gene Vollnogle retired four years ago. Carson has plenty of offensive weapons, including quarterback Ramon Rogers and receiver J.R. Redmond. Its nonleague schedule is difficult.

8. ANTELOPE VALLEY (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 7-6, lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei, 15-11, in Div. I semifinals.

* Outlook: The Antelopes were rolling along last season until they had to forfeit three games for using an ineligible player. They still made the playoffs and managed to upset top-seeded Bishop Amat in the quarterfinals. Returning is all-league running back Jermaine Lewis, who gained 1,541 yards as a junior, and quarterback Trymon Redick.

9. LOYOLA (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 8-4, lost to Rialto Eisenhower, 37-19, in Div. I quarterfinals.

* Outlook: One of the Southland’s most solid programs is coming off one of its least memorable seasons, losing three of its last four games. Life won’t get any easier in the rugged Del Rey League, but Loyola should be improved with 12 returning starters. Questions remain at quarterback, where sophomore backup Scott Walter will probably see action.

10. IRVINE (Southern Section, Division V)

* Last year: 13-1, beat Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 41-14, in Div. IV final.

* Outlook: Wherever the Vaqueros have gone they have won, and the team has plenty of talent for yet another title run. In 1991, Irvine won the Div. II championship. It dropped to Div. IV the following year and won that title last season. Yet another drop to Div. V should prove no problem.

11. WESTLAKE VILLAGE WESTLAKE ((Southern Section, Division III)

* Last year: 8-3-1, lost to Hawthorne, 24-22, in Div. III quarterfinals.

* Outlook: Next to Los Alamitos, the Warriors should have the area’s best passing game. Receivers Billy Miller and Mike Leibin are top prospects, and Coach Jim Benkert has three talented quarterbacks to choose from. There are holes to fill on the offensive and defensive lines, but Westlake should be better than it was a year ago.

12. SYLMAR (City Section, Division 4-A)

* Last year: 10-2-1, lost to Carson, 22-21, in Div. 4-A semifinals.

* Outlook: The Spartans, who won the 4-A title in 1992, fell one point short in their quest to reach the final last season. Coach Jeff Engilman talked about leaving in the off-season but decided to stay. Sylmar has plenty of size and speed. Running back Durell Price and defensive tackle Brandon McGee are two of many standouts.

13. MORENO VALLEY CANYON SPRINGS (Southern Section, Division IV)

* Last year: 12-2, lost to Irvine, 41-14, in Div. IV final.

* Outlook: Canyon Springs, the new kid on the block in the Inland Empire, is loaded with 14 returning starters from a team that advanced to the divisional final. The Cougars are not loaded with college prospects, but they have plenty of depth and experience.

14. NEWHALL HART (Southern Section, Division II)

* Last year: 10-2, lost to Compton Dominguez, 44-42, in Div. II quarterfinals.

* Outlook: The Indians have won three league titles in a row, and a fourth is not out of the question. The team will continue to look for the pass first with junior Steve McKeon calling the signals. The running game should be stronger with Ted Iacenda returning, and the defense should also be improved.

15. LONG BEACH JORDAN (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 5-6, lost to Encino Crespi, 35-7, in Div. I first round.

* Outlook: After years of playing second fiddle to Long Beach Poly, the Panthers are primed to win the Moore League. Their hopes hinge on the play of junior quarterback Ortege Jenkins, considered one of the top all-around athletes in the league. Running backs Ahmad Jackson and LaJuan Gibbons add firepower.

16. SANTA FE SPRINGS ST. PAUL (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 7-4, lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei, 17-14, in Div. I first round.

* Outlook: Marijon Ancich worked miracles in his first season back at St. Paul, so it is only natural that expectations are higher this year. The Swordsmen do not return many starters, but quarterback Gerry Ceballos is back and will pass more often. The team faces an early test against Fontana.

17. MISSION VIEJO TRABUCO HILLS (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 11-3, beat Costa Mesa, 44-6, in Div. VIII final.

* Outlook: For winning the Div. VIII title last season, the Mustangs were rewarded by being placed in the South Coast League and moving up to Div. I. It should not make any difference, however, since Trabuco Hills was 5-1 against South Coast League teams the last two seasons.

18. LONG BEACH POLY (Southern Section, Division I)

* Last year: 10-2, lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei, 17-14, in Div. I quarterfinals.

* Outlook: The Jackrabbits are expected to battle Jordan for the Moore League title, an underdog role they are not used to. Poly does not return many starters, but its program is so solid that it rarely has rebuilding seasons. Leadership duties fall to senior quarterback Rob Toler, who is in his third year on the varsity.

19. PARAMOUNT (Southern Section, Division II)

* Last year: 10-1, lost to Placentia El Dorado, 21-16, in Div. II first round.

* Outlook: Veteran Coach Ken Sutch is trying to put last season’s disappointing playoff loss behind him. The Pirates entered the game seeded fourth with a 10-0 record. Paramount should be back in the hunt with two-time all-league quarterback Michael Fletcher returning. Fletcher also plays defensive back and returns kicks and punts.

20. WOODLAND HILLS TAFT (City Section, Division 4-A)

* Last year: 10-2, lost to Dorsey, 33-7, in Div. 4-A quarterfinals.

* Outlook: Many coaches in the City pointed to Taft last season as the new contender, and the Toreadors performed well until being routed in the playoffs. Starr has rebuilt the program and has several top prospects in the lineup this year, including running back Jerry Brown and defensive back Dashon Polk.