PREP FOOTBALL ’94 : Bishop Amat Opens Season as Nation’s No. 1 Team

Tom Salter knew there would be high expectations when he was chosen in the off-season to succeed Mark Paredes as football coach at Bishop Amat High.

Success is expected at a school that is a perennial power in the Southern Section and produces Division I players with regularity.

But did they have to heap the No. 1-in-the-nation monkey on the Lancers’ back so soon?

That’s exactly what the Associated Press did last week when the wire service placed Bishop Amat atop its preseason National Prep Poll. USA Today ranked Bishop Amat No. 2 behind Southeast High of Bradenton, Fla.

“We’ve talked about it with the players a little bit,” Salter said. “We’ve said it doesn’t really mean anything, that it’s probably good motivation for opponents.

“It’s an experienced team. Hopefully, they’re mature enough to be able to handle it.”

Bishop Amat returns 14 starters from an 11-1 team that was upset by Antelope Valley, 21-7, in the Southern Section Division I quarterfinals.

Included among 51 seniors on the roster are preseason All-Americans Daylon McCutcheon, Kory Minor and Ramogi Huma.

Salter, a longtime Bishop Amat defensive assistant, said defense will remain a strength.

“We have a very experienced defense,” Salter said. “Basically, we’re just trying to keep the system going, allowing our players to make the big plays.

“On offense, we obviously have good skill players.”

The most dangerous will be McCutcheon. After two standout seasons as a wide receiver and defensive back, he will start at tailback now that Rodney Sermons has graduated to USC.

“He came into high school as a running back but kind of had to wait his turn,” Salter said.

“Mentally and physically, he’s a top player. I think him getting moved to running back has been a learning experience.

“He’s used to running in the open field as a wide receiver, and now he’s making the adjustment to getting through the line. Every day he improves.”

Bishop Amat opens its season Friday night against defending City Section 4-A Division champion Carson. The Lancers also play nonleague games against Redlands, Damien, Bakersfield and Dominguez.

“It’s a very tough schedule,” Salter said. “Probably the toughest we have had in a long time. Every game is difficult. And that’s before we get into league, which is always very good.”

Former All-Southern Section player Stephon Pace, who played defensive back at USC, is among the new assistants added to Salter’s staff. Salter’s father, Dick, a longtime coach at Arcadia, will work with the quarterbacks.

Salter said preseason workouts have not strayed much from the routine that was instituted by Paredes, who is in his first season at J.W. North.

“Camp week was pretty much the same,” Salter said. “The kids knew what to do and what was expected of them. It’s a good system, so why change it?

“We’ve had no key injuries, and I think we’re ready. We’ve hit each other enough. Now it’s time to hit somebody else.”

Bishop Amat might be considered the most powerful team in the nation, but there are many other strong teams in the San Gabriel Valley, despite the graduation of marquee players such as Sermons, Ken Haslip, Miguel Meriwether and Gabe Agredano.

Defending Pacific League champion Muir is ranked 14th in one national poll and No. 3 in the state in another.

The Mustangs return 14 starters from an 8-3 team that won its second consecutive Pacific League championship.

Pasadena, with linebacker/running back Lester Towns and quarterback/defensive Chris McAlister, is expected to challenge cross-town rival Muir for the championship.