FOOTBALL ’94 / High School Coaches Show Off Their Tricks! : SOUTHERN SECTION : FRONTIER LEAGUE

CALABASAS COYOTES

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 7-4 2-2 3rd

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Larry Edwards 15th 65-75-4

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Steve Wang, 5-9, 180 FB LB Sr. Matt Carpenter, 6-1, 190 OG DE Sr. Jeremy Kline, 5-9, 225 RB -- Sr. Jovaughn Johnson, 5-10, 230 OT DT Sr. Pat Smith, 6-4, 185 QB -- Sr. Justin Melago, 5-9, 170 FB LB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Marshall Horton, 5-11, 180 OG LB Jr. Tim Lyons, 5-10, 190 OT DT Jr. Justin Cohen, 5-11, 165 WR FS Jr. Nathan Mandsager, 6-0, 170 -- LB Jr. Clayton Coleman, 5-9, 165 RB LB Jr. Isaac Johnson, 5-7, 155 WR -- Jr. Vic Kovner, 6-0, 200 OG DE Jr. Andrew Kim, 5-8, 160 RB DB Jr. Zak Levinson, 5-9, 160 QB DB Jr. Jeff Arnell, 5-11, 170 TE -- Jr.

FAST FACT

Eight of 10 Calabasas linemen can bench press more than 300 pounds and squat more than 500.

OUTLOOK

Along with the iron-pumping linemen, each of the Coyotes’ receivers and backfield players run the 40-yard dash under five seconds. Indeed, the 1994 roster is a collection of strong and fast athletes. But it is a small collection, a roster of 30 that Edwards chooses to call the “Dirty 30.” Only 10 seniors and only five starters return. Smith, stronger and three inches taller, moves from receiver to QB.

MOORPARK MUSKETEERS

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 9-2-1 4-0 1st

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Rob Dearborn 7th 24-36-1

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Bryan Wilkins, 6-0, 185 RB CB Sr. Jose Ceja, 6-0, 185 FB SS Sr. Tyler Dritz, 6-1, 175 QB CB Sr. Bryan Paul, 6-3, 180 QB FS Jr. Mike Lilienthal, 6-2, 220 OT -- Sr. Dave Burns, 6-3, 170 WR -- Jr. Jason King, 6-0, 235 C DT Sr. Zack Heath, 6-3, 225 OG -- Jr. Al Pamayo, 5-8, 190 -- LB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Casey Groves, 6-0, 210 OG DE Jr.

FAST FACT

Moorpark had the best season in a history that dates to 1909, earning its first playoff victory and winning its first title since 1943.

OUTLOOK

Coaches are giving Nordhoff the nod as league favorite, but they cite running back Wilkins as enemy No. 1. Nobody figured out how to stop the mid-season transfer from Littlerock who romped for 1,402 yards and 14 TDs in 1993. But, strangely, only 30 players have turned out for the 1994 title defense. Fifteen top JV players from last year are sitting out, despite personal pleas from Dearborn.

NORDHOFF RANGERS

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 8-4 X3-1 2nd

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Cliff Farrar 8th 35-37

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Josh Hawkins, 6-1, 185 RB -- Sr. David Colker, 6-2, 235 C -- Sr. Dallan Rigby, 5-10, 175 RB -- Sr. Cody Burge, 5-10, 210 OL -- Sr. Seth Rhodes, 5-10, 185 -- NG Sr. Jeremy Lawson, 6-1, 180 -- LB Sr. Brian Farrar, 5-10, 145 -- LB Sr. Neil Hansen, 6-1, 212 -- LB Sr. Jerrick Mayers, 6-0, 165 -- DB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Bobby Jones, 5-10, 170 -- FS Jr. Rusty Perry, 5-10, 165 -- LB Jr. Mike Gardia, 6-1, 185 QB -- Sr. Ryan Rodrigues, 6-1, 198 OL -- Jr.

FAST FACT

The Rangers were 6-24 under Farrar his first three seasons but are 26-10 the last three.

OUTLOOK

Farrar’s line looks better than it has in his previous seven seasons. That’s good news for Gardia and Hawkins, who last season gained 1,652 yards--more than any returning Southern Section running back in the area. Eleven starters return--six on defense--and the squad is bolstered by former members of the 1993 league champion JV team.

SANTA CLARA SAINTS

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 2-8 1-3 4th

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Dan Dolby, Dick Weber 1st 0-0

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Andy Maciel, 5-10, 175 RB LB Sr. Patrick Davis, 5-10, 165 QB FS Sr. Ramon Razo, 5-8, 165 RB DB Sr. Ed Escudero, 6-3, 225 OT DT Sr. Fred Torres, 6-2, 245 OT DT Sr. Dan Cabana, 5-8, 175 FB LB Sr. Curtis Smith, 5-10, 160 WR DB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Jeff Wondolowski, 6-2, 205 OT DE Jr. Andy Super, 5-8, 165 QB CB Jr. Rico Figueroa, 5-10, 215 OG LB Jr. Vince Herrera, 5-11, 180 RB DB Jr. Matt Neuman, 6-1, 215 TE DE Sr. Rick Isner, 6-4, 302 -- DT Jr.

FAST FACT

The Saints haven’t had a winning season since 1989--the last year of quarterback Tim Gutierrez, now a fifth-year starter at San Diego State.

OUTLOOK

There are unusual sights in the Saints’ camp--the hulking bodies of Isner and Escudero, a spirited battle at quarterback between Super and Davis, and the athletically gifted Maciel. But Saints are plagued by the traditional problems: a roster of only 34 and too many players going both ways. Size and talent are better than usual. But experience, depth and attitude are concerns. “We’ve got to teach these kids how to win,” Dolby said.

SANTA PAULA CARDINALS

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 1-9 0-4 5th

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Paul Spinner 2nd 1-9

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Austin Macias, 6-1, 170 WR DB Sr. Ramon Godinez, 5-10, 180 OL DL Sr. Jeremy Johnson, 5-9, 160 WR -- Sr. Peter Christensen, 6-0, 180 TE LB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Julio Perez, 5-11, 170 -- DE Sr. Angel Medrano, 5-9, 160 WR DB Sr. Tony Tate, 5-11, 165 -- DB Sr. Ryan Cavender, 5-11, 165 QB -- Jr.

FAST FACT

The Cardinals’ offense ranked last among the 63 area teams in the Southern and City sections: 126.5 net yards per game.

OUTLOOK

Spinner is the only coach in the league who has not set a league championship as his team’s goal. And with no foreseeable running attack and a quarterback who played part time on a 2-8 JV team last year, he’s probably taking the right approach. The goal is reaching .500, which still seems lofty considering three or four linemen will play both ways and the only depth on the team is at receiver and defensive back. Said Spinner, “My goal is for a kid to have a fun experience and a positive outlet that he can channel his energies into.”