FOOTBALL ’94 / High School Coaches Show Off Their Tricks! : CITY SECTION : VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE : MID-VALLEY LEAGUE

GRANT LANCERS

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 5-6 3-4 2nd

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Bill Foster 10th 34-54-2

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Di-onte Smith, 5-11, 185 RB -- Sr. Marcel Desir, 6-0, 200 FB LB Sr. Brandon Adalid, 6-0, 275 OL DL Sr. William Salazar, 6-1, 240 C DL Sr. Jose Amezquita, 5-10, 200 FB LB Sr. Adam Crespo, 5-10, 170 WR DB Sr. Chris Camacho, 6-1, 225 OL DL Sr. Ruben Montoya, 6-0, 170 QB DB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Abelardo Torres, 5-7, 175 WR DB Jr. Giovanni Herrera, 5-10, 195 FB LB Sr. Oscar Gutierrez, 6-0, 185 TE LB Jr. Orlando Mendez, 5-11, 175 TE LB Jr.

FAST FACT

Grant had the third toughest defense among area City schools last season behind Sylmar and Taft, allowing just 199.9 yards a game.

OUTLOOK

Unfortunately for the Lancers, seniors Ray and Rod Singleton have disappeared and Foster doesn’t know where they went. The Singletons accounted for most of the offense last season, and had they returned, the Lancers could have been a clear favorite to win the league title. But all is not lost for Grant. Before suffering a mid-season injury, Di-onte Smith amassed 575 yards and nine touchdowns on 73 carries last season. Foster will build his offense around Smith. And with seven starters returning on offense, it should be successful.

MONROE VIKINGS

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 2-8 1-6 4th

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Fred Cuccia 1st 0-0

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Armando Montelongo, 5-9, 185 -- LB Sr. Jair LaFon, 5-10, 270 OT -- Sr. Ben Shahabaz, 5-11, 255 OL -- Sr. Quincy Brooks, 5-9, 170 RB -- Sr. Jerry Ohigashi, 5-8, 155 -- DB Sr. Keven Stewart, 5-10, 180 -- DB Sr. Billy Christ, 6-1, 205 OL -- Sr. Derreck Rose, 6-1, 170 WR DB Sr. Aaron Arnold, 6-1, 165 WR -- Jr. Diego Jimenez, 6-2, 185 -- LB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Jessie Jones, 5-8, 155 RB DB Jr. Nick Nuicelli, 5-9, 175 RB -- Sr. Kenyatta Burris, 6-0, 170 QB -- Jr. James Wellridge, 5-11, 225 -- LB Sr. Nelson Rivas, 6-3, 215 -- DL Sr. James Agustus, 5-10, 165 -- DB Sr.

FAST FACT

Cuccia was 30-25-1 in five seasons at Poly, where he guided the Parrots to their first City Section 3-A title in 1990.

OUTLOOK

Keep your eye on Monroe. The team that finished last in the league last season has gained a successful coach who last year guided Poly to the league championship. Suddenly, Monroe does not promise to be the league doormat. Ten starters return, so experience won’t be much of a problem. Getting the players to think like winners, however, is Cuccia’s greatest task. “This team has potential,” Cuccia said. “But they have to learn to believe in themselves because they have been browbeaten for so long.”

NORTH HOLLYWOOD HUSKIES

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 4-7 2-5 3rd

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Gary Gray 3rd 9-13

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Ryan Jones, 6-1, 165 WR -- Sr. Towan Franklin, 5-9, 155 RB -- Sr. Matt Jones, 6-1, 175 RB DB Sr. Brian Costales, 5-10, 200 OT LB Sr. Lee Jefferson, 6-0, 250 C NG Sr. Randy Timbas, 5-8, 200 OL -- Sr. Sal Lopez, 5-9, 145 WR DB Sr. Richard Anderson, 6-1, 180 -- LB Sr. Jesus Acosta, 5-11, 155 QB -- Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Danny Curtin, 6-0, 160 WR -- Jr. Dante Clay, 5-11, 180 RB -- So. Luis Gutierrez, 5-11, 165 -- LB Jr. Angel Gonzalez, 5-10, 205 OL DL Sr.

FAST FACT

North Hollywood, one of the few City schools to employ a run-and-shoot offense, led area City teams in passing last season with 2,303 yards.

OUTLOOK

North Hollywood was 4-3 last season, but lost its final four games, mainly because of a porous defense, which gave up 308 yards a game. Strengthening the defense was tops on Gray’s list, and he said the Huskies are quicker and more aggressive this year. North Hollywood will rely on Acosta to fill the shoes of Alvaro Castillo, who led area City teams in passing last season with nearly 2,000 yards. Jones, who averaged 32 yards a catch and is receiving attention from UCLA, will be Acosta’s main target.

POLY PARROTS

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 4-7 4-3 1st

COACH YR. RECORD AT SCHOOL Tim Feeley 1st 0-0

TOP RETURNEES OFF DEF YR Jaime Cerna, 6-4, 190 WR -- Sr. Elmer Sanchez, 6-0, 210 OL DL Sr. Keith Hillings, 6-0, 240 OL DL Jr. Leaford Hackett, 5-9, 160 WR -- Jr. Ariel Navarro, 6-1, 220 OL TE Jr. Ricky Gamboa, 6-0, 185 QB DB Sr. Alfonso Ruelas, 6-0, 185 FB LB Sr. Bobby Hirahara, 6-0, 190 -- LB Sr. Daryl Mathis, 6-4, 260 OL DL Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Cameron Hilton, 6-0, 185 RB -- Sr. Greg Jones, 6-1, 225 OL DL Jr. Les May, 6-0, 250 OL DL Jr. Ron Love, 6-0, 180 -- DB Jr. Shaunt Khandamian, 5-11, 180 -- LB Sr.

FAST FACT

Poly had 16 turnovers while losing its first three games last season, but rebounded to win a league title and gain a playoff berth.

OUTLOOK

Former Coach Fred Cuccia will not be the only one missing from the Poly sideline this season. Poly’s top three players last year--quarterback Keijuan Douglas, tailback Gerrod Taylor and wide receiver Houdarie Andrews--have either transferred or been declared ineligible. But Feeley insists all is not lost at Poly. “I don’t want to overplay or downplay, but they’ll be surprised when they see Poly,” Freeley said. Hilton, who has never played high school football and who is being billed by Freeley as the “sleeper of the City,” is the reason for Freeley’s optimism.