PREP FOOTBALL ‘95: EMPIRE LEAGUE

Cypress

1994 RECORDS:

OVERALL: 4-6

LEAGUE: 2-3

COACH: Ted Hovorka

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 0-0

RETURNING STARTERS:

OFF: 3

DEF: 1

*--*

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Bobby Brito, 5-9, 195 TB LB Sr. Mike Duarte, 5-6, 140 DB -- Sr. Eddie Garcia, 5-11, 210 C -- Sr.

*--*

*--*

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Matt Conde, 5-11, 225 G T Jr. Johnny Crawford, 6-0, 180 S -- Sr. Ryan Dinley, 5-11, 175 WR -- Jr. Joe Gaitley, 6-2, 190 TE -- Sr. Greg Harrington, 6-0, 210 G -- Sr. Robbie Jin, 6-0, 190 -- LB Jr. Steve Pulsifer, 6-2, 260 T -- Jr. Ryan Smith, 6-4, 270 T -- So. Nick Vanderwal, 6-0, 190 QB -- Sr.

*--*

OUTLOOK

First-year Coach Hovorka, a former assistant at Servite, is one of the youngest coaches in Orange County at 29 and he might have the county’s most inexperienced team. Hovorka recruited 21 seniors, 18 of them had never played football, and many of them are filling key roles. But Hovorka said his team won’t be as bad it sounds. “It’s not a building year,” he said. “There’s talent here. We just have kids who haven’t developed yet. We’re going to take some lumps early. But when we get to league, we’re going to be good. I think we’re going to be in there for a league title.” Hovorka admits the defense has some holes, especially in the line. But the offense will revolve around Brito, maybe the county’s best athlete. “He’s going to be our gun,” Hovorka said. “But we know where his future is--baseball--and we’re not going to abuse it. But we’re going to run him and throw to him. He’s electric. We’ll try to take some pressure off him by throwing to the tight end.”

SCHEDULE

September 8 vs. Estancia at Newport Harbor HS; 15 at Western; 21 vs. Savanna at Western HS; 29 vs. Anaheim at Glover Stadium.

October 5 vs. Magnolia at Western HS; 13 vs. Loara at Western HS; 20 vs. Katella at Glover Stadium; 26 vs. El Dorado at Western HS.

November 2 vs. Kennedy at Western HS; 9 vs. Century at Santa Ana Stadium.