PREP FOOTBALL ’95 / CHANNEL LEAGUE : SOUTHERN SECTION

FACTS AND FIGURES: Buena, with brawny offensive linemen and an experienced quarterback, figures to be the best of the league’s five Ventura County schools. Returning all-leaguers David Paul (6 feet 3, 270 pounds) and Robert Gerner (5-10, 245) anchor a line that also includes Shane Graves (6-7, 270) and Mike Cassiadoria (6-1, 280). Glenn Dudley passed for 1,329 yards and nine touchdowns last season. The Bulldogs’ running game includes senior Josh Cross (654 yards last season) and juniors Brady Phelps and Eddie Loya. “We are strong and smart, but slow and slower,” Coach Rick Scott said. . . .Ventura has less experience than usual, but Coach Phil McCune likes quarterback Kyle Schommer, a senior who was a reserve last season. Receiver Donnell Wickett might be the team’s best player. Will Cowen (6-2, 270) and Ryan Woods (6-0, 210) are strong at offensive guard and twins Marcos and Oscar Tovar are solid linebackers. . . .Hueneme fields the fastest team, with Ronney Jenkins (1,316 yards rushing last season) at tailback, Jackie Samuel at fullback, George Jones at quarterback and Rashadd Cousins at receiver. Jones, a four-year starter, passed for 538 yards and rushed for 300 last year. “We are practicing with great enthusiasm and spirit,” Coach Larry Miller said. . . . Oxnard, under new Coach Wes Morimune, returns only three starters. The Yellowjackets won last year’s sophomore league championship behind quarterback Bryan Spencer, who will start for the varsity. . . .Rio Mesa will be led by the steady hand of quarterback Farhaad Azimi, who passed for 672 yards and rushed for 210, but there are only nine seniors on the roster. Senior receiver Randy Hurt (16 catches last year), junior linebacker Ismael Lopez and junior linemen Will Ferrell (6-5, 270) and Jess Ortiz (6-6, 330) are players to watch.

LAST YEAR: The race is normally tight in this eight-team league and last season was no exception: the top five teams were separated by one game in the standings. Only Rio Mesa (1-6) and Hueneme (0-7) were out of the hunt. . . .Every Ventura County team in the league both gained and allowed more than 240 yards per game.

KEY RETURNERS: Hueneme: Ronney Jenkins, running back; George Jones, quarterback. Buena: Glenn Dudley, quarterback; David Paul, lineman. Ventura: Kyle Schommer, quarterback. Rio Mesa: Farhaad Azimi, quarterback; Randy Hurt, receiver. Oxnard: Danny Ramirez, linebacker; Caleb Droughn, running back.

OUTLOOK: Santa Barbara is the hands-down favorite to win the title. San Marcos and Buena are the best bets to grab the other playoff berths. “You can lose a game or two early and still make the playoffs because this league is so balanced,” said Scott, the Buena coach. . . . Ventura makes up in tradition what it lacks in experience, and Hueneme must be taken seriously because of Jenkins and his speedy backfield mates. . . .Dos Pueblos, Oxnard and Rio Mesa will struggle to reach .500. . . .”This is a high-scoring league,” said McCune, the Ventura coach. “If you don’t score over 20 points, you aren’t going to win many.”

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1994 IN REVIEW

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League Overall School W L T W L T Buena 4 1 2 6 3 2 San Marcos 5 2 0 6 5 0 Ventura 5 2 0 6 5 0 Santa Barbara 4 2 1 6 4 1 Oxnard 4 3 0 5 5 0 Dos Pueblos 3 3 1 4 5 1 Rio Mesa 1 6 0 1 9 0 Hueneme 0 7 0 2 8 0

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