PREP FOOTBALL ’95 / NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE : West Valley League : CITY SECTION

FACTS AND FIGURES: Seven of eight conference teams made the realigned playoffs last season. . . . With Birmingham’s Chick Epstein retired, Myron Gibford, Chatsworth’s coach of 17 years, holds the longest tenure among conference coaches.

LAST YEAR: Birmingham barely squeaked into the playoffs, winning just one conference game, but enjoyed a storybook postseason ride to the 3-A championship game before losing to Bell. . . . Cleveland was the most-improved team, going from a 1-9 record in 1993 to 6-6 and the second round of the 3-A playoffs.

KEY RETURNERS: Cleveland: Junior Brignac, quarterback/wide receiver; Esmith Estrada, tackle. Birmingham: Luis Salguero, kicker; David Belk, defensive back. Chatsworth: Thaddeus Walton, linebacker; Josh Logan, tackle/defensive end.

OUTLOOK: After a breakthrough season in 1994, Cleveland is poised to take a leap forward into the 4-A playoffs if Brignac jells as the new quarterback and skill position players like receiver Alex Kalinowski (33 receptions in 1994) continue to develop. . . . Chatsworth is counting on a strong junior class to offset back-to-back losing seasons. The Chancellors’ frosh-soph team last year was 10-0. . . . Don’t expect a repeat of Birmingham’s magical playoff run. Only four players return.

1994 IN REVIEW*--*

League Overall School W L T W L T Cleveland 4 3 0 6 6 0 Chatsworth 2 5 0 4 7 0 Birmingham 1 5 1 7 6 1

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