SADDLEBACK

1995 RECORD: 3-6-1 overall, 2-2-1 in league.

COACH: Jerry Witte (115-113-5 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 on offense, 5 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Joseph Tagaloa, RB/DB, 5-7, 155, Jr.; Chris Victorio, G/TE, 5-9, 200, Sr.; Juan Lomeli, WR/DB, 6-0, 210, Jr.; David Pedroza, FB/LB, 5-10, 210, Jr.; Danny Rodriguez, QB/RB, 5-8, 140, Sr.; Frankie Gonzales, RB/LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Noel Perez, T/LB, 5-9, 225, Sr., Fernando Cervantes, TE/DE, 6-3, 205, Jr.; Allen Barajas, G/DE, 5-9, 210, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Juan Cabral, QB/DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Daniel Morales, C/DL, 5-11, 235, Jr.; Tommy Portugal, T/DL, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Rickey Hernandez, WR/DB, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Pedro Velazquez, RB/LB, 5-11, 170, Jr.; Augustine Rodriguez, G/LB, 5-9, 213, Sr.; Jimmy Phan, G/DL, 5-10, 175, So.; Derrick Barnes, WR, 6-0, 165, Jr.

OUTLOOK

The team is strong at running back with Tagaloa, who scored 74 points and rushed for 1,163 yards in 166 carries, and Pedroza, who carried 58 times for 323 yards and two scores. Pedroza, a linebacker, led the defense with 74 tackles. Perez and Gonzalez aren’t that big in the middle, but they are extremely tough to get around. They’ll be joined by Victorio and Cervantes on the defensive line. Danny Rodriquez, who passed for 1,006 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1995, is getting heavy pressure for the job from newcomer Juan Cabral. Barnes is out for the team as a wide receiver, giving the Roadrunners another option besides Lomeli, a second-team all-league receiver who caught 21 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns. The veteran Witte, beginning his 23rd season, is no stranger to these kind of league races and has won four titles in his career. He projects Servite as the runaway favorite.