JUNIOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Antelope Valley

COACH: Brent Carder, 28th year.

LAST SEASON: 5-5; 4-4, fifth in Foothill Conference.

COMING BACK: All-conference RB Lafayette Bailey, who rushed for 864 yards in part-time duty last season, is a breakaway threat. Bailey will operate behind a solid OL that includes returning starters David Alvarez (5-10, 265), James Coffer (6-2, 265) and Willard Hardy (6-3, 360). FB Kenyatta Dawson (6-0, 235) is another good blocker. QB Michael Gleich, who started for the Marauders in 1994, returns and will start part-time.

CHECKING IN: RBs Tyree Booker, a freshman from Denver, and Darrian Feazell, from Las Vegas, figure to see plenty of action. Freshman LBs James Juneau (6-0, 215) and Gary Hardy (5-11, 210) are expected to lead an inexperienced defense. Freshman Brad Norris (6-3, 185), a transfer from Pierce, will challenge for the QB job. DB Marcus Prevost had five interceptions last season for Highland High.

OUTLOOK: The Marauders had more players enter the program this season than they’ve had in a long time. But many freshmen will play in key positions. The offense will rely heavily on Bailey.

Glendale

COACH: John Cicuto, ninth year.

LAST SEASON: 4-6; 2-3, fourth in WSC Northern Division.

COMING BACK: All-conference LB Marlon Calloway (6-3, 220) leads a defense that should be improved. DB Jason Klintworth and LB Jin Hur (6-1, 230) were second-team and honorable mention all-conference selections. DB Clifton Butts and OT Ruben Luzanilla (6-1, 265) are returning starters. QB John Carnevali (6-1, 200) and RB Mike Amanzodi are projected starters.

CHECKING IN: Sophomore OT Jim Ghezzi (6-5, 280), a transfer from Villanova, might be the region’s most talented lineman. Freshmen Adis Davtyan (6-3, 295) and Oscar Gonzalez (6-5, 290) add to a solid front. Freshman Gregg Johnson, from Saugus High, is the best incoming wide receiver.

OUTLOOK: Glendale has some experienced players on a defense that allowed an average of 28.5 points a game last season. The offense is green and may include nine newcomers in starting roles. The Vaqueros have not been to a bowl game since 1992.

Moorpark

COACH: Jim Bittner, 19th year.

LAST SEASON: 8-3; 5-1, second in WSC Southern Division.

COMING BACK: QB George Jones (6-3, 170) is the likely starter in a perennially potent attack loaded this season with skill-position players. TB Aaron Davis will get most of the carries and WR Leodes Van Buren, who had 19 catches last season, most of the receptions. WR Randy Hurt also will figure prominently. OT Rick Isner (6-6, 330) anchors the offensive line. LB Antwan Simpson (6-0, 220) and DT Steve Zirnite (6-3, 255) lead the defense.

CHECKING IN: Freshman LB Judd Granzow (6-4, 225), a two-sport star at Faith Baptist High and former outfielder in the Dodgers’ organization, should make an immediate impact. RBs Jason Gordon (6-2, 205), Joel Deliard, Emory Holmes and Carl Richardson are among a crop of incoming ballcarriers. WR Ross Randolph (6-4, 210) had 32 receptions last season for Oxnard High. OLs Roger Neadeau (6-4, 275) and Jess Ortiz (6-7, 335) were among Ventura County’s top high school linemen last season.

OUTLOOK: Moorpark, which reached the Strawberry Bowl last season before losing, 16-15, to Cerritos, should continue to pile up yardage. The defense also should be improved. The schedule, however, is tough, including early season road games at Bakersfield and Chaffey. The Raiders play host to Valley on Nov. 22 in a battle of area powers.

Pierce

COACH: Bill Norton, seventh year.

LAST SEASON: 0-10; 0-5, sixth in WSC Northern Division.

COMING BACK: QB Dan McMullen (6-4, 194) passed for more than 2,000 yards last season, despite playing behind a weak OL. DB Devin Harvey was an all-conference selection. DT Mike Byrne (6-4, 205) is a returning starter. OLs Craig Garner (6-3, 330) and Eddie Rodriguez (6-6, 300), academically ineligible last season, were all-conference selections in 1995. Jaalam Roberson (5-10, 165) is the top RB.

CHECKING IN: Sophomore Raymar Adams and freshmen Robert Cavil (5-11, 220) and Shaun Griffin bolster a running attack that Norton considers the best in his tenure. S Marshon Caulton joins Harvey in an improved secondary.

OUTLOOK: Nowhere to go but up. The Brahmas, a national power a decade ago, have lost 18 consecutive games. But optimism pervades. McMullen should be more effective behind what appears to be an improved offensive line.

Valley

COACH: Gary Barlow, first year.

LAST SEASON: 10-1; 6-0, first in WSC Southern Division.

COMING BACK: QB Tom Racius (6-3, 215) completed 54.8% of his passes last season while throwing for 424 yards and six touchdowns as a backup. RB Antwane Smith rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns in 21 carries, despite battling a hamstring injury. OT Dave Clark (6-2, 295) started every game last season. WR Leaford Hackett had 32 receptions and TE Greg Petty (6-4, 240), a backup last season, had seven. LBs Jeff Macrea (6-2, 245) and Marcel Desir (6-2, 230) and defensive tackle Edgar Nava (6-2, 305) are returning starters.

CHECKING IN: RB Jamian Barbour, a former standout at Crespi High and transfer from Colorado, will challenge for a starting job. LB Mark Zimmerman (6-2, 225), a former Hart High player, has transferred from Idaho. DB Dante Morgan played at Taft last season. WR Kevin Carlson, LB Ron Atkins (6-0, 180) and OT Greg Hewitt (6-3, 260) will play a lot.

OUTLOOK: Despite a change of command, the Monarchs should remain the region’s top program. Racius is a suitable replacement for Dave Lins, the nation’s top-rated passer last season. The running game should remain effective and there are few holes on either side of the line of scrimmage. Look for continued high-scoring performances.

Ventura

COACH: Terry Morris, first year.

LAST SEASON: 4-6; 1-4, fifth in WSC Northern Division.

COMING BACK: WR Donnell Wickett caught 62 passes for 1,008 yards last season. OTs Jose Murillo (6-4, 302) and Brian Fasulo (6-4, 270) are the only other returning players on offense. DB Sean Roberts, who missed half of last season because of injuries, is the only returning starter on a defense expected to include 10 freshmen.

CHECKING IN: QB Rolando Garcia (6-3, 230), a freshman from Miami with a powerful arm, has coaches excited. He is joined by WR-RB Steve Crespo, his favorite receiver from high school. Freshman RB Brandon Scott is a newcomer from Orange, N.J. DL David Bernal (6-1, 320), two-time Ventura County Small Schools lineman of the year at St. Bonaventure High, is Division I material. TE Joe Byrum (6-2, 210) had 60 receptions for 701 yards last season for St. Bonaventure. DE Travis Ueltschi, a freshman from Buena, was among the region’s best linemen last season. NT Welton Kage (6-4, 270) is a freshman from Sacramento.

OUTLOOK: Lots of new faces, many of them coaches. Morris joined the staff last season after serving as special teams coach at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn. Morris opened camp with 85 players, only four of whom started last season. The Pirates should employ a more wide-open offense.

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Compiled by Vince Kowalick