Engilman Seeking Springboard

With nonleague games scheduled this fall against Notre Dame, Antelope Valley and Hart, Sylmar High football Coach Jeff Engilman hopes his players understand the importance of spring practice.

“If they don’t know, they ought have their heads examined,” he said. “I keep saying, ‘Why did I do this?’ ”

Throwing caution aside, Engilman has his team on a path that will lead to extensive media exposure, large crowds and high expectations.

Never before has a local City Section school opened against three of the region’s Southern Section football powers.

“Our biggest key is whether we can stay healthy,” Engilman said. “We’re so thin we’re like cellophane.”

But Engilman warned, “We’re pretty loaded.”

Taft has reached the City 4-A championship game the last two years, but the Spartans could be the team to beat behind running back-defensive back Corey Neal.

“He could be a franchise-type player,” Engilman said.

Defensive end George Wrighster, quarterback Noah Albiston, lineman Tony Sanchez and running back Anthony Wells add to Sylmar’s talented arsenal.

Southern Section schools begin 15 days of practice on Monday. City Section schools like Sylmar are allowed 20 hours of practice.

Spring is a time for quarterback controversies, or, as coaches prefer, quarterback competition.

All-City quarterback Steve Alvarado of Taft passed for 2,191 yards and 19 touchdowns last season but he’s considered the underdog in the battle with Brandon Hance, a transfer from Notre Dame who started on the Knights’ sophomore team last season.

Notre Dame, which moves to the Division I Del Rey League and won’t have tailback Justin Fargas, must decide on a starting quarterback. Junior-to-be Jon Brewster and senior Seth Oseransky are the candidates.

Coach Kevin Rooney is devising plans to put the ball in the hands of big-play receiver Todd Fenton.

Hart, Sylmar, Taft, Antelope Valley, Newbury Park and Westlake appear to be strong, as always. Then there are the teams to watch--Hueneme, Crespi, Royal, Alemany, Granada Hills and El Camino Real.

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Granada Hills is honoring its most famous graduate, Denver Broncos’ quarterback John Elway, on June 4 at a school ceremony. The stadium will be renamed after Elway and an $8,000 scoreboard unveiled.

The Highlanders have more than 150 players out for football after going 3-27 the last three seasons. The reason? Former coaches Darryl Stroh and Tom Harp have come out of retirement, and they’re proven winners. They guided Granada Hills to a City 4-A title in 1987.

“Hey, we’re undefeated, so I’m enjoying it,” the 59-year-old Stroh said.

Harp, 44, whose quarterbacks routinely led local City Section teams in passing during his earlier tenure, will build the Highlanders’ passing attack around 6-foot-3 junior Eddie Whitaker or 6-foot junior Jason Winn, a transfer from Chatsworth.

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No team possesses more talent or expectations than Hart. If there’s one team capable of going 14-0 this fall, it’s the Indians.

New quarterback Kyle Boller, who’s 6-2 and growing, has the strongest arm in school history. Yes, more powerful than former UCLA quarterback Jim Bonds and better than David Neill, who signed this year with Nevada.

The Indians are so loaded at wide receiver that heavily recruited Jerry Owens might not have to worry about getting double covered. Junior Jared Bazar could be the most improved receiver in the region.

Standout linebackers Scott Hunt and Patrick Norton will be joined by sophomore Kyle Hollis.

Hart and its Foothill League competitors will compete in the new Division III that includes the Mission, Pacific and Golden leagues.

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Crespi shifts from Division I to Division III, and Coach Tim Lins is one of the few coaches with a winning record against Hart’s Mike Herrington (he’s 2-0). The Celts return eight starters on defense, led by linebackers Joel Garcia and Mike Sharp, and lineman David Zimmerman. The offense is hurting for quality linemen, but quarterback Robert Muller and running back Blake Tibbetts should be outstanding. . . .

Antelope Valley Coach Brent Newcomb has so many running backs this spring that he’s tempted to try a wishbone attack. Jermaine Marshall, who played last year for Kilpatrick, joins Bruce Mollock, Jermaine Norman and Ron Miller in a backfield that has speed and power. . . .

The Marmonte League returns two of the region’s most prolific passers, Nick Czernek of Newbury Park, who passed for 3,358 yards and 24 touchdowns, and Zac Wasserman of Westlake, who had 2,788 yards and 31 touchdowns. Westlake has the region’s most sought-after player, tight end Mike Seidman. Newbury Park is preparing to add a tight end to its offensive attack for the first time since 1991 because Coach George Hurley is thrilled with 6-6, 240-pound junior-to-be Will Svitek, who plays basketball and competes in decathlons. . . .

Royal is positioned to challenge for its first Marmonte title since 1991. Running back Steve Sheehan and receiver Kevin Krause were all-league selections last season. Eric Cooper and Nick Campanelli, transfers from Simi Valley, are top receivers. Receiver Tyler Williams was most valuable player of the sophomore team.

All Coach Gene Uebelhardt must decide on is a quarterback. Junior Jon Palacios and senior Dustin Cruz are the candidates. On defense, Royal has 6-5, 235-pound Brian Montesanto, who had 19 sacks as a junior. . . .

Hueneme is the team to watch in the new Pacific View League comprised of Oxnard-area schools. Hueneme last made the playoffs in 1987 and has done so just three times since 1969. But fourth-year Coach Larry Miller returns 43 of 51 players from a 5-5 team that lost three games in the final 36 seconds. Running back Donald Thompson is a speedster and 6-4, 260-pound George Tapia is a tough defensive end.

“The kids are excited,” Miller said. “They’re coming out with an expectation, ‘We can win.’ ” . . .

Buena of the Channel League is filling up on young players from a 10-0 freshman team and 9-1 sophomore team. Sophomore-to-be running back Freddy Keiaho is the younger brother of former Buena star George Keiaho. Junior D.J. Blackledge rushed for more than 2,000 yards on the sophomore team. . . .

Alemany hasn’t made the playoffs in the 1990s, but the move to the Division III Mission League creates a big opportunity. The Indians have two of the region’s best young players--junior quarterback Casey Clausen and sophomore tailback Deandre Scott. . . .

El Camino Real, defending City 3-A champion, has running back DeAngelo Nedd, who was among the most impressive players at a scouting combine in Long Beach last week. Linebacker Steve Kezirian (6-6, 230) is hard to miss. The Conquistadores had a 10-0 frosh-soph team last season. . . .

The summer passing season kicks off June 20 with the 20-team Hart tournament. Bring lots of suntan lotion and watch out for 60-yard spirals from the likes of Boller, Wasserman and Czernek.

Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.