ORANGE

1997 RECORD: 3-7 overall, 1-4 in league

COACH: Kevin Capps (0-0 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 1 on offense, 1 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Jacob Accord, OL/DL, 5-11, 200, Sr.; Marcus Gallagher, OL/DL, 6-2, 205, Jr.; Brad Groom, RB/LB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Mike Hall, RB/LB, 6-2, 230, Sr.; Jon Kobus, QB/DB, 5-7, 180, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Ryan Johnson, WR/LB, 5-7, 175, Jr.; Jeremy Poole, RB/DB, 5-10, 170, So.

OUTLOOK

Capps, 28, replaces the county’s all-time leader in career victories, Dick Hill, who took an assistant’s job at Santiago after leading Orange to a 16-23-1 record in four seasons. Capps isn’t a stranger to Orange County. Before his playing and assistant coaching days at Sonoma State, Capps played at La Habra High and Fullerton College. He played for Coach Bob Rau and assistant Mike Rhodes at La Habra and Capps has brought Rhodes with him to Orange to be his defensive coordinator. Capps also brought in former Fullerton teammates Keoni Malingues (Utah) and Mahe Liavaa (Idaho State). Capps, who is a full-time physical education teacher on campus, hopes his staff can help transform the program. “We have only four players back,” Capps said. “We’ve been stressing discipline and the attitude has been real good with the guys.” Capps said the team will be young, with only 12 seniors on the 40-player roster. Hall is one of those seniors, and he was a first-team all-league linebacker last season. Groom and Accord will also play key roles on both sides of the ball. Poole is among the speedy newcomers giving Capps reason for optimism. “I think we have some game-breakers,” Capps said. “Our goal is to make it to the playoffs. The league will be wide open.”

SCHEDULE

Sept. 11 at Newport Harbor; 18 vs. Pacifica at El Modena HS; 24 vs. Katella at Glover Stadium.

Oct. 2 vs. University at Irvine HS; 9 vs. Aliso Niguel at El Modena HS; 15 vs. Canyon at El Modena HS; 22 at El Modena; 29 vs. Santa Ana Valley at El Modena HS.

Nov. 6 vs. Villa Park at El Modena HS; 13 vs. Foothill at Tustin HS.