PREP FOOTBALL ’99 : GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE : SANTA ANA

1998 RECORD: 3-7 overall, 2-3 in league

COACH: Jesse Gomez (0-0 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS:

6 on offense, 6 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Jorge Chavez, OT, 6-0, 334, Jr.; Juan Flores, C, 6-3, 250, Sr.; Reynaldo Flores, DB, 5-7, 165, Sr.; Lee Lopez, QB, 6-0, 171, Sr.; Angel Montes, T, 6-3, 262, Jr.; Juan Ramirez, DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Raul Rosales, DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Albert Saldana, DE, 5-10, 180, Sr.; John Takapu, DT, 6-2, 347, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Auxavial Carter, C/LB, 5-8, 217, So.; Robert Crandall, OT/DT, 6-2, 270, Jr.; Alfred Guidrey, RB/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Joe Wall, FB/LB, 5-11, 171, So.

OUTLOOK

Gomez was appointed interim coach in late July when Mark Miller left to become an assistant at Mission Viejo. He’s hoping Santa Ana will be in the hunt for the third spot in the league, which it shared last year with Saddleback. “Tustin is a perennial power and I expect them to be at the top again,” Gomez said. “Saddleback is always well-coached and prepared. We want to be in a position to compete with these programs.” The Saints return a veteran offensive line and secondary. Juan Flores and Saldana were all-league first-team selections last season, as was Ramirez, while Reynaldo Flores was a second-team choice two seasons ago. Lopez is untested at quarterback, and he doesn’t have a huge group of receivers.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 11 vs. Sonora at Santa Ana Stadium; 17 vs. Santiago at Garden Grove HS; 24 vs. Bolsa Grande at Santa Ana Stadium; 30 vs. Woodbridge at Irvine HS.

Oct. 7 vs. Cypress at Santa Ana Stadium; 14 vs. University at Irvine HS; 23 vs. Ocean View at Santa Ana Stadium; 29 vs. Saddleback at Santa Ana Stadium.

Nov. 5 at Tustin; 11 at Westminster.

SCHOOL WEB SITE

https://www.sausd.k12.ca.us:80/schooldistrict/ school/high/High875974498/index.html