SANTA ANA VALLEY

1999 RECORD: 8-3 overall, 4-1 in league

COACH: Eddie Steward (15-26 in 4 seasons at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 5 on offense, 5 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

A.J. Alaman, WR, 5-11, 165, Jr.; James Burgueno, QB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Larry Collins, DB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Maurice Dunning, QB/DB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Felipe Gomez, C, 5-10, 230, Sr.; Matthew Hatfield, OL, 6-3, 340, Sr.; Abel Ibarra, NG, 5-8, 230, Sr.; Lance Johnson, WR, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Brett Morris, OL, 6-4, 260, Sr.; Jose Rodriguez, LB, 5-9, 220, Sr.; Lene Sisifo, LB, 6-2, 240, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Tony Arriaga, DT, 6-0, 255, Jr.; Robert Hawkins, LB, 6-0, 200, Jr.; Junior Iafeta, RB, 5-9, 230, So.; Cliff Mason, RB, 5-9, 185, So.; Eddie Peregrino, LB, 6-1, 185, So.; Myles Ramsey, DB, 5-11, 160, So.; George Robert, WR, 6-1, 175, Sr.

OUTLOOK

Santa Ana Valley will miss some key players from last year’s team, including the league’s defensive MVP Eliu Fatu, who signed with Fresno State. Also gone are junior running back Israel Zepeda, a 1,000-yard rusher last season who has moved to Corona and is now at Centennial High, and all-league senior tackle Edgar Quinonez, who is out for the season with injuries suffered in an auto accident. But the Falcons still have three starting offensive linemen returning: all-league center Gomez and Hatfield and Morris. Alaman and Johnson head a speedy and athletic receiving corps, but the Falcons are inexperienced at quarterback and running back. Burgueno, a stronger passer, and Dunning, a stronger runner, are the top quarterback candidates, and sophomores Iafeta and Mason are the new running backs. All-league player Ibarra anchors a solid defensive line and Sisifo and Rodriguez will try to pick up for Fatu at linebacker. All-league defensive back Collins leads the secondary. “We may not have the impact player like Eliu on defense this year,” Steward said. “But we have seven or eight kids that can be really good. I feel we can make another run this season.”

SCHEDULE

Sept. 9 vs. Santiago at Garden Grove HS; 16 vs. Fullerton at Santa Ana Stadium; 22 vs. Saddleback at Santa Ana Stadium; 30 vs. Estancia at Newport Harbor HS.

Oct. 5 vs. Laguna Beach at Santa Ana Stadium; 12 vs. Orange at El Modena HS; 20 vs. Foothill at Santa Ana Stadium; 27 at El Modena.

Nov. 2 vs. Villa Park at Santa Ana Stadium; 10 vs. Canyon at El Modena HS.