MAGNOLIA

1999 RECORD: 2-8 overall, 1-4 in league

COACH: Bill Backstrom (0-0 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 4 on offense, 1 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Rene Alcala, WR/DB, 5-6, 165, Sr.; Justin Andrade, TE/LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Kevin Arbiso, RB/DB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Scott Gilbert, OL/DL, 6-0, 235, Jr.; Fetuao Hakai, OL/DL/LB, 5-11, 240, Sr.; Josh Koepher, OL/DL, 6-2, 235, Sr.; Antonio Rizo, DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; John Sekona, OL/DL, 6-2, 340, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Tim Beaty, RB/DB, 6-1, 155, So.; Jared Charity, OL, 6-2, 220, Jr.; Jonathon Cope, LB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Bobby Feliciano, TE/DL, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Jacob Iosefa, FB/LB, 5-10, 225, Jr.; Tyler Johnson, WR, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Jeff Lindstedt, OL, 5-11, 220, So.; Derek Pearson, DB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Enrique Sanchez, QB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Dennis Smith, WR/DB, 5-6, 150, Jr.; Jon Strand, OL/DL, 6-5, 185, Jr.; Jacob Van Wagnor, FB/LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Brad Welch, FB, 5-7, 160, So.

OUTLOOK

Backstrom is determined to breathe some life into Magnolia, which has gone 9-55-1 in the Orange League over the last 13 years, by far the worst record of any team during that span. Backstrom, 49, has a solid resume dating back to the mid-1970s. He was defensive line coach at Villa Park last season and previously spent 19 years at El Modena, where he went 46-33-1 as head coach from 1985-92 and shared three Century League titles. Backstrom has brought in a new staff, including offensive coordinator Bobby Frasco, who played on El Modena’s 1978 Southern Section championship team. Backstrom also brought his team to summer passing leagues at Mission Viejo and Woodbridge to get a look at some of the county’s top programs. “There are kids who have talent,” Backstrom said. “Attitude is the thing we’re trying to work on.” A couple early victories might do that for the Sentinels. If not, it might be another long year. “If we have some early success, it will be real easy to build on,” Backstrom said. “If we have some early failure, we might go in the tank.”

SCHEDULE

Sept. 7 vs. Estancia at Glover Stadium; 15 vs. Rancho Alamitos at Bolsa Grande HS; 22 vs. Santiago at Garden Grove HS; 28 at Fullerton.

Oct. 6 vs. Century at Western HS; 12 vs. Western at Glover Stadium; 20 vs. Brea Olinda at Glover Stadium; 27 vs. Valencia at Glover Stadium.

Nov. 2 vs. Anaheim at Glover Stadium; 9 vs. Savanna at Western HS.