CAPISTRANO VALLEY

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

COACH: Jeff Veeder (2-8 in 1 season at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 3 on offense, 2 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Travis Becktel, RB/OLB, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Adam Brawley, OT, 6-3, 255, Sr.; Adam Bray, DL, 6-3, 215, Jr.; Matt Cantu, OT/DT, 6-3, 295, Sr.; Kyle Chrystal, LB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Andrew Conners, SS, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Tristen Gowing, WR, 5-9, 165, Sr.; J.J. Hair, TE, 6-6, 225, Jr.; Greg Lukina, LB, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Greg McCann, OG, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Jon Piraino, LB, 6-0, 200, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Don Evans, DB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; David Frazeur, QB, 6-1, 160, Jr.; Hunter Gray, OL, 5-11, 215, Jr.; Jeff Hoover, OL, 6-0, 210, Jr.; John Kavlich, WR, 6-3, 160, Jr.; Andy Jones, RB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Ryan Maaskamp, WR/DB, 5-9, 155, Jr.; Gary Ullerich, DL, 5-11, 220, Sr.; Clayton Wellbank, LB, 5-11, 180, Jr.

OUTLOOK

Veeder, The Times’ Orange County’s coach of the year at La Quinta in 1998, is in the second year of his rebuilding plan. The Cougars should be much improved. “We don’t have the skills guys that some of the teams in the league have, but we have better chemistry than we did last year,” Veeder said. “I expect us to be .500 or better.” With only five starters back and a new quarterback in Frazeur, Capistrano Valley is probably a year away from contending for the league title. Frazeur, the South Coast League high hurdles champion and a 4.5 sprinter, is better suited to be a cornerback. But he won the quarterback job because he was the best available athlete. The transfer of fullback Grant Melton to Mater Dei hurt the backfield, but Becktel appears ready for a breakout year at tailback. Also joining the backfield mix will be Jones, a baseball player who didn’t play football last year. Hair, the younger brother of USC basketball player Nate Hair, gives Frazeur a big target at tight end and Gowing is a big-play wide receiver. The defense will be led by Conners, who had an impressive summer after breaking two bones in his leg early last season. Cantu, Ullerich and Bray will have to provide a pass rush because the cornerbacks are inexperienced.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 8 vs. Aliso Niguel; 15 vs. Edison at Huntington Beach HS; 22 at Huntington Beach; 28 vs. Etiwanda.

Oct. 6 vs. Laguna Hills at Mission Viejo; 13 vs. San Clemente; 20 at Mission Viejo; 27 vs. El Toro.

Nov. 3 vs. Dana Hills; 9 at Trabuco Hills.