FOUNTAIN VALLEY

1999 RECORD: 6-5 overall, 3-2 in league

COACH: Eric Johnson (6-5 in 1 season at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 5 on offense, 6 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Bernard Fano, TE/DE, 6-3, 255, Sr.; Travis Kohl, OL/DL, 5-11, 240, Sr.; Robert Chavez, FB/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Mike Kotler, TB/SS, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Casey Clark, QB/FS, 6-1, 190, Jr.; Greg Geil, OL, 6-3, 270, Sr.; Chad Triplett, WR/DB, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Manuel Diaz, WR, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Kjell Johnson, LB, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Joey Cusick, FS, 5-11, 180, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Ed Fane, OL/DL, 6-3, 265, Sr.; Parris Moore, RB/DB, 6-1, 190, Jr.; Brian Daggio, DB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Thomas Salue, FB/NG, 5-9, 235, Jr.; Joey Flores, LB/TE, 6-3, 185, Jr.; Colby Dobson, OL/DL, 6-1, 255, Jr.

OUTLOOK

Johnson has plenty of reasons to think his team can build on what it started in his first year, when the Barons upset Servite, Los Alamitos and Edison. For starters, linemen Fano and Fane, a Mater Dei transfer, should give Fountain Valley one of the top offensive and defensive lines around. Johnson said Fano, who plays tight end and defensive end, should be the best player at his positions in the county, if not the Southern Section. Clark is back at quarterback and should have a stronger receiving corps at his disposal. On defense, Chavez returns at linebacker and will be supported by newcomer Cusick. Three of four starters are back in the secondary. The team’s only major concern comes at tailback, where Johnson will rotate three or four candidates until he decides whether he wants to pick a go-to guy or stay with the rotation. The team may also continue to struggle to come to terms with the death of lineman Scotty Lang, who would have been a senior this season. Lang died during practice last Nov. 15 because of congestive heart failure. His locker, filled with flowers and candles after his death, has been left untouched. The school is constructing a monument and a film room in Lang’s honor. “His presence is going to be felt the whole year,” Johnson said.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 8 at Dana Hills; 16 vs. Carson at Orange Coast College; 22 at La Mirada; 29 vs. Downey Warren at Huntington Beach HS.

Oct. 6 at Trabuco Hills; 12 vs. Esperanza at Valencia HS; 20 at Huntington Beach; 27 vs. Los Alamitos at OCC.

Nov. 3 vs. Edison at OCC; 9 vs. Marina at Westminster HS.