Success Is the Bottom Line

Will the Sea View League’s streak of nine consecutive Southern Section titles come to an end?

Not if Newport Harbor’s offensive line has anything to say about it.

The Sailors, runner-up last season in Division VI, come into the season with what could be the best offensive line in the school’s history, and anyone who knows about Newport Harbor football knows that’s significant.

Three offensive linemen--left tackle Robert Chai (6-3, 270), right guard Brian Breland (6-3, 250) and center Jeff Marshall (6-5, 220)--return to the starting lineup and will be joined by right tackle John Dobrott (6-7, 280), who received considerable playing time last season.

Combined with returning quarterback Morgan Craig, wide receiver Brian Gaeta and Coach Jeff Brinkley’s ability to find a serviceable tailback every year, Newport Harbor should be in position to win another section title.

“They’re going to be good,” said Tustin Coach Myron Miller, whose team could represent one of Newport Harbor’s biggest challenges at playoff time. “And if they have a running back, they’re going to be really good.”

When Newport Harbor had the late Andre Stewart in the backfield in 1999, Stewart rushed for 2,380 yards and 26 touchdowns, and the Sailors won their second title. Junior Dartangan “D.D.” Johnson is faster than Stewart, but not as quick the first 10 yards. But a good line could clear the way for that speed.

Chai has received scholarship offers from California and Washington State, and Marshall has committed to Montana. Breland “was the best of the litter” as a sophomore, according to Brinkley, but broke his hand as a junior and was hampered all season.

Dobrott’s simply huge, and left guards Ben Prince (6-3, 240) and junior A.J. Slater (6-5, 270) are battling for a starting spot.

Brinkley has high standards for a program that won titles in 1994 and 1999, and finished as runner-up in 1992, ’96 and 2000. “Potentially, this could be the best line we’ve had,” he said. “These guys, up to this point, haven’t proven they can do it, whereas other teams have won [section] championships.”

And that’s how the Sailors measure themselves.

Division VI

If Newport Harbor is challenged in the Sea View League, it may come from Laguna Hills, which has a group of seniors who were junior varsity champions as sophomores. Irvine, the division’s undefeated defending champion, has only one starter back.

The Suburban League had the top-seeded playoff team the last two seasons, only to lose in the semifinals to a Sea View team. La Mirada lost to Newport Harbor last season and Lakewood Mayfair lost to Irvine in 1999. La Mirada and Mayfair are again the teams that should challenge for the league title and make a run at the championship.

Another team that can’t be discounted is Tustin. The Tillers, the Golden West favorite, will probably take their lumps early against tough opponents, but will be primed for the playoffs. The team lacks experience, but Ricky Miller could gain 2,000 yards and Denny Casupanan qualified for the state track meet in the 100 meters.

Orange El Modena, which shared the Century League title last season, has 15 starters back from a team that went 8-3 and lost in the fourth quarter to Mayfair. The Empire League is wide open.

Division VII

The division favorite has to come from the Miramonte League, which has had the last five division champions--Hacienda Heights Los Altos in 1999 and 2000, Covina Charter Oak in 1998 and Hacienda Heights Wilson in 1996 and ’97.

Charter Oak and Los Altos appear to be the favorites. Los Altos has only five returning starters, including running back Keith Brown, guard and linebacker Sal Ortiz, and junior defensive tackle Paul Cody, who is the younger brother of USC freshman defensive lineman Shawn Cody. Though Charter Oak might be stronger across the board, it will feature a sophomore quarterback, either Phillip Guerrero or Michael Perry.

Los Altos defeated Charter Oak, 28-21, for the section title last season. They meet in league play on Oct. 27.

Wilson might spoil the Miramonte party with a new coach, Robert Oviedo, and impact transferDontay Holloway, a wide receiver and cornerback. Both are from Santa Fe Springs St. Paul.

If the Miramonte League streak comes to an end, the fly in the ointment might be one of two other league favorites--Bell Gardens of the Almont League or Del Rio League rivals Pico Rivera El Rancho and Whittier California.

Gardena Serra and San Gabriel Gabrielino will try to defend their titles in the Angelus and Mission Valley leagues, respectively.

Division VIII

Defending section and Desert Valley League champion La Quinta is the team to beat. The Blackhawks, who averaged 44 points and 471 yards per game last season, only lost to Rialto Eisenhower.

Five starters are back on offense, six on defense. Running back Frederick Collins, who averaged more than 10 yards per carry, has a chance to become Riverside County’s career rushing leader if he stays healthy, and quarterback Sammy Chavez passed for 2,710 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.

La Quinta defeated Barstow, 20-14, in the final, and no one should be surprised if they meet again. Barstow, the Desert Sky favorite, has been to the finals the last two seasons and features one of the top linemen around, C.J. Niusulu, who has committed to UCLA.

Hesperia Sultana is the prohibitive favorite in the Mojave River League, but Rim of the World might prove surprising.

Riverside Norte Vista, a semifinalist that lost to La Quinta, 27-22, has eight starters back on defense, but could be in a three-way battle in the Sunkist League with Riverside Rubidoux and Fontana Kaiser, which has its first senior class.

Division IX

West Covina South Hills beat La Habra, 19-14, for last season’s championship, and would seem to be primed to defend the title with seven starters back on offense and defense. South Hills is very strong at the skill positions, including three-year starters Jaron Fairman, a receiver and strong safety, and Marcus Nolan, a free safety and running back. They had summer passing league victories over Santa Ana Mater Dei and Los Alamitos, among others, largely because of senior quarterback Ryan Repp, a transfer from San Dimas.

But as good as the South Hills offense seems to be, Coach Steve Brogan thinks his defense is better, though the void left by defensive ends Paul Yanez and Buddy Morales will be considerable. Chance Dunleavey will try to fill those shoes.

Anaheim Western, top-seeded a year ago, lost only twice. Five starters are back on offense and defense, but the most notable returning player is quarterback Mike Hicks, who passed for 19 touchdowns and had only four interceptions. Brea Olinda, also in the Orange League with Western, might be a force with 13 returning starters and the return of Coach Jon Looney, who took a year’s hiatus.

Division X

Paso Robles won its third consecutive section title last season with a 43-40 victory over Inglewood, and no one would be surprised if those teams are in the finals again, especially Inglewood.

Former defensive coordinator Kevin Moore takes over as coach and he has 13 starters back. The Sentinels’ challenge in the Ocean League will probably come from Santa Monica, which is big, fast and strong, and returns tailback Derrick Davis. A sleeper could be South Torrance.

Though Paso Robles is the reigning section champ, only one starter returns on defense, and the Bearcats might not even be the Los Padres League favorite. Santa Maria St. Joseph, with two of the division’s top returning players, quarterback Dustin Kelly and receiver Brian Nunez, could be second only to Inglewood.

Division XI

Two-time defending champion Ventura St. Bonaventure is the cream of the crop. Talent-wise, the Seraphs have three players who will have their choice of colleges--running back Lorenzo Booker, who is on pace to overtake Ventura’s Tyler Ebell as the state’s leading career rusher and could threaten the national season rushing record; junior wide receiver Whitney Lewis, who is already one of the top players at his position in Southern California; and offensive lineman James Bonelli (6-5, 280), who has committed to Notre Dame.

St. Bonaventure defeated Orange Lutheran, 34-16, last season in the final, pulling away with two fourth quarter touchdowns. Orange Lutheran doesn’t have the stars that St. Bonaventure does, but the Lancers do have numbers--16 returning starters from a team that finished 11-3, and they should be better this year.

Division XII

Lancaster Paraclete has won four consecutive section titles, and running backs Curtis Brown and Erick Jackson, who combined for 3,000 yards rushing, are among four starters returning on offense.

Edwards AFB Desert has senior quarterback Justin Dion and junior receiver Rudy Burgess, both returning starters, leading a group of excellent skill players.

Rosemead Bosco Tech, which came out of nowhere last season to win the Santa Cruz League and reach the semifinals, returns several players and has depth.

Division XIII

Defending champion San Bernardino Aquinas is the team to beat if it is allowed to remain in the division. Aquinas was a freelance entry into last season’s playoffs.

Pasadena Poly has been in the finals two seasons in a row, losing to Aquinas, 27-21, last year. It has a solid lower level program and will try to hold off Brentwood, which underwent a rebuilding year last season and had a solid junior varsity program, for the Prep League title.

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Next: A look at Division I through V.