A Small Fortune for Kaiser

Almost before the paint had dried on campus, the Fontana Kaiser football team brought home the school’s first Southern Section trophy in December.

It was a worthy accomplishment for the Cats, who have played varsity football since 2000, but hardly a rarity among Division VIII teams.

In the last 15 years, the division has also served as a launching pad for Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills, Aliso Niguel, La Quinta and Temecula Valley. Like Kaiser, each won the division title not long after its campus opened.

But unlike most of those programs, the Cats are hoping to hang on to their small-school roots. When the section begins charting its next playoff groupings for the 2006-07 school year, Kaiser officials don’t plan to request a move.

“We want to play in Division VIII,” said Kaiser Coach Dick Bruich, who twice guided Fontana to Division I championships. “That’s just where we want to stay.”

Based on section grouping procedures, the decision will eventually be taken out of Kaiser’s hands. To help determine playoff groupings, the section adds the number of playoff victories the league has accumulated at the end of each four-year period.

If Kaiser continues to pile up playoff victories -- it has won seven in the last two seasons -- the Cats and other members of the Sunkist League might not have a choice. Or Kaiser could be moved to a league in a higher division.

“If they win CIF for the next three years, I guarantee someone is going to bump them up,” said Don Markham, a veteran coach at Bloomington, a Sunkist League school.

New schools often have an advantage over established lower-division programs. They are usually in growing population centers and have state-of-the art facilities that attract serious athletes. The initial graduating classes enjoy the perk of playing together during their entire high school careers, often experiencing the highest level of competition at an earlier age than peers at established schools.

And, because new schools rarely begin with a senior class and the Southern Section does not count a school’s freshman class toward the enrollment figure used to determine league compatibility, new schools often begin play in less competitive leagues and in lower divisions.

It’s not that Kaiser shies away from competing against the Southland’s best. Bruich schedules higher-profile neighbors such as Riverside North, the 2001 Division V champion and last season’s runner-up. Bruich compiled a 209-57-2 record at Fontana from 1977 to 1998, guiding the Steelers to Division I titles in 1987 and 1989. Having been through the battles in the section’s highest divisions, Bruich was attracted to Kaiser’s long-term goal of competing at a lower level.

Sunkist League foes understand Kaiser’s desire to remain in Division VIII, but a few more seasons like the last, when the Cats outscored their league opponents, 230-6, en route to a second consecutive 5-0 record, and that attitude could change.

Markham first won a section title in 1978 at Colton, then guided Bloomington to three of its first five Division VIII titles from 1994-99. He has had a different view the last two seasons, sort of like the heavyweight champion turning into a sparring partner.

“A first down against them last year was like a touchdown,” he said. “It was a little demoralizing. I said, ‘Boy, now I know what’s it like when you play someone like that.’ ”

The Cats finished 13-0-1 last season and proved they could hold their own against top teams in the area. Among their accomplishments was a 24-21 nonleague victory over North.

Bruich has strengthened his nonleague schedule, replacing one of the best teams in Division XI, Lancaster Paraclete, with Claremont, ranked sixth in the Southern Section Division II preseason poll. In addition to another game against North, ranked second in Division V, the Cats open their nonleague schedule Thursday at Fontana High against Rancho Cucamonga, ranked eighth in Division II. Kaiser also plays Rialto and Jurupa Valley, both from higher divisions.

This season, Kaiser is facing a vacuum that’s not uncommon among newer programs. Because players in the initial graduating classes dominated much of the playing time, most of the current seniors have played backup roles. The Cats return six starters but are still ranked No. 2 in the Division VIII poll.

“We’re a totally rebuilt team,” Bruich said. “We will be struggling, but we have to accept the fact that we have a very tough preseason schedule and not get caught up in our record.”

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DIVISION VI

2002 champion: Los Altos.

League favorites: Tustin (Century); Orange Lutheran (Empire); Los Altos (Miramonte); Newport Harbor (Sea View); Mayfair (Suburban).

Contenders: Villa Park (Century); Valencia (Empire); Charter Oak (Miramonte); Foothill, Laguna Hills (Sea View); La Mirada (Suburban).

Key games: Orange Lutheran vs. Valencia at Brea Olinda, Oct. 16; Villa Park vs. Tustin at El Modena, Foothill at Newport Harbor, Oct. 17; Laguna Hills vs. Foothill at Mission Viejo, Oct. 23; Charter Oak at Los Altos, Laguna Hills vs. Newport Harbor at Mission Viejo, Nov. 7.

The scoop: Los Altos has four Division I prospects. Its defense is even better than it was a year ago, and the Conquerors figure to score more points en route to their third title in four years. Villa Park returns 16 starters, including its entire offensive line, from a team that was 7-3 last season but failed to make the playoffs. Tustin returns its league’s offensive player of the year in running back Marquis Malcom and defensive player of the year in linebacker James Bell. Charter Oak has 11 returning starters, including quarterback Michael Perry, a three-year starter. Orange Lutheran features top two-way standouts Jon Ausmus and Anthony Vernaglia.

-- Paul McLeod

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DIVISION VII

2002 champion: South Hills.

League favorites: Montebello (Almont); Santa Fe (Del Rio); Costa Mesa (Golden West); Rosemead (Mission Valley); South Hills (San Antonio).

Contenders: Alhambra, Bell Gardens (Almont); Arroyo (Mission Valley); Walnut (San Antonio).

Key games: South Hills at Rosemead, Santa Fe at Montebello, Sept. 19; Bell Gardens vs. Santa Fe at Pioneer, Oct. 3; Walnut vs. South Hills at Covina District Stadium, Montebello at Bell Gardens, Estancia vs. Costa Mesa at Orange Coast College, Oct. 31; Alhambra at Montebello, Nov. 7; Arroyo at Rosemead, Nov. 14.

The scoop: Senior twins Bryan and Jeremy Payton give South Hills plenty of firepower to repeat if the Huskies can shore up an offensive line that lost four starters to graduation. Santa Fe has a high-powered offense and should be in the title mix. Walnut, the runner-up last year, hopes to rekindle the magic that led to a 10-game winning streak in 2002. Montebello, Bell Gardens and Alhambra each could win the tough Almont league, or they could all share the title as they did last year. Rosemead has multiple weapons on offense and could overtake Arroyo, which has a new coach and only three returning starters, in the Mission Valley League.

Peter Yoon

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DIVISION VIII

2002 champion: Kaiser.

League favorites: Silverado (Desert Sky); La Quinta (Desert Valley); Serrano (Mojave River); Diamond Ranch (Mt. Baldy); Kaiser (Sunkist).

Contenders: Ridgecrest Burroughs (Desert Sky); Palm Desert (Desert Valley); Sultana (Mojave River); Chaffey (Mt. Baldy); Norte Vista (Sunkist).

Key games: La Quinta at Cathedral City, Oct. 10; Silverado at Burroughs, Chaffey vs. Diamond Ranch at Ganesha, Oct. 17; Sultana at Serrano, Oct. 31; Palm Desert at La Quinta, Nov. 14.

The scoop: Kaiser is in a rebuilding year after two consecutive trips to the finals. The Cats return only six starters, but early predictions have them playing Serrano for the championship again this season. The most competitive league figures to be the Desert Valley, with La Quinta, Palm Desert and Cathedral City ranked in the division’s top five in the Southern Section preseason poll. Diamond Ranch continues to improve its nonleague schedule, adding Division I power Servite to go along with South Hills for the second consecutive season. One of the top players is La Quinta’s Lawrence Miles, a 6-3, 260-pound two-way lineman.

-- Dan Arritt

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DIVISION IX

2002 champion: La Habra.

League favorites: La Habra (Freeway); Pacifica (Garden Grove); Western (Orange); Northwood (Pacific Coast); Pomona (Valle Vista).

Contenders: Fullerton (Freeway); Los Amigos (Garden Grove); Santa Ana Valley (Orange); Irvine University (Pacific Coast); Northview (Valle Vista).

Key games: Pacifica vs. Los Amigos at Garden Grove, Oct. 9; Northwood vs. University at Irvine, Oct. 17; La Habra at Fullerton, Oct. 24; Santa Ana Valley vs. Western at Santa Ana Stadium, Nov. 7; Pomona vs. Northview at Covina Stadium, Nov. 14.

The scoop: La Habra is attempting to return to the championship game for the third time in four years after winning its first title last season, 27-21, over Pacifica. Quarterback Daniel Morales leads a talented list of returning Highlanders. Pacifica returns five starters but has no proven quarterback and a thin offensive line. Pomona, which lost to Pacifica in the semifinals, should be better than it was a year ago when it won the Valle Vista League title. Northwood is also out to defend its league title. Western will be without running back Jeron Johnson, who moved out of the area, but the Pioneers return 14 starters, including 6-3, 240-pound linebacker Will Price.

-- Paul McLeod

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DIVISION X

2002 champion: Lompoc.

League favorites: Serra (Del Rey); Morro Bay (Los Padres); Bassett (Montview); Culver City (Pioneer); Monrovia (Rio Hondo).

Contenders: Cathedral, Crespi, St. Bernard (Del Rey); Lompoc (Los Padres); La Puente (Montview); El Segundo, Morningside (Pioneer); La Canada, Temple City (Rio Hondo).

Key games: St. Bernard at Culver City, Sept. 12; Peninsula at Serra, Sept. 19; El Segundo at Culver City, Oct. 10; Monrovia at Temple City, Oct. 17; Serra at Cathedral, Oct. 25; La Puente at Bassett, Oct. 31; Morro Bay at Lompoc, Oct. 31; Serra at Crespi, Oct. 31; Serra at St. Bernard, Nov. 8; Crespi vs. Cathedral at St. Matthias HS, Nov. 14.

The scoop: The division semifinalists last year -- Serra, Cathedral, Culver City and Lompoc -- are favored to make return appearances. Experienced teams at Morro Bay, which returns 18 starters, and St. Bernard, which features 2002 Del Rey League offensive MVP Rocky Hinds at quarterback, will challenge them. Culver City has 10 three-year varsity starters, including talented running back Armon Delauney and receivers Michael Bumpus and Jaison Williams. Serra has four returning all-section players led by running back Ryan Kelley.

-- Lauren Peterson

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DIVISION XI

2002 champion: Carpinteria.

League favorites: St. Monica (Camino Real); Beaumont (De Anza); Paraclete (Olympic); Oaks Christian (Tri-Valley).

Contenders: San Jacinto (De Anza); Cerritos Valley Christian (Olympic); Carpinteria (Tri-Valley); Oak Park (Tri-Valley).

Key games: San Jacinto at Beaumont, Oct. 3; Paraclete vs. St. Monica at St. Bernard, Oct. 18; Oaks Christian at Carpinteria, Oct. 24; Oak Park vs. Oaks Christian at Oxnard Pacifica, Nov. 14; Cerritos Valley Christian vs. Paraclete at Antelope Valley College, Nov. 14.

The scoop: Oaks Christian, with 18 returning starters, is favored to win its first section title after advancing to the semifinals the previous two years. The Lions will be led by quarterback Joey Hazle and linebacker Mark Cordell, all-Division XI selections as juniors last year, and running back Aaron Ware, an all-Division XI pick as a freshman in 2001. Carpinteria has a new coach, and many of its top skill players graduated in June, but the Warriors should be very strong on the offensive line. Paraclete, another team with a new coach, St. Monica and Beaumont head the list of challengers with Oak Park regarded as a squad not to be overlooked.

John Ortega

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DIVISION XII

2002 champion: Ontario Christian.

League favorites: Village Christian (Alpha); Ontario Christian (Christian); Mammoth (Desert Mountain); Desert (High Desert); Cantwell Sacred Heart (Santa Fe).

Contenders: Brentwood (Alpha); Bishop (High Desert); Mojave (High Desert); L.A. Baptist (Alpha); Arrowhead Christian (Christian).

Key games: Bishop at Mammoth, Oct. 4; Bishop at Desert, Oct. 17; Arrowhead Christian at Ontario Christian, Village Christian at Brentwood, Nov. 7; L.A. Baptist at Village Christian, Nov. 14.

The scoop: The graduation of running back Drew Robinson leaves a gaping hole for Ontario Christian, but the running game still should be a strength for the Knights. Desert returns four offensive linemen from its runner-up team of last year but needs good seasons from running backs Milt Davis and Chris Morris. Village Christian has 14 returning starters from a team that advanced to the second round last year and figures to be a contender for the section title for the first time in five years. Cantwell Sacred Heart should be prepared for the playoffs after a nonleague schedule that includes games against Division I schools Fountain Valley and Esperanza.

Peter Yoon

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DIVISION XIII

2002 champion: Pasadena Poly

League favorites: Brethren Christian (Academy); Linfield Christian (Big Sky); Grace Brethren (Delphic); Rio Hondo Prep (Prep); Saddleback Valley Christian (San Joaquin).

Contenders: Capistrano Valley Christian (Academy); Murietta Calvary Chapel, Hamilton (Big Sky); Campbell Hall (Delphic); Pasadena Poly, Flintridge Prep (Prep); Fairmont Prep (San Joaquin).

Key games: Campbell Hall at Grace Brethren, Oct. 10; Capistrano Valley Christian vs. Brethren Christian at Clark Field, Oct. 31; Rio Hondo Prep vs. Flintridge Prep at Duarte, Nov. 1; Rio Hondo Prep at Pasadena Poly, Nov. 8.

The scoop: In the last four seasons, Pasadena Poly has won two titles and was a runner-up but will be hard-pressed to repeat with the graduation of Ryan Black, the division’s offensive player of the year. Last year’s runner-up, Grace Brethren, returns most of its skill-position players and will pose a challenge if it can rebuild its lines. Brethren Christian has the best returning player in quarterback and safety Denny Warden. Saddleback Valley Christian did not give up a point in league play last fall but has holes on defense.

-- Lauren Peterson