Quarterbacks Will Look a Bit Younger

All high school football coaches are aware of one inevitability: No matter how successful their programs, the quarterbacks must be replaced every couple of years.

Many times, it’s cause for rebuilding or restructuring the offense, but several established City Section teams are using the trial-by-fire method this year with rookie signal-callers.

Venice, Woodland Hills Taft, Los Angeles Dorsey, Harbor City Narbonne, Carson and Lake Balboa Birmingham are the most-mentioned teams when it comes to City title favorites, but other than Carson’s Anthony Lewis, none of their projected starting quarterbacks has taken a varsity snap.

“It certainly would help having an experienced quarterback,” Venice Coach Angelo Gasca said. “But I don’t think anyone is making any concessions with their quarterbacks. I’m sure the guys who are starting are the best guys for the job and they’re all going to be pretty good.”

Venice and Taft will entrust their offenses to sophomores Richard Ragland and Xavier Johnson, respectively.

Dorsey’s Stafon Johnson, an All-City selection last year at running back, is part of a three-way quarterback rotation for the Dons. Narbonne junior Demetrius Green will take the helm after starting at safety last year. Carson will turn to Lewis, last year’s backup, to replace 2,500-yard passer Bo Napoleon.

Birmingham, defending section champion and winner of two of the last three title games, will use junior James Beloff, a junior-varsity call-up.

Each quarterback will be tested this week as Taft takes on Crenshaw at Canoga Park on Thursday, and Friday games have Carson at Venice, Dorsey taking on Narbonne at Rancho Cienega Park and Birmingham playing host to two-time Southern Section Division III champion Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

“To win it, you have to have somebody that can make plays,” Dorsey Coach Paul Knox said. “We don’t put all that pressure on our quarterback, but when you have somebody back there that can make the plays, you’re more multidimensional and that gives you a better chance at winning.”

Birmingham Coach Ed Croson, though, said it’s unwise to overemphasize the importance of the quarterback.

“Quarterback is only one position,” he said. “In the City, you have to be physical up front because it doesn’t matter how good the quarterback is if the guy can’t get the ball off.”

All the top contenders have a load of talent returning at other positions. That should help ease the pressure for the new quarterbacks.

At Taft, for example, Xavier Johnson can loft the ball downfield to speedy receivers Jamere Holland and Chris Wellington.

Ragland can turn and hand the ball to bruising running back Kenny Ashley. Green has the luxury of two returning 1,000-yard rushers in Travon Titus and Major Culbert, though Titus is out for half the season after being shot in the leg just off-campus after summer school.

Dorsey’s Johnson can simply take off running if things go awry.

“It takes the pressure off him knowing he doesn’t have to be ‘The Guy’ right now,” Taft Coach Troy Starr said of Johnson, the first sophomore to start at quarterback during his 13 years as coach.

Adjusting to the varsity game is the biggest challenge facing those who played junior varsity.

Other obstacles facing the young quarterbacks include earning the respect of established starters and becoming the leader of teams filled with seniors.

And then there is the problem of replacing a star. Ragland, for example, follows a trail of five consecutive Venice quarterbacks who have gone on to Division I college programs. Xavier Johnson has to replace Josh Portis, now at Florida.

Coaches acknowledge that all of these issues can factor into the progress of their quarterbacks and that may, in turn, affect the progress of their teams. Still, they each profess faith in the players they have chosen to guide them to the City title.

“It’s a huge deal throwing a 10th-grader into this kind of situation,” Gasca said. “But we really believe he’s ready. We know he has the ability, but he’s never done it at this level and that’s where the question lies.”

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The Times’ rankings

Preseason football rankings and comments:

*--* Rk School (’04 Rec-Div) Comment 1 MISSION VIEJO (14-0, SS-Div. II) Chane “The Train” Moline & Co. whip Issaquah, Wash., 55-36. 2 L.B. POLY (13-1, SS-Div. I) Once again, Division I defending champion is quickest team around. 3 EDISON (6-4, SS-Div. 1) Perhaps the Southland’s best defense last year returns eight starters. 4 S.O. NOTRE DAME (14-0, SS-Div. III) In worst-case scenario, Kai Forbath kicks a field goal on every possession. 5 SANTA MARGARITA (5-6, SS-Div. I) Great team speed, though running backs have only 18 carries between them. 6 ESPERANZA (9-4, SS-Div. I) Aztecs’ late-season rally included victories over Edison, Mater Dei, Colton. 7 LOS ALAMITOS (12-2, SS-Div. I) When was the last time Griffins were picked third in Sunset League? 8 ST. BONAVENTURE (13-1, SS-Div. IV) Don’t bet against Seraphs winning their sixth title in seven years. 9 MATER DEI (8-3, SS-Div. I) There’s some rebuilding involved, but Monarchs should be solid. 10 HART (7-5, SS-Div. II) Tyler Lyon should pace a nice comeback from last season’s letdown. 11 NORCO (12-2, SS-Div. V) Toby Gerhart, in an off season, still rushed for 2,210 yards, 27 TDs. 12 COR. CENTENNIAL (13-1, SS-Div. V) Defending champion scored 34 or more in each of its last 13 games. 13 VALENCIA (12-2, SS-Div. II) Quarterback Michael Herrick should be at his best this season. 14 OAKS CHRISTIAN (14-0, SS-Div. XI) Lions are loaded but have never played a top-25 opponent. 15 DORSEY (12-2, City) Only three starters back on offense, but one is running back Stafon Johnson. 16 WESTLAKE (5-5, SS-Div. IV) Jeff Rapoport should rack up yardage behind his returning linemen. 17 ORANGE LUTHERAN (13-1, SS-Div. VI) Well-disciplined group won first section title in sixth trip last season. 18 COLTON (10-2, SS-Div. I) Allen Bradford is one of the top linebacker prospects in the nation. 19 BISHOP AMAT (6-6, SS-Div. I) Strong in the trenches, Lancers are unproven at skill positions. 20 DOMINGUEZ (12-2, SS-Div. III) Always dangerous Dons are led by receiver Richard Sherman. 21 TAFT (10-2, City) No defensive back in Southland can keep up with receiver Jamere Holland. 22 R. CUCAMONGA (6-5, SS-Div. II) Cougars have good returning nucleus and add five transfers. 23 SOUTH HILLS (9-5, SS-Div. VII) With quarterback Kevin Mort, points shouldn’t be a problem for section finalist. 24 THOUSAND OAKS (8-4, SS-Div. IV) Matt Luft had 73 receptions, but team’s title hopes hinge on linemen. 25 VENICE (9-3, City) Fast, physical and experienced, led by Jonas Mouton and Ken Ashley.

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