There is abundant football talent in city of Corona

There’s something going on in the city of Corona, with a population of nearly 150,000. Whether it’s the affordable housing, access to the 91 Freeway or something in the water, the area has been producing big-time football players en masse.

“You could outfit a college team with the talent in Corona,” Upland football Coach Tim Salter said.

There are five high schools in the Corona-Norco Unified School District whose football programs keep getting better.

“Long Beach Poly would have a run for their money if we were all one school,” said a Corona Roosevelt assistant coach.

Roosevelt, the newest high school with only three years of varsity football, is showing this summer that last season’s second-place finish in the Big VIII League was no fluke.

“Get used to Roosevelt,” Coach Bill Stacy said. “That’s a name to know.”

The Mustangs made it to the semifinals of the Dana Hills seven-on-seven tournament and were performing well at this weekend’s 30-team Bonita tournament even though their two top receivers from last season, Austin Hill and Tyler Slavin, have moved on to Arizona.

“We’re filled with receivers,” junior quarterback Aaron Crone said. “I’m loving it.”

Sam Boyd, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior who looks as if he could run through a brick wall, has helped pick up the slack. When he has the ball, good things are bound to happen.

There’s also 6-3 senior Robert Savoy and 6-4 junior Brandon Zuidema to catch passes in the Mustangs’ spread attack. Crone started seven games as a sophomore and passed for 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Of course, Roosevelt must still deal with Corona Centennial, Corona Santiago, Corona and Norco this fall, but the college recruiters are going to keep heading up the 91 Freeway because it’s home to a hotbed of football talent.

Mullaney is legit

It takes about 15 minutes watching a summer passing tournament to recognize the skills of 6-2 receiver-defensive back Richard Mullaney from Thousand Oaks.

Last season, he caught 80 passes and had eight interceptions.

In a passing competition this week against Agoura, Thouand Oaks quarterback Avondre Bollar threw three passes to Mullaney and all went for touchdowns. He had 16 touchdown catches over two days of the Conejo Valley tournament that included wins over Westlake Village Oaks Christian and Westlake.

He has the soft hands, the easy stride and the knack to make tough catches.

Now I see why Westlake Coach Jim Benkert is a little concerned about playing the Lancers in the second game of the season, Sept. 16. He’s going to have to deal with Mullaney & Co.

Tough choice

The 2011 amateur baseball draft next June is going to present quite a challenge for the scouts in Southern California when it comes to picking the best pitcher.

Do you recommend 6-7 left-hander Henry Owens from Huntington Beach Edison? Do you choose hard-throwing Gerrit Cole from UCLA? Do you pick the versatile Trevor Bauer from UCLA? Do you go with tough-to-hit Noe Ramirez from Cal State Fullerton?

I’ve seen them all since their high school days, and I’m torn as to who could end up being the best. Each one is outstanding, and it’s going to be exciting watching their development in the spring and summer of 2011.

Fairfax tournament

There’s a potential showdown looming between two of the top boys’ basketball teams this week in the Fairfax tournament.

Long Beach Poly and Woodland Hills Taft are in opposite brackets in the 16-team tournament that begins Monday and ends with a 6 p.m. championship game Saturday.

Poly opens against Encino Crespi on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Fairfax. Taft plays North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles Crenshaw also has played well this summer and could face Poly in a quarterfinal game Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Poly is supposed to be at full strength this week for one of the few times this summer, and that’s why it will be interesting whether any team can beat the Jackrabbits.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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