FOOTBALL ’89 : MARMONTE LEAGUE

Camarillo

COACH: Carl Thompson, 7th year

LAST SEASON: 4-7; 3rd in league, 3-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Much of Camarillo’s fortunes rests squarely on the right knee of junior tailback Kris Kirksey, who damaged a ligament at the end of last season. A bruising back in the mold of Bill Bell, the school’s all-time leading rusher, Kirksey (6-2, 190) spent the off-season rehabilitating the knee and will wear a bulky brace. He rushed for 670 yards and three touchdowns in 115 carries as a sophomore. This year he will run behind a well-fed offensive line that includes Brad Williams (6-4, 245), Steve Earhart (6-1, 190), Tim Wade (6-1, 195), Chris Potter (6-1, 240) and Steve Heidemann (5-8, 240). All but Potter, who is a junior, are seniors. The tight end will be senior Scott Foster (6-4, 205) or junior Eric Swindiman (6-4, 210). Thompson appreciates the bulk up front but is concerned about team speed. “We like the size,� he said, “but we’d trade for some speed.� That’s where Mitch King (5-9, 165) and Tim Cornish (6-1, 185), the team’s wideouts, come in. Matt Brimigion (6-2, 165) and Corey Tucker (5-9, 160) are competing at quarterback and Greg Exler (6-0, 210) is the fullback. Defensively, Foster could be one of the league’s better ends. He will be joined along the front by Eric Jensen (6-3, 230), Sergio Estrada (6-2, 245), Mike Anderson (6-0, 195) and Heidemann. Curt Hanson (5-11, 195) and sophomore Tag Johnson (5-10, 190) are the linebackers and manning the secondary are Zach Achen (6-0, 200)--a returning all-leaguer--Bryan Bilmure (5-9, 170), sophomore Tim Kirksey (6-0, 170) and Tucker.

OUTLOOK: Thompson called Thousand Oaks “the class of the league,� but he likes the Scorpions’ chances just the same. “If Kirksey is at full speed, we may run with anybody,� he said. Considering the size of both lines, Camarillo should be a factor in the league race when November rolls around.

Channel Islands

COACH: Joel Gershon, 17th year

LAST SEASON: 8-3; 1st in league, 5-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Raiders begin defense of their two consecutive league titles with the usual size along both sides of the line of scrimmage but with none of the usual experience. Several linemen have seen minimal varsity playing time and the rest watched as last year’s seniors opened the holes. The change is so wholesale that Gershon is talking excitedly about Channel Islands’ passing game. This from a program that rushed nearly three times as often as it passed last season (413 rushes to 153 passes). “Our philosophy on offense won’t change that much,� Gershon said, “but we’ll work toward this thing called balance.� Mark Contreras is the source of Gershon’s confidence in the passing game. After two seasons of platooning with the graduated Vince Medina, the 5-10 senior has the quarterback job to himself. As a junior, Contreras completed 16 of 37 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns. His most frequent target likely will be Shawn Young, a speedy wide receiver who led the Raiders with 16 catches and nearly 21 yards a reception last season. Gershon calls Young “a Division I prospect with a lot of courage.� Seniors Chris Venturina, who also will play cornerback, and Alex Durazo will split time at the other receiver position. In the backfield, senior Renard Carn and junior Pharoh Milner will be the tailback and fullback, respectively. Probable starters along the offensive line are Frank Umu (6-5, 300), Jimmy Porter (6-1 1/2, 255), Frank Ybarra (6-1, 240) and Santiago Coronado (6-0, 200). Jeff Thomas (6-2, 230), Eusevio Rodriguez (5-10, 220) and Ryan Laudata (6-3, 205) are battling for the other position. Defensively, Al DeLaCerda is a lock at one of the linebacker positions, as are Young, Venturina, Milner and Craig Williams in the secondary. The line, which projects Julio Amezcua (5-11, 235), Stan Pallan (6-0, 255) and Randall Corona (6-0, 185) as starters, also is inexperienced.

OUTLOOK: Channel Islands avenged two losses to Thousand Oaks the previous season with a victory last year that effectively clinched the league title. It looks as if the Raiders will have to go through Thousand Oaks again in 1989. Gershon, however, seems confident enough. “Right now I feel really good about it,� he said. “We had a real good summer. I’m enthusiastic about our attitude, our desire to get it done.�

Newbury Park

COACH: George Hurley, 1st year

LAST SEASON: 3-6; 3rd in league, 3-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hurley wants to get physical. And he appears to have the bodies to do it. “As a change in philosophy, we’ll be working with the defense and the physical part of the game,� he said. “Also, personnel-wise, our bigger kids are our best athletes.� Seniors Joe Smigiel (6-5, 255) and Jeff Jay (6-3, 235), both returning starters, are among the league’s best on the offensive and defensive lines. Senior Trevor Cull (5-11, 215) and Phil Pederson (6-1, 275) also will go both ways, and Pat O’Neill (5-10, 202) will play center and inside linebacker. Hurley is still searching for a tight end to replace Danny Madsen, who caught 48 passes last year. Tailback is also a question mark. The fullback will be Jason Sands (5-10, 200) or Jeff Buchanan (6-1, 175). At quarterback is senior Jai Johnston (6-0, 160), who last season completed 37 of 89 passes while filling in for the injured Wayne Cook. He’ll throw to a bevy of receivers, including Brian Smith (5-11, 175), Jason Smith (5-9, 145), Shane Gallimore (5-9, 145) and Mark Rodwell (6-3, 193). On defense, junior Mike Kelly (6-2, 185) is vying for a linebacker position, as are Buchanan, O’Neill, Brad Hanson (5-11, 175), Matt Merrill (6-5, 200) and Ryan Turner (6-1, 175). The secondary consists of Bob Crane (5-11, 170), Chris Wildman (6-1, 180), Ron Spaeth (5-10, 160) and Smith. Johnston also could see time there, although Cook was injured last season while on defense, which makes Hurley leery.

OUTLOOK: Hurley was not shy in placing much of his first season’s emphasis on the shoulders of Johnston. “If he has a good year, we’ll be hot,� Hurley said. “I think if there is one key it will be the success of Jai.�

Royal

COACH: Gene Uebelhardt, 2nd year

LAST SEASON: 4-6; 3rd in league, 3-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: In the process of matching its victory total from the previous three seasons and tripling its number of league wins in the same span, Royal last season came within one game of its first playoff berth since 1983. Uebelhardt unabashedly stated before last season that the Highlanders were “the worst team in the Marmonte League.� League coaches won’t be as easy to convince this time. On offense, Royal has size and experience on its line with Jim Cherry (6-5, 265), Tyler Berthelson (6-1, 210), Billy Dobbs (6-1, 200), John Lemos (5-7, 200) and Brett Meyers (6-1, 210). All are seniors. At tight end is senior David Gnesda (6-2, 210) and the receivers are some combination of sophomore team MVP Tony Liming (5-9, 165), Newbury Park transfer Sean Mitchell (5-8, 155) and Jeff Creed (6-2, 170). Charlie Snyder (5-9, 165) replaces all-league quarterback Pat Ledesma. The fullback is junior Robbie Smith (5-6, 150) and the tailback contingent consists of San Fernando transfer Jacqua Smith (6-1, 175), Jon Banton (5-11, 169) and Matt Brinkman (5-7, 160). The defense, Uebelhardt says, is “the best part of the team.� Seniors Mike Burns (6-0, 200) and Gil Renteria (6-0, 200) are returning starters at the tackle positions. Junior David Sharron (6-1, 205) is the nose guard. Gnesda and Doug Tucker (5-8, 210) form a formidable inside linebacker duo, and Scott O’Neil (6-1, 175), who had a team-high seven sacks last season, and Jesse Rosen (5-9, 190) will man the outside. Junior free safety Tim Ross (6-4, 195) is a returning all-league selection and Jonathon Clarke (5-10, 175) is the strong safety. Mitchell, Jacqua Smith, and Robert Derosier (5-8, 160) are cornerback candidates.

OUTLOOK: Royal is already ahead of the game by posting four victories--five including a win forfeited to Agoura--last season. This, after all, is a program that won four of 30 games in the three seasons before 1988. “We may not be used to winning, but we’re not used to losing anymore either,� Uebelhardt said. “I don’t know if we’ve turned it around, but we’re moving. I think we’re capable of at least equaling last year’s record or maybe better. We could be in the hunt in late November when we’re usually not even in the forest.�

Simi Valley

COACH: Dave Murphy, 6th year

LAST SEASON: 0-10; 7th in league, 0-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Pioneers were 0 for 1988 and have won one game in their last 13, leading Murphy to this viewpoint: “The key part of this season is to regain a belief in ourselves that we can win football games at Simi Valley High.� Simi Valley would appear to have enough key personnel returning to actually win a game and then some. Eric Hale might win a few on his own. He is 6-5, 220 pounds and runs the 40 in 4.7. His calling is outside linebacker, where he will start, and Murphy would prefer to use him at tailback rather than quarterback. Whether that occurs depends on the development of quarterback candidates Kip Wilson (6-0, 180), Aaron Fisher (5-10, 175) and Vince Allegra (6-0, 160). Mike Burroughs (6-3, 210), Gary Mitsven (6-1, 230) and Ralph Huerta (6-1, 297) are returning starters on the offensive line. A fourth, Chad Danowski (6-1, 220), will move to fullback. Bill Nothvogel (6-3, 220) and Carlos Ordonez (6-1, 220) will fill the remaining positions. Russ Shinneman (6-0, 185) and Steve Standage (6-0, 220) are possibilities at tight end. Fisher or Adam Guzzo (5-9, 195) will be the tailback if Hale is pressed into service at quarterback. Eric Stone (5-8, 150) and Ed Moore (5-7, 165) are the flankers. Hale, Danowski, Burroughs, Guzzo and Todd Kounse (5-10, 180) form the linebacking corps, and Wilson, Fisher and Ron Anderson (5-10, 150) will man the secondary. Mike Prothero (6-0, 235) and Tom Spindler (6-3, 255) will bookend the defensive line.

OUTLOOK: The Pioneers have a solid group of seniors who, Murphy says, have “championship traits.� Hale, Burroughs and Danowski have loads of talent and still have that 0-10 taste in their mouths. “We have nowhere to go but up,� Murphy said. “This team definitely wants to win.� But, it’s a long way up from 0-10.

Thousand Oaks

COACH: Bob Richards, 7th year

LAST SEASON: 6-4-1; 2nd in league, 5-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Chances are, people will go to Thousand Oaks’ games just to hear tough football. Eight starters and nine lettermen return on what was by far the best and hardest-hitting defense in the league last year. “We have all the ingredients to be a good defensive team,� Richards said. “When you return eight starters, you expect those guys to improve.� Free safety Steve Rudisill (5-11, 185) was the league’s defensive player of the year. Linebacker Lance Martin (6-1, 215) was All-Ventura County and linemen Chris Foster (5-9, 208) and Nick Ochoa (5-11, 215) were all-league. Cornerback Jim Magallanes (6-1, 185) was a second-team all-league selection. Cornerback Ronnie Cruz (5-8, 145) and strong safety Scott Barkman (6-0, 175) round out the secondary. Charlie Shin (6-1, 205), Reggie Nelinger (6-2, 210) and Steve Wolfe (5-10, 185) join Martin at linebacker. Bassam Kneizeh (5-11, 185) is a returning starter on the defensive line. All this talk of defense has taken some of the heat off the offense, which at times last year failed to move the ball consistently. The offense, however, still has tailback Mike Lindsay--sort of. He added 17 pounds to his frame this summer but will miss the season’s first five weeks because of knee surgery. Lindsay (5-11, 177) rushed for 1,046 yards and six touchdowns in 190 carries. Foster will start at fullback and be backed up by sophomore Dave Acosta (6-0, 225). At tailback, Rudisill and Magallanes will share time with junior Greg Buchanan and sophomore Cory Bowen until Lindsay returns. The quarterback situation is still a toss-up. Juniors Scott Peterson (6-0, 170) and David Watts (5-11, 165) are similar in stature, but Richards says quarterback is one position he’d prefer not to platoon. “But I’ll do whatever’s best for the football team,� he said. Shin and Nelinger also will play on the offensive line and Chuck Lindsey (6-0, 210) and Julio Bonilla (5-11, 195) are likely starters.

OUTLOOK: Thousand Oaks has not won a league title since 1986, including 1987 when the Lancers were the Coastal Conference champions. This year’s deciding game could come as early as the season’s fourth week when the Lancers play host to two-time defending champion Channel Islands in the league opener. Should Thousand Oaks’ offensive line continue its usual dominance, and the defense lives up to preseason expectations, it might not matter who the quarterback is. Consider the Lancers the favorites.

Westlake

COACH: Jim Benkert, 1st year

LAST SEASON: 2-8; 6th in league, 2-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Benkert is going to have some solid athletes in his first season and, for the first time in a while the Warriors might have some depth as well. Westlake’s roster dwindled close to 30 last season, but Benkert prodded more than 50 into hell week. The extra bodies could be useful. And the size of the bodies, long Westlake’s shortcoming, has taken a turn for the better. If the offensive line does its part, junior quarterback Todd Preston (6-0, 165) could have the best passing numbers in the league. As a sophomore, he passed for 1,149 yards and six touchdowns. He completed better than 50% of his attempts (80 for 176) but threw 15 interceptions. Tailback Luke Crawford (5-11, 190) carried 31 times for 111 yards last season but will get the bulk of the work this year. Erik Holcomb and Seamus Gibbons are the receivers and David Monheim (6-3, 210) could be an exceptional tight end. Up front, Matt Heckmann (6-7, 230) and Damon Puckett (6-2, 205) will join Monheim on the strong side, John Lynch (5-10, 205) will play center, and Erik Lundring (5-11, 190) and Matt Volk (6-4, 190) are projected on the weak side. Gone is former Coach George Contreras’ beloved Delaware Wing-T offense and in its place is the I formation and single back. Defensively, Heckmann and Darren Doane (6-0, 175) are the ends and Danny Hernandez (5-11, 210) and Tyler Trammell (6-0, 180) are the tackles. Keith Hess (6-0, 185), Jim McCrossan (5-8, 175) and Monheim are the linebackers and Ruben Allen (5-7, 175), Steve Coykendall (6-1, 190), Demetrius Wynn (5-8, 160) and Crawford will roam the secondary. Allen also will see action at tailback.

OUTLOOK: This is still the only team in the league to miss the playoffs in each of the past six years. “I think we’re going to be competitive,� Benkert said. “It’s tough to say because I don’t know the league or these people very well. Right now we look real good against bags.� The question is, how will they look against Lancers and Raiders and Scorpions?