PREP FOOTBALL ‘92: SMALL SCHOOLS

SO. CALIFORNIA CHRISTIAN

1991 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 12-2 5-1

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Bert Esposito: 12-2

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 3 5

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Bob Dower, 6-2, 220 OT DT Sr. Mike Felten, 5-10, 160 QB CB Jr. Mike Jacot, 5-9, 190 TB SS Sr. Jim Klebau, 6-4, 260 OT DE Sr. Jon Turner, 6-0, 195 OG LB Sr. Robert Wakimoto, 5-8, 175 FB LB Sr. TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Joel Corral, 6-2, 175 TE FS Sr. Manny Marquez, 5-11, 205 C DE So. Keith Ridgway, 5-11, 170 WR DB So. Ron Wood, 6-0, 180 FB LB So.

OUTLOOK: How do they do it? The Flames won the Southern Section Division X championship last season with 20 players (four promoted from the JV team for the playoffs) and their roster now totals only 15. Still, the section coaches tab the Flames as preseason Division XI favorites. Esposito, however, is not buying into that. “If my kids perform, we will be competitive,” he said. “But I don’t know if we should be the favorites.” Maybe not for the whole shebang but definitely for the Arrowhead League title, although Esposito says two imports from the Freedom League, champion Linfield and third-place Hamilton, add strength to the league. “It’s going to be tough,” Esposito said. If there’s any consolation, Esposito has Jacot back to spark the offense and Turner the defense. Jacot tied for the county lead in rushing during the regular season with 1,492 yards. Klebau, who Esposito says runs 5.0 in 40 yards, also returns. “This guy will chase you down,” he said. Wakimoto and Wood will share the duties at fullback.