Blockbuster Roles for Offensive Lines

Let’s begin the season by recognizing the players who never get publicity: the offensive linemen.

This year, perhaps more than ever, these big protectors deserve the ink because, for the most part, the Valley Pac-8 Conference will feature bigger, better or quicker offensive lines.

The biggest of the bunch is Monroe’s front five, who average 295 pounds. The smallest of the quintet is center Rocco Cuccia (6 feet, 240 pounds), an all-conference selection last year, and the largest is Pedro Lomeli (6-5, 342 pounds). All five starters are juniors.

Sylmar and North Hollywood arguably employ the most talented and experienced lines in the conference.

Sylmar, unbeaten in conference play in the 1990s, has three returning starting linemen, the best of whom is junior right tackle Ray Solis (6-4, 270), a two-way starter. The Spartans average 269 pounds up front and their practice performance has prompted Coach Jeff Engilman to call this line “close to the ’94 team,” which paved the way to the City Section 4-A Division championship.

“I would say the offensive line could be one of the better ones in the league,” Engilman said. “They’ve improved 500% in the last week.”

The team to challenge Sylmar’s 46-game winning streak in conference will be North Hollywood for two reasons--the offensive line and running back Dante Clay, a preseason top 25 pick by national college recruiting magazine.

North Hollywood gave the Spartans a scare last year, taking a 16-0 lead into the second half. Sylmar’s defense could not penetrate North Hollywood’s offensive line and the Huskies rolled up 265 yards rushing. Although the Spartans escaped in the final minutes with a 27-24 victory, they might find themselves in even more trouble this year; all five linemen--and all but two starters on offense--return for North Hollywood.

Husky senior Oscar Gonzalez (6-4, 290), earned All-City 3-A honors last season and anchors the group of veterans at center. Junior right tackle Jonathan Hicks (6-2, 248) was an all-conference selection last year and has his coaches smiling from ear to ear.

“He’s a stud,” said Jason Garrison, an assistant coach. “He will go further than any kid we’ve ever had here.”

North Hollywood’s ground game averaged 253 yards last year, more than any other City team in the region. Now that the Huskies fully understand their double wing-T offense, expect that average to increase.

The rest of the conference’s lines look good on paper but are inexperienced.

Reseda, defending City 3-A champion, lost quite a big chunk to graduation, namely lineman Ennis Davis, now at USC.

Senior guard Jeremiah Harrison (6-2, 210) is the only returning starter on the line, but one the best linemen Coach Joel Schaeffer said he has coached.

Grant’s line averages about 248 pounds. Senior tackle Ray Armstrong (6-2, 275) leads a group of three returning starters and two newcomers with good size. The Lancers were winless last season but have 12 returning starters with experience to build on.

Poly, which finished 2-8 and averaged only 200 yards offensively, has a decent looking line--averaging 240 pounds--but the Parrots are young and inexperienced.

Senior tackle Mike Renteria (6-3, 245) is the only returning starter among the five. However, senior tight ends Alex Aguilar (6-3, 240), a returning starter, and Eric Owens (6-5, 210), a basketball star who hasn’t played football since his freshman year, have the skill and ability to make up for what the offensive line may lack in experience.

Poly Coach Tim Feeley insists Poly will have a decent running game, but the line will dictate how potent it will be.

“The key to Poly’s success lies in the offensive line,” Feeley said.

With only two returning starters, Van Nuys’ line--averaging 236 pounds--is suspect, but Coach Mark Pomerantz said it is “quicker and bigger than in the past.”

Canoga Park is also a question mark because of inexperience, Coach Rudy Lugo said.

“If there was a weakness [on this team], it is the speed, size and inexperience of the line,” Lugo said.

Senior guard Vince Rodriguez (6-3, 230), a second-team, all-conference defensive lineman last season, has the experience and will have to help teach the up-and-coming linemen.

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AT A GLANCE

* THE PROVEN: Sylmar’s program and North Hollywood’s running attack are the conference’s most potent entities this season. San Fernando transfer Derrell Daniels (6 feet 2, 215 pounds) is a blue-chip linebacker who will keep Sylmar’s defense among the best in the region. Junior Shaun Avalos (6-1, 180), a wide receiver, strong safety and kicker, is an All-City player who rarely leaves the field for Sylmar. North Hollywood senior running back

Dante Clay (5-10, 184), above, who rushed for 1,525 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, is a Division I prospect. Van Nuys senior Robert Williamson (6 feet, 195) is the only returning conference quarterback to pass for 1,000 yards last season.

* THE PROMISING: Monroe senior running back Vinnie Walker (6-0, 190) rushed for 874 yards and five touchdowns last season in the shadow of Jason Anderson, who gained 1,325 yards before transferring to Palmdale in the spring. Reseda senior quarterback Jamaal Washington (6-2, 190) threw for 805 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1995 with only five interceptions. Sylmar running back Donald Carpenter (6-1, 190), a junior transfer from Taft, rushed for 1,214 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Canoga Park senior Kevin Carlsen (6-1, 175) made a name for himself as a pitcher. Will he do the same as a wide receiver?

* FAST FACT: North Hollywood’s Dante Clay, who has rushed for 2,366 yards and 24 touchdowns, is getting calls from USC, Notre Dame and Colorado, among others.

Valley Pac-8 Schedules

Canoga Park

Sept. 12--at Birmingham

Sept. 20--Valencia, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27--El Camino Real,

7 p.m.

Oct. 4--*Monroe

Oct. 11--*Grant

Oct. 18--*at North Hollywood

Oct. 25--*at Poly

Nov. 1--*Van Nuys

Nov. 8--*Reseda

Nov. 15--*at Sylmar

Home Site

Canoga Park High

Reseda

Sept. 12--Chatsworth

Sept. 20--at Cleveland

Sept. 27--Birmingham

Oct. 4--*Sylmar

Oct. 11--*Poly

Oct. 18--*at Van Nuys

Oct. 25--*at Grant, 3 p.m.

Nov. 1--*Monroe

Nov. 8--*at Canoga Park

Nov. 15--*at North Hollywood

Home Site

Reseda High

Sylmar

Sept. 12--at Taft

Sept. 20--at Chatsworth, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27--Antelope Valley

Oct. 4--*at Reseda

Oct. 11--*at Van Nuys

Oct. 18--*at Poly

Oct. 25--*North Hollywood

Nov. 1--*Grant

Nov. 8--*Monroe

Nov. 15--*Canoga Park

Home Site

Sylmar High

Van Nuys

Sept. 12--at Palisades,

6:45 p.m.

Sept. 20--Culver City

Sept. 27--Montclair Prep

Oct. 4--*at Poly

Oct. 11--*Sylmar

Oct. 18--*Reseda

Oct. 25--*at Monroe

Nov. 1--*at Canoga Park

Nov. 8--*North Hollywood

Nov. 15--*Grant,

at Valley College

Home Site

Van Nuys High

Grant

Sept. 12--at Verdugo Hills,

3 p.m.

Sept. 20--Marshall, 3 p.m.

Sept. 27--San Fernando, 3 p.m.

Oct. 4--*North Hollywood

Oct. 11--*at Canoga Park

Oct. 18--*at Monroe

Oct. 25--*Reseda, 3 p.m.

Nov. 1--*at Sylmar

Nov. 8--*Poly, 3 p.m.

Nov. 15--*Van Nuys

at Valley College

Home Site

Grant High

Monroe

Sept. 12--Hoover

Sept. 20--at Wilson

Sept. 27--at Eagle Rock, 3 p.m.

Oct. 4--*at Canoga Park

Oct. 11--*North Hollywood

Oct. 18--*Grant

Oct. 25--*Van Nuys

Nov. 1--*at Reseda

Nov. 8--*at Sylmar

Nov. 15--*Poly

Home Site

Monroe High

North Hollywood

Sept. 12--El Camino Real

Sept. 21--at Harvard-

Westlake, 1 p.m.

Sept. 27--Kennedy

Oct. 4--*at Grant, 3 p.m.

Oct. 11--*at Monroe

Oct. 18--*Canoga Park

Oct. 25--*at Sylmar

Nov. 1--*Poly

Nov. 8--*at Van Nuys

Nov. 15--*Reseda

Home Site

North Hollywood High

Poly

Sept. 13--at Chaminade

Sept. 20--Crenshaw

Sept. 27--Chatsworth

Oct. 4--*Van Nuys

Oct. 11--*at Reseda

Oct. 18--*Sylmar

Oct. 25--*Canoga Park

Nov. 1--*at No. Hollywood

Nov. 8--*at Grant, 3 p.m.

Nov. 15--*at Monroe

Home Site

Poly High

*League games