VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : 1999 PREVIEW: CITY SECTION TEAM CAPSULES : VALLEY MISSION LEAGUE

Kennedy

COACH: Bob Francola, 14th season

LAST SEASON: 7-4, 5-2 in league

COMING BACK: QB Ruben Zaragosa (5-11, 170) is experienced and ideal for Kennedy’s new run-and-shoot offense. WRs Sanders Trent, Daron Taylor, James Norris and Paul Holifield provide Zaragosa with talented targets. OT-MLB Robert Avina is a junior who has started since he was a freshman. SS Clifford Mack is an impact player on defense.

CHECKING IN: ILB Brandon Robinson, a 6-0, 235-pound sophomore, will start. TB Jerome Williams was a part-time starter last season.

OUTLOOK: How smoothly Kennedy makes the transition from a grind-it-out attack to the run-and-shoot will be key. The Golden Cougars have the best chance of handing Sylmar its first league loss in 10 years.

Monroe

COACH: Chris Richards, first season

LAST SEASON: 4-6, 2-5 in league

COMING BACK: RB-DB DeAndre Phillips is one of the top cover men in the area. RB-DE Jabari Smith (6-3, 240) is getting college attention for his defensive play. Guillermo Ojeda (6-2, 295) is a two-way starter on the line with good quickness.

CHECKING IN: RB Tyrone Burwell (6-3, 235), a transfer from Pasadena, might be the best newcomer among Valley-area City schools. QB Diego Barba (6-0, 180) is a returning starter who transferred to Sylmar last spring but transferred back a week ago.

OUTLOOK: Richards, a former San Fernando High star, should infuse energy and organization into the program. The Vikings have the size to match up with anybody.

Reseda

COACH: Joel Schaeffer, 22nd season

LAST SEASON: 9-5, 5-2 in league

COMING BACK: RB Eddie Robinson (6-1, 185) rushed for 669 yards and in Schaeffer’s words is “an honest, straight-ahead runner.” FB Aaron Cummings and third-year letterman and big-play WR-RB Jason Wagner also return. Darius Heathington (6-3, 240) moves from OT to TE and joins Eric Ochoa, Jess Pizarro and Rudy Ordaz as returning starters on the OL. Quick, powerful Alan Johnson moves from DE to ILB. K Kevin Bush was reliable last season.

CHECKING IN: Carlos Hernandez, a good passer, will step in at QB. The biggest loss is Gerard Jones, an excellent DB-WR who transferred to Taft.

OUTLOOK: Eight players go both ways, so the Regents must be in good condition to compete against the league’s top echelon. Last season, Reseda picked up steam and advanced to the City Division championship game. A similar pattern under the fiery, veteran Schaeffer is possible.

San Fernando

COACH: Sean Blunt, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 6-5, 3-4 in league

COMING BACK: OG-DE Steve Nevarez (6-4, 275) is the best lineman in the City and a three-year starter. Also back are C Ken Enriquez, G George Garcia, T Armando Rodriguez and T Frank Nolasco. QB Thomas Hoohuli spelled injury-prone Larry Brown, who graduated, often last season. WR-CB Gerardo Rubi averaged 23.3 yards a catch. MLB Noe Ramirez led the team in tackles.

CHECKING IN: Powerful RB-LB Bob Stanley (6-1, 215) will try to replace graduated Major Caldwell, who set a school rushing record last season. RB William Lang provides a breakaway threat. DT Sal Delgaudio (6-0, 325) could make an impact.

OUTLOOK: Replacing Brown and Caldwell will be difficult, but an experienced line could take the Tigers far.

Sylmar

COACH: Jeff Engilman, 13th season

LAST SEASON: 8-3, 7-0 in league

COMING BACK: RB David Contreras (5-8, 190) rushed for 1,148 yards and once again will run behind Division I prospects Hector Sanchez (6-4, 340) and Gilbert Sandoval (6-1, 300). Clifford Johnson is a top WR and colleges are looking at him as a SS. Senior Josh Martin (6-2, 220) moves from DE to MLB.

CHECKING IN: QB John Valdez (6-1, 175), a junior transfer from L.A. Baptist who did not play last season, is an excellent athlete. FB Cedro Medina (6-0, 228), a sophomore, is an impressive blocker.

OUTLOOK: Sylmar has little depth. If the Spartans can survive a brutal nonleague schedule, they could again get through league play unscathed.

Van Nuys

COACH: Mark Pomerantz, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 9-4, 5-2 in league

COMING BACK: College prospect Jose Zapata, a 6-1, 225-pound senior MLB, is the only returning starter on defense. Senior LB Joe Vann (6-1, 225) played extensively.

CHECKING IN: William Yun, a 6-2, 230-pound senior, has never played football but has impressed Pomerantz on the DL. Johan Colacho is punting 55 yards in practice and is trying to become the Wolves’ fifth All-City kicker this decade. QB Max Parra and senior RB Yesel Manrique are the most prominent of six transfers from Birmingham.

OUTLOOK: Matching last year’s record will be difficult, but if the transfers assimilate quickly, Van Nuys could compete for a berth in the City playoffs.