Preps : Carson’s Vollnogle Hopes 5th Time Is Repeat Charm

With the 1989 City high school football season starting this weekend, Carson’s Gene Vollnogle is in a familiar position--coaching the defending champion.

Last season, Carson defeated arch-rival Wilmington Banning, 55-7, in the City 4-A Division final, earning Vollnogle his seventh City title at Carson and his ninth overall.

With several key players back from last season’s 12-1 team, the Colts and Vollnogle, who is starting his 27th season at Carson, are favored to repeat.

Winning consecutive titles has been difficult for Vollnogle, however. He has accomplished the feat only once at Carson, in 1971 and ’72. Since then, Vollnogle’s Colts have lost in the title game after a City championship season four times, in 1973, 1983, 1985 and 1987.

Leading the way for the Colts this season will be quarterback Armin Youngblood, who played mainly as a swingback last season and scored 11 touchdowns. His primary targets are Tydus Winans and Michael Ross.

Linebacker Nkosi Littleton, 6-feet-2 and 220 pounds, an All-City selection last season who has been chosen on several preseason All-American teams, is the key to Carson’s defense. The secondary will be led by junior defensive backs Clayvand Thomas and Tarriel Hopper, who also punts.

As usual, Banning stands as the Colts’ main threat to repeating, having defeated Carson in title games in 1983 and 1985. Last season, the Pilots finished 11-3, losing twice to Carson. Despite the loss of fullback Derek Sparks, who transferred to Montclair Prep in Van Nuys this fall, Banning is loaded with talent.

Returning is quarterback John Ma’ae, who completed 56% of his passes for more than 1,200 yards last season. Ma’ae, also a dangerous runner, is one of the best quarterbacks in Southern California. The main target of his passes will be junior Michael James, who excelled in passing leagues this summer. On defense, linebacker John Herrera is the Pilots’ main force, along with defensive back Nizam Walter.

San Fernando finished 8-4 last season and figures to be a strong contender, largely on the passing of 6-3 senior quarterback Michael Wynn, who completed 108 of 209 passes for 1,614 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. In last season’s semifinal playoff game against Banning, Wynn threw for nearly 250 yards and four touchdowns.

Granada Hills, which defeated Carson two seasons ago in the City championship game, is another talented San Fernando Valley team. Quarterbacks Chris Gadomski, who passed for 1,158 yards last season, and Bryan Martin, a transfer from Illinois, will lead an offense loaded with experienced skill-position players. Leon Glasgow and Brett Washington will handle the Highlanders’ rushing attack, with William Moringlane and Jermaine Love the top receivers.

Last season, Dorsey had what many considered the most talented team in the City in finishing 9-3. The Dons played every game tough, suffering two close losses to Carson and one to Banning. In their semifinal game against Carson, the Dons led 13-0 before losing 14-13 on a late Colt touchdown.

This season Dorsey will rely on the talents of wide receiver-defensive back Kevin Copeland, who scored 11 touchdowns last season. The versatile Copeland caught 33 passes for more than 660 yards last season, and returned two punts for touchdowns.

South Gate, the defending 3-A Division champions, finished with a 14-0 record in winning its first City title since 1955. The Rams will again be the team to beat, thanks largely to running back Ivan Wilson, the 3-A player of the year last season. As a junior, Wilson rushed for 1,979 yards and 23 touchdowns. Returning with Wilson is Marco Diaz, who made all-conference last season at center.

Franklin, which has won two of the last three City 3-A Division titles, will be strong again, despite the graduation of All-City running back Lamont Lovett, who became the City’s first 2,000-yard rusher last season. Returning for the Panthers is Lamont’s brother, Lamar, who also made All-City last season as a defensive back, and quarterback Santiago Alvarez, who directed Franklin to a 11-1 mark last season.

Westchester, which lost to South Gate in the title game last season, will be looking for its third consecutive appearance in a City final. In 1987, Westchester won the last 2-A Division title. This season, the Comets will be led by tailback Tim Holliday, who averaged 7.1 yards a carry in rushing for 1,202 yards last season.

Holliday rushed for 172 yards in Westchester’s upset semifinal playoff victory over Franklin, which ended the Panthers’ 20-game winning streak. Returning with Holliday will be backfield mates Walter Grissom and Chris Bacus, who will run behind a veteran offensive line led by three-year starter Calvin Dotson.

Prep Notes

Backs to watch: Armin Youngblood of Carson, John Ma’ae of Banning, Michael Wynn of San Fernando, Kevin Copeland of Dorsey, Ivan Wilson of South Gate, Lamar Lovett of Franklin, Tim Holliday of Westchester, running backs Mario Mattison of Fairfax, Jerome Casey of Sylmar, Shon Ellerbe of Crenshaw, Ontiwaun Carter of Kennedy of Granada Hills and Jay Fields of Hamilton.

In Southern Section games last week, the Times’ second-ranked team, Bishop Amat of La Puente, lost on the road to No. 9 Riverside Rubidoux, 14-7. Also losing was No. 4 Canyon Country Canyon, which played without injured star tailback Chris Peery, to Newhall Hart, 30-12. On the winning side, top-ranked Fontana rolled to a 47-0 victory over Montclair; Loyola of Los Angeles defeated St. Paul of Sante Fe Springs, 28-6, with tailback Kahlil McAlpin running for 133 yards in eight carries; Paramount defeated Johnson of Sacramento, 39-6, with Leon Neal rushing for 166 yards on 10 carries, and Los Alamitos crushed Marina of Huntington Beach, 42-22, as quarterback Todd Gragnano passed for 280 yards.

In Los Altos’ 13-0 victory over El Rancho of Pico Rivera, defensive end Mike Collins made 11 tackles, caused three fumbles and returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown. In Lompoc’s 45-24 victory over Beverly Hills, junior running back Napoleon Kaufman rushed for two touchdowns and returned a kickoff and an interception for two more, with one punt return touchdown nullified because of a penalty.

Tustin Coach Marijon Ancich, the winningest active coach in the Southern Section, will have surgery for a broken right leg this week, after being hit by one of his running backs last week in practice. Ancich, who coached at St. Paul for 19 years and is in his sixth season at Tustin, has 218 victories and claims that he has not missed a game in 28 years. He is doubtful, however, for the Tillers’ game against Mater Dei Friday night.

Key games this weekend include two Southern Section-City matchups. Friday night, Carson, whose only loss last season was to Bishop Amat, will travel to La Puente for a rematch, and Banning will take on Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. Thursday night, Los Alamitos will play host to Anaheim Servite at Gahr High.

TIMES’ PREP POLLS

Southern Section

No. School, League Record 1. Fontana, Citrus Belt 1-0 2. Loyola, Del Rey 1-0 3. Paramount, San Gabriel Valley 1-0 4. Los Alamitos, Empire 1-0 5. Rubidoux, Citrus Belt 1-0 6. Long Beach Poly, Moore 0-0 7. Leuzinger, Bay 1-0 8. Los Altos, Sierra 1-0 9. Muir, Pacific 1-0 10. Bishop Amat, Angelus 0-1 11. Santa Monica, Bay 0-0 12. Hart, Foothill 1-0 13. Edison, Sunset 1-0 14. Lynwood, San Gabriel Valley 1-0 15. Huntington Beach, Sunset 1-0

City

No. School, League 1988 Record 1. Carson, Pacific 12-1 2. Banning, Pacific 11-3 3. San Fernando, North Valley 8-4 4. Granada Hills, North Valley 8-3 5. Dorsey, Pacific 9-3 6. South Gate, Central 14-0 7. Franklin, Northeast 11-1 8. Westchester, Metro 10-4 9. Fairfax, Western 6-4 10. Sylmar, Valley East 7-4