PREP FOOTBALL ’91 / CENTURY LEAGUE : El Modena

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL

Bill Backstrom: 30-26-1

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 8-4 5-0

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 6 3

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Brian Bourdeaux, 6-1, 240 OG -- Jr. Gavin Brown, 6-4, 210 TE LB Sr. Geoff Carlson, 5-11, 175 WR -- Sr. Darryll Holguin, 5-10, 170 WR -- Sr. Tom Mazzone, 6-0, 185 TB -- Sr. Jay Montano, 6-2, 180 WR -- Sr. Jose Prado, 5-10, 160 QB -- Sr. Fred Romo, 5-11, 185 -- DB Sr. Chris Semanu, 5-11, 255 -- DT Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Jeff Ettinger, 6-0, 210 OG -- Sr. Ryan Holmes, 6-2, 210 -- LB Jr.

OUTLOOK

The Vanguards will score points and will need to. Their defense lacks experience, with only Romo, Brown and Semanu returning. Backstrom was expecting three other players to return, but one dropped out of school and the other two are academically ineligible. “They were all defensive linemen, too,” Backstrom said. “That left some openings.” Holmes is a promising newcomer at linebacker, which will help. The offense will have to carry the Vanguards. Prado completed 94 of 164 passes for 1,433 yards and 11 touchdowns. And he has all of his receivers back, Montano (31 receptions, 445 yards), Holguin (16-353), Brown (13-259) and Carlson (7-79). Mazzone is good enough to keep the defense honest. He rushed for 242 yards as a backup last season. “We’re going to be able to move the ball,” Backstrom said. “The question is whether we’ll be able to stop anybody.” Even with the questions on defense, the league’s coaches have picked El Modena to win the title.