FOOTBALL ’91 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: CITY SECTION : NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE : WEST VALLEY LEAGUE (4-A) : El Camino Real

COACH: Mike Maio-Ralph Stam, 4th season

LAST SEASON: 7-4; tied for 2nd in league, 5-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Conquistadores have a returning starter at quarterback in senior Evan Howland, although he missed part of last season with a hip injury. Howland (6-foot, 172 pounds) passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns in eight games to supplement the team’s ground-based offense. Doyle Holmon, Dylan Bowden and Chris Shinnick might split time at tailback. Shinnick is the son of former Baltimore Colts standout Don Shinnick, who played in the Johnny Unitas era. Andy Hasson (5-10, 180) returns at fullback and in the secondary. El Camino Real’s strength in recent years has been its line, and three starters return to anchor the offense: Jeff Sardell (6-5, 245), Herbert Cosey (6-2, 240) and Adam Schindler (6-1, 210). Robert Magnusson (5-10, 165) also will start on the offensive line and at linebacker. Sophomore Brian Tade (6-2, 220) is expected to start at center. The defense, which typically ranks among the best in the area, remains unsettled. Cosey also starts at nose tackle and is considered one of the best defensive players in the conference. Senior Joe LaFirenza returns for his third season as kicker and also will start at tight end.

OUTLOOK: The absence of a standout tailback might slow the team over the first few games, but by then, a favorite should emerge. The tailback situation isn’t unique, though. The team will need to mature in several areas. “We’ve always hung our hat on our defense and it’s wide open right now,” Maio said. “Our strength is our work ethic and our weakness is our (lack of) experience.”

Granada Hills

COACH: Darryl Stroh-Tom Harp, 7th season

LAST SEASON: 10-2; 1st in league, 7-0

PLAYERS TO WATCH: During the off-season, Stroh took a look at the team’s future and shook his head. “We’ve had a lot of years on top,” he said. “I can’t complain.” Decimated by graduation, the Highlanders no longer stack up as the team to beat. Only three starters return: receiver-defensive back John Moss (6-0, 175), offensive lineman Faio Emilio (6-1, 225) and defensive lineman Brian Camel (6-2, 230). Last year’s backup, Edgar Vasquez (5-8, 150), will start at quarterback. Emilio is expected to play fullback and Raheem Kyle (5-8, 160), a standout from the B team, will play tailback. Felix Shin (5-10, 160), a returning letterman, will start at receiver. Moss, transfer Shontrel Ryals (5-10, 160) and Chris Morris (6-1, 175) lead the secondary. John Torgeson (6-1, 195) and Justin Milmeister (5-11, 180) will start at linebacker. Camel, Emilio and Greg Melikyan (6-1, 220) will start on the defensive line, which should be a strength. “It should be one of the strongest we’ve had,” Harp said.

OUTLOOK: “When you’re hurt so much by graduation, it leaves a lot of voids to fill,” Harp said. “We’re sorting it out. We’ll have to see who comes along and steps up to help out.” One break: Granada Hills did not schedule a game next week, giving the team another week to jell. Harp hopes there is strength in numbers: 75 players turned out for the varsity, although “50 of them, we haven’t seen before,” he said.

Kennedy

COACH: Bob Francola, 6th season

LAST SEASON: 7-5; T-2nd in North Valley League, 3-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: By unanimous decree, Kennedy is the team to beat, fielding perhaps its best team since 1986. While defense was the hallmark of the 1986 team, the offensive line is the strength of this year’s entry. Four senior linemen return and the fifth, center Alphonso Quezada, also is a senior. The starters, from left to right, are Danny Milliken (6-3, 250), Fares Helo (6-0, 215), Quezada (6-1, 195), Troy Bregel (6-2 1/2, 240) and Craig Garner (6-2, 282). The group will be opening holes for tailback Eli Raphael, who served as Ontiwaun Carter’s backup last season. Raphael (5-10, 170) gained 275 yards and averaged 7.1 yards a carry in 1990 and Francola expects him to rank among the area’s top rushers. Mobile quarterback Tavarus Logie (5-10, 180), a part-time starter each of the past two seasons, also returns. Kennedy might have the best pair of cornerbacks in the area in Anthony Jones and Ronnie Gipson. Jones (6-2, 184) is an NCAA Division I prospect and Gipson (6-2, 170) isn’t far behind. “Gipson may be the best athlete on the team,” Francola said. “Jones is one of the best I’ve ever had, period.” The linebacking corps also is rock solid, led by returning seniors Alex Sawatzke (6-1, 230), Bobby Rodgers (6-1, 185) and Velami Langi (5-10, 205). Brian Meza (6-0, 270), who bench-presses 400 pounds, is the hub of the defensive line.

OUTLOOK: How does Francola feel about being installed as the league favorite? “Nervous,” he said. But make no mistake, Francola said he has raised the level of intensity at practice to new levels in an effort to bring out the best in his team. “We’re out to win the league championship, the conference championship and do well in the City playoffs,” Francola said. “The players know what they are capable of and anything less will be a disappointment.”

San Fernando

COACH: Tom Hernandez, 10th season

LAST SEASON: 7-5; 1st in North Valley League, 4-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: As usual, San Fernando will go only as far as its wishbone offense--and its offensive line--will carry it. A word of advice for those bulky Tiger linemen: “They just need to get out of the way,” Hernandez said. “Just give us some room to operate the option and we’ll be fine.” The backfield is anchored by senior LaKarlos Townsend (5-10, 170), who rushed for 720 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Townsend returned three kicks for touchdowns as a sophomore, tying a school record and earning him the nickname, “The Weapon.” The talented Brian Brison (5-9, 175) will start at either running back or quarterback. Dwight McDuff (6-3, 175), a receiver last season, will start at receiver if Brison starts at running back. Amon Flanagan (6-0, 190) is the starter at fullback. The offensive line is not as set, with Oscar Salgado (6-4, 275) the lone returning starter. The linebacking corps will be a definite asset, led by Flanagan, Scoody Woods (6-0, 190), Prince Rawlings (6-0, 205) and Mike Garcia, all of whom played last season. The defensive line will be buttressed by Shannon Galway (6-1, 230) and Anthony Murray (6-1, 180).

OUTLOOK: In terms of the league race, the Tigers have been tabbed a close second to Kennedy by the conference’s coaches. “The backfield looks real good,” Hernandez said. “We’ve been running the option real well and it looks like we’ll have a good power game inside.” The offensive line could pose problems. “A lot of the kids played some last year, but they didn’t start,” Hernandez said. San Fernando’s defense will be as fast as any. Seven players return. “The defense is pretty solid right now,” he said.

Taft

COACH: Larry Stewart, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 7-4; tied for 2nd in league, 5-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Last season, Taft was blessed with its best group of skill-position players in years. The bad news is that most of the group graduated. “We’re slow, we’re small and we’re young,” Stewart joked. “We can do it all.” The team’s best player is quarterback Karlon Mack (6-1, 185), whose junior season was plagued by injury. “I haven’t seen anybody in the summer passing leagues who was better,” Stewart said of Mack. “Whether he’ll be able to display his talent on this team, I don’t know.” Beyond Mack, the team has many holes. Outside linebackers Mitch Sand (6-1, 195) and Randy Johnson (6-2, 190) are the strength of the defense. Lamar Lawson (5-7, 160), who also played quarterback last season, will start at tailback and defensive back. Aldon Bordenave (5-10, 180) will start at fullback and linebacker and is one of the team’s few experienced players.

OUTLOOK: How undersized is Taft? The four projected starters in the secondary stand less than 5-8. So far, Tom Meier (5-9, 180) and Darian Shimy (5-11, 185) are the only set starters in Taft’s diminutive offensive line. “I’m 6-foot-1 and I’m looking down on almost everybody,” Stewart said. Taft might spend the season looking up at most of the league.