FOOTBALL ’91 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: CITY SECTION : NORTHERN CONFERENCE : NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE (3-A) : Verdugo Hills

COACH: Charlie Mack, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 2-8; 4th in league, 2-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Only four starters return, but Mack is enjoying the school’s largest turnout for football in 10 years. The varsity will consist of 60 players, twice as many as last year’s team. Three of the returning starters are running backs and each has competition. Seniors Justin Van Fleet (5-foot-11, 170 pounds), Justin Jamison (5-10, 160) and Marvin Martinez (5-10, 165) are the veterans, but running behind a small, inexperienced line will be difficult. Senior Robert Vanover (6-0, 200) is the Dons’ sole returning lineman. Vanover will be joined by a corps of former B team linemen, including juniors Jake Hartmann (5-10, 185), Josh Lukaceski (5-9, 165), Ermelo Mendoza (5-9, 165) and Chris Peterson (5-11, 185). Mack expects junior John Feliz (5-8, 155) to play quarterback.

OUTLOOK: “I really see us going to the playoffs this year,” Mack said. “I’ll even go out on a limb to say we’ll take the league title.” Verdugo Hills is 5-14 in Mack’s tenure, so even a playoff berth is a lofty goal.