CITY HARBOR LEAGUE : New Saints Coach Has a Wish--and Wishbone

With the exception of hapless Clairemont, the Harbor League experienced a healthy initiation and competition in its first football season.

“It’s a pretty good league for the little people,” said Coronado Coach Bud Mayfield, who added that St. Augustine is anything but.

The Saints were heavy favorites to take the league’s first championship last year, and did, but not as impressively as they were expected to, after they tied Marian, 0-0, in the seventh game of the season.

This year, St. Augustine has the personnel that should march those Saints straight into the playoffs.

“I’ve told the kids we have the talent to take it one step further this year,” first-year Coach Joe Medina said. “Let’s win the league, then win our first playoff game.”

THE RACE

Top contenders: St. Augustine (6-4-1), Coronado (5-6).

Could surprise: Christian (4-6), Marian (3-6-1).

Hoping for improvement: Clairemont (0-10).

Game of the year: St. Augustine vs. Coronado at Balboa Stadium, Nov. 15. Good timing. A feisty 1990 league race culminated in Coronado gaining the second playoff spot in the last game of the regular season. The Islanders’ playoff hopes could hinge on another Harbor League finale.

THE PLAYERS

The Man: John Mozerka, 6-0, 195. St. Augustine’s senior running back gained more than 1,000 yards last year. Medina, feeling there is a direct correlation between winning and getting Mozerka the ball, has structured Saints offense around doing exactly that--on a weekly basis.

Who will fill Marty Martin’s shoes? Although Coach Martin’s 15-17-1 record in three years at St. Augustine is hardly unapproachable, he was well-liked and well-respected. Joe Medina comes to San Diego from Tulsa, Okla., where he was an assistant for four years at Cascia Hall, which went 15-0 and won a state championship in 1989. Medina’s the first to admit that employing the wishbone offense is “a radical change, completely different than what they’re used to,” but he had success with it before and was impressed by how his players made the transition their first scrimmage against Kearny.

Players to watch on offense: Senior Aaron Buckner (6-4, 180) has started at quarterback for St. Augustine since the fourth game his sophomore year and is aging gracefully. Coronado has 20 of 25 players returning, including linemen Kris Harper and Mark Sikes and all-league receiver Chris Bright, since moved to quarterback. Greg Giles and Justin Demaree can catch for Christian and returning starters John Price (QB) and Alfredo Tinoco (WR) give Clairemont an offensive punch.

Others to watch on defense: The D-word is Marian’s strong point, with linebackers Ian Sutlick and Hector Concepcion in the fold.

THE INTANGIBLES

Neophyte, Novice, Newcomer: Seems like the Harbor League is the county’s proverbial welcome mat. Medina isn’t the only fresh face around. At Clairemont, Jim Inouye moves into the driver’s seat after six years as an assistant, and his new staff should stir things up. And remember, Christian’s Dale Peterson and Coronado’s Bud Mayfield aren’t exactly fossils. Peterson’s starting his second year overseeing the Patriots and Mayfield--after leaving the program for several years--is in his third year with the Islanders.