PREP FOOTBALL ’94 : Bell Gardens’ Little Big Men Out to Prove a Point

Bell Gardens Coach Dave Newell talks a lot about how little his players are. This year’s team is no exception.

The Lancers have only one player over six feet and three players over 200 pounds.

“We’re just an average team with average players and probably a little smaller,” said Newell, in his 18th season as coach.

Which is probably saying a lot about the Lancers’ prospects for a productive season. Bell Gardens, which is seeking its third consecutive Almont League title, has qualified for the playoffs 16 of the past 17 years.

Newell, 48, has guided the Lancers to a 143-52-3 record during that span, six league championships and two Southern Section title games after taking over a program that had once lost 49 consecutive games.

The Lancers, who open the season Friday night at home against Bell, are ranked second to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in the Southern Section Division III preseason rankings.

“Every year you have to prove yourself and this year’s no different,” linebacker Mario Martinez said.

College recruiters, though, have not been impressed. No player from Bell Gardens has ever received a Division I scholarship during Newell’s tenure.

It’s unlikely 1994 will be the first year.

“Everybody is bigger than us--we don’t expect to play a team smaller than us,” said linebacker Gerardo Vasquez, a 5-10, 170-pound senior. “We’re the smallest team around. It’s not all size, speed and strength. It’s who is tougher and has more discipline and pride.”

In 1992, Bell Gardens advanced to the Southern Section Division III title game. Last season, the Lancers (9-3-1, 4-1 in league) advanced to the semifinals with only two returning starters on defense.

Defense, however, will be the team’s strength this season with eight returning starters, including Vasquez and Martinez (5-11, 203), all-league players as juniors.

Seniors Frank Lopez (5-11, 204) and Adam Solorzano (5-11, 175) are the mainstays of the line. Senior Mike Flores (5-10, 170) and junior Diego Alviso (5-9, 167) are back at linebacker. George Villa (5-7, 134) returns at safety.

Tight end Tadeo Gonzales (6-0, 200) was an all-league selection as a junior but is the only player back at offense. Senior fullback David York and junior tailback David Villegas (5-11, 165) will shoulder most of the offensive load.

“We don’t have any bullets and one guy we can say we can go to or ride his coattails,” Newell said. “The kids are just unbelievably tough overachievers. We’re very solid but extremely average.”

And extremely successful.

Other teams to watch:

Artesia, Suburban (5-6, 3-2)--The Pioneers are ranked 10th in the Division VIII preseason rankings and figure to be much improved from last year’s team that tied for third in the Suburban League.

Center Kevin Bloodworth (6-2, 235) is a three-year starter who teams with quarterback Jua Jackson (5-10, 175) and running backs Demond Winston (5-7, 160) and Frank Vann (5-7, 150) in the option-oriented offense.

Cantwell-Sacred Heart, Camino Real (7-4, 5-1)--The heart of the offense returns and the Cardinals are 10th in the Division IX rankings.

Senior running back Mark Figueroa (5-11, 205) was the Camino Real League Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 1,231 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Frank Villalobos passed for 663 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore last season and wide receiver Jose Leon (6-1, 175) had 33 catches for 573 yards.

Dominguez, San Gabriel Valley (10-2, 5-1): Junior fullback Donald Davis (5-10, 200), senior tight end Rocky Joseph (6-1, 210) and senior center Caldron Knight (6-3, 240) helped the Dons reach the semifinals of the Division II playoffs.

Defense will be the strength for Dominguez, ranked second behind Muir in the Division II poll. Seven starters return, including senior linebacker Trayton Bullard (5-11, 190), safety Marcus Hunter (5-9, 170) and junior cornerback Quion Austis (5-8, 150).

The success of the Dominguez Wing-T offense will hinge upon a line that includes sophomore guards Michael Roberts and Christopher Rhodes (5-10, 260).

El Rancho, Del Rio (7-4, 3-2): The Dons, along with Whittier, are favored for the league title. Whittier is second and El Rancho is fourth in the Division VI rankings.

Senior linebacker David Garcia, wide receiver Steve Rodriguez (5-8, 148) and junior fullback Bobby Romo (5-7, 147) are the returning starters. Depth is a concern for first-year Coach Jim Patricio, who brings a 114-64-1 record in 17 seasons of coaching at Cantwell, Bishop Amat and Walnut Highs.

The Dons will pass more than in previous years with senior quarterback-wide receiver tandem of Joe Rosales (6-1, 170) and Alex Pico (6-2, 175).

La Mirada, Suburban (9-2, 5-0): The combination of quarterback Mike Palumbo (6-1, 185) and Wyatt Boatright (6-0, 175) are back. As juniors, Palumbo passed for 924 yards and Boatright had 15 receptions and two touchdowns. Senior Brett Darnell (6-1, 220) is a three-year starter at linebacker.

Long Beach Jordan, Moore (5-6, 4-1): The Bulldogs, ninth in the Division I rankings, are the favorite to unseat Long Beach Poly for the Moore League title. Junior quarterback Ortega Jenkins (6-2, 195) is effective as a passer and a rusher. Senior running backs Lajuan Gibbons (5-8, 170) and Ahmad Jackson (5-11, 205) and senior lineman Greg Edelin (6-2, 300) and Howard Faagata (6-2, 260) also return.

Long Beach Poly, Moore (10-2, 5-0): Senior quarterback Rob Toler (6-0, 175) has directed the Jackrabbits to two consecutive league titles but any hopes of a third championship will also rest on underclassmen. Senior Arild Faraimo (6-0, 180) is at running back but will be joined in the backfield by junior Akka-Ar Moses (5-11, 195). Sophomore Kenyon Rambo (5-11, 175) and junior Eric Patterson (6-0, 180) are at wide receiver.

Montebello, Almont (9-3, 4-1): The Oilers could surprise Bell Gardens and Schurr in the race for the league title. Quarterback Fred Montiel (6-0, 190) was the Almont League Back of the Year as a junior, passing for 1,063 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushing for 558 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had an interception playing safety.

Running back Adolfo Esqueda (5-9, 170) rushed for 922 yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensive lineman Jason Munoz (6-0, 210) and Richard Enriguez (5-10, 175) are other returning all-league players.

Paramount (10-1, 6-0), San Gabriel Valley: Two-way senior standouts Michael Fletcher (5-11, 175) and Scott Vaiagae (5-8, 185) should help the Pirates contend with Dominguez for the league championship.

Fletcher will play quarterback and defensive end. A two-time all-league player, he will also return kickoffs and punts. Vaiagae is a running back and linebacker for Paramount, ranked fourth in Division II.

The offensive and defensive lines might be Paramount’s biggest asset, with seniors Jarred Halk (6-2, 250), Ernesto Jacobo (6-0, 200), Rene Pena (5-11, 205) and Jason Torres (5-9, 195).

St. Paul (7-3, 3-2), Del Rey: The Swordsmen face the predicament of playing in one of the toughest leagues in the Southern Section with Bishop Amat, the top-ranked team in the country by Associated Press, and Loyola.

Junior quarterback Gerry Ceballos (5-11, 160) and senior wide receiver Eric Corpus (5-9, 137) and offensive tackle Dennis Cash (5-11, 239) are among 11 returning starters. Seniors John Dyer (6-3, 234), Art Lucero (5-11, 188) and Manuel Martinez (5-8, 165) are back on defense at tackle, linebacker and safety.

Schurr, Almont (7-4, 4-1): Ken Davis, who resigned as coach after the 1991 season, citing frustration with budget cuts in the Montebello Unified School District, has returned as the offensive coordinator under first-year Coach Mike Mayoral.

Davis (143-82-1), who had been the only coach since the school’s inception in 1971, led the Spartans to eight league championships and 14 playoff appearances, including the Southern Section Southeastern Conference championship.

Expect the Spartans, seventh in Division III, to pass with Kevin Seto (6-4, 207) who threw for 1,640 yards and averaged 41 yards a punt as a junior. Tailbacks Bobby Solorio (5-8, 165) and Vince Gonzalez (5-9, 170) will bolster the running game. Fullback-linebacker Oscar Burgueno (6-1, 237) and tight end-defensive lineman Jermaine Jackson (6-3, 210) are two-way starters.

Whittier, Del Rio (9-5, 4-1)--The Cardinals return eight starters from last year’s Division IV champion team but have a new coach in Walter Scott. Whittier figures to run the ball with back Kourtney Dean, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards, and a line that includes James Sherman (6-4, 285) and Leonard Farias (6-2, 265).

The defense features linebacker Gus Sanchez, cornerback John Lanza, and ends Rashad Hogans and Marcus Vivian.