Expansion May Challenge Bolsa Grande’s Hold on the Top Rung

The Garden Grove League has comprised juggernauts and jugger-nots in the past, and this season should follow that form once again.

The league has been represented in the last two Central Conference championship games. Bolsa Grande High School won last season, and La Quinta was the 1985 runner-up to Saddleback.

But after the top two, the quality of league teams drops off a bit.

The addition of former Empire League teams Pacifica and Kennedy this season should add to the league’s upper division.

At one time, Pacifica dominated the Garden Grove League, winning league titles from 1972 to 1979. The Mariners left for the tougher top-to-bottom competition of the Empire League in 1981.

After spending two years in the Empire League, Pacifica Coach Bill Craven was quoted in 1983 as saying, “The last-place team in (the Empire) league would probably take third in (the Garden Grove) league.

“Top to bottom, the league does not possess the strong programs of some of the other Orange County leagues, but there are always a couple of schools that produce strong teams each year.”

And if last season is any indication, things haven’t changed much. Los Alamitos, the second-place finisher in the Empire League, defeated Los Amigos, Garden Grove’s No. 3 team, 47-0.

Still, the top teams rated among Orange County’s most successful last season.

Bolsa Grande outscored its opponents, 389-157, in winning 13 of 14 games last season. The Matadors avenged their only loss, a 33-10 nonleague setback to Valencia, with a 24-7 win over the Tigers in the championship game.

This season, the Matadors should be tested by newcomer Pacifica, among others.

However, Pacifica is troubled by a lack of numbers. Only 38 players have been attending practice, Craven said.

After spring practice, nine players were academically ineligible. Three went to summer school and have regained their eligibility. The other six remain ineligible, and seven others also have not reported for practice.

The Garden Grove League coaches’ poll:

Bolsa Grande is the pick to win the league.

Pacifica and La Quinta are expected to finish either second or third.

Kennedy, which was winless last season and has a new coach, is rated as the sleeper of the group.

BOLSA GRANDE

5-0, 13-1 (First in league)

Bolsa Grande won its first outright league championship in its 24-year history last season, but could face a challenge from La Quinta and Pacifica.

The good news for Bolsa Grande is that eight starters are back from last year’s team, including the backfield. Quarterback Damon Fisher and running backs Travin Lui (the Matadors’ leading rusher) and Ricky Lepule were a big reason the Matadors went through league play undefeated and took the Central Conference championship.

Fisher has started the last two seasons for Coach Greg Shadid, and he threw three touchdown passes in the championship win over Valencia. Lui gained more than 1,100 yards, including playoff games, and averaged 6.2 yards per carry.

Lepule gained almost 1,000 yards, averaging 6.6 a carry. Fisher also gained more than 800 yards rushing.

The trio should find plenty of running room behind tackle Jesse Hardwick, who Shadid said is 6-feet 6-inches tall and weighs 250 pounds.

Other key personnel: running back Shannon Valdez, defensive back Danny Jimenez and wide receiver/defensive back Jimmy Usey.

Top newcomers: wide receiver/defensive back Mark Miller and guard/defensive end Tim Desosier.

GARDEN GROVE

2-3, 2-8 (Fourth in league)

Larry Hirt is the new coach at Garden Grove, replacing Jim Rawls, who was 11-25-1 in four seasons. The Argonauts have had two straight rough seasons, 2-7 in 1986 and 1-9 in 1985.

But Hirt has a solid corps of lettermen back from last season, including Mike Moore, the starting quarterback.

“My quarterback has a pretty good touch,” Hirt said. “We’ll be able to throw the ball a little this year. Last year they ran all sorts of stuff--the I, the wishbone.”

Hirt will stick with the I formation this season, however. Bryan McGinley, an all-league tailback, will be Garden Grove’s top runner this season.

Key personnel: defensive back Todd Wassman, center/defensive lineman Pat Silva and tight end Billy Moll.

Top newcomer: fullback Joshua Bove.

KENNEDY

0-7, 0-10 (Eighth in Empire)

Mitch Olson is the new coach at Kennedy, replacing John Carroll, who resigned in January. Olson, who was an assistant at Kennedy, is a former Los Alamitos running back (1976-78) and still holds several Griffin rushing records.

Olson, 28, coached the Irish freshman team to the Empire League title last season. The sophomore team also won the league championship.

If the Irish are to succeed this season, they’ll do it with a large contingent of underclassmen.

Olson will start juniors Peter Montera at quarterback and Greg Hansell at wide receiver. Hansell has good size at 6-5, 195, according to Olson.

Other key personnel: offensive linemen Scott Matney and Brit Johnson.

Top newcomers: Mike Vedder, Rick Woodward and David Rocchi.

LA QUINTA

4-1, 6-5 (Second in league)

The Aztecs’ strength lies in their defensive nucleus, according to Roger Takahashi, La Quinta’s second-year coach. Their weaknesses include inexperience and depth. They also lack the size they’ve normally had in the past, he said.

Indeed, the Aztecs have only five players on the roster weighing more than 200 pounds.

Greg Hodge, a two-year starter at fullback and linebacker, is one of four returning starters for Takahashi. Although Hodge has the experience, he lacks size. He’s only 5-7, 185. Doug Wolfe, a defensive lineman, is another experienced Aztec.

La Quinta lost a good quarterback, Derek Debbs, to graduation. Debbs threw for more than 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. Trent Julian will start this season.

Other key personnel: linebacker Jeff Reynolds and lineman Felix Leuta.

Top newcomers: guard/linebacker Corie Ryan and defensive back Tom Cherms.

LOS AMIGOS

3-2, 6-4 (Third in league)

The Lobos qualified for the playoffs last season, finishing in third place, and some coaches feel they could be contenders again.

“We’ve always had a lot of respect for Art Michalik and Los Amigos,” Craven said.

Michalik coached Pacifica to five league titles during the 1970s. Los Amigos has been a consistent playoff qualifier since he became the Lobo coach in the 1984 season. The Lobos finished second in ’84 and third the last two seasons.

Look for the Lobos to make yet another run at the playoffs.

PACIFICA

4-3, 5-5 (Fourth in Empire)

The Mariners are again playing in the league they once dominated. But Coach Bill Craven said the Mariners are not a lock to make the playoffs.

New quarterback Shelby Hart played sparingly last season, but has shown promise, Craven said.

“He was our backup last season and may have only thrown eight passes,” Craven said. “He’s been looking good in our early drills. He’ll do a lot of good things for us.”

Craven also likes three juniors, all of whom lettered as sophomores. Scott Parrish, an outside linebacker, Kevin Ashworth, a defensive end, and Kevin Prentiss, a tight end, will start.

The Mariners also are strong on the offensive line, with guards Wes Castellano and Todd Beneman and center Victor Ledesma.

The Mariners have a tough nonleague schedule, with games against Millikan and El Modena.

Other key personnel: defensive lineman Derek Hickman.

RANCHO ALAMITOS

0-5, 0-9-1 (Sixth in league)

The Vaqueros are yet another team with a new coach this season. Mark Miller replaces Paul Shane, who resigned in January.

Sean Cheatham, a senior tailback and safety, was the Vaqueros’ best player last season and has started the past two seasons. But Rancho Alamitos has posted an 8-29-2 record in the last four seasons.

Other key personnel: tight end Jason Sweet, lineman Jesse Martinez, linebacker/fullback Tom Togia and running back/cornerback David Singletary.

Top newcomers: running back Baron Lizares, quarterback Rod McCall, lineman Bob Colice and wide receiver Tim Mora.

SANTIAGO

1-4, 2-8 (Fifth in league)

Mike Barron takes over as the new Cavalier coach after Fred DiPalma resigned to take an assistant coaching position at Valencia.

Barron coached last season at Buena Park, which tied Santiago in the only game the Coyotes haven’t lost in three seasons.

The Cavaliers suffered from a lack of depth and inexperience last season.

Santiago, which had only 32 players out in 1986, primarily started underclassmen. Dana Ripley, a tight end/linebacker, and Paul Crippen, a guard/linebacker, are among the juniors who had considerable playing time last season.