 All eyes will be on Mission Viejo to see if the Diablos can rebound from a 4-6-1 record in 2007. PHOTO COURTESY OF JON LIPSKY Latest from the OCVarsity blog |
Kickoff '08: South Coast League
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South Coast League
COACHES POLL
1. Mission Viejo, 4-6-1* in 2007, 33 points
2. Tesoro, 7-4, 31
3. San Clemente, 7-3-1, 26
4. Dana Hills, 1-8-1, 17
5. Capistrano Valley, 5-4-1, 10
6. Aliso Niguel, 1-9, 9
*Two victories disallowed by forfeit.
(Click on team link to reach schedule and roster)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Mission Viejo. There will be eyes throughout the county focused on the Diablos' attempt to rebound from a 4-6-1 record in 2007, their most losses in a season during Coach Bob Johnson's tenure. Two of the six losses came as a result of forfeit, due to the use of an ineligible during the nonleague part of their schedule. The Diablos also saw the end of their 39-game league unbeaten streak and string of seven consecutive league titles. A roster stocked with some of the county's best returning talent and the shrewd ability of Johnson to get production from his players has Mission Viejo poised to show that last season's struggles were an aberration.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
San Clemente. The Tritons were a couple of plays away from winning the league title a year ago, ultimately finishing tied for second. While they return six starters on offense, led by all-league running back Ryan DeLeon (7.5 yards per carry) and wide receiver Graham Tenney, who led the team in receptions (34) and touchdowns (7), they must overcome the loss of league co-offensive MVP quarterback Brad Curtis and all-league offensive lineman Kevin Murphy. Defensively, the Triton will return only four starters and must replace league defensive MVP middle linebacker Andrew Douglass.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Allan Bridgford
Mission Viejo Quarterback
The play and leadership of the Cal-bound senior will go a long way in determining if the Diablos are to regain their perch atop the South Coast. Bridgford was co-league offensive MVP in 2007 and has looked extremely good during offseason workouts. If he can take some of the confidence and poise he garnered this summer, while limiting his turnovers (12 interceptions in 2007), the Diablos offense should put up impressive numbers throughout 2008.
OTHER TOP PLAYERS
Aliso Niguel: Chad Seymour, TE; Russ Abdulla, WR; Joey Galosic, QB; Blake Lawrence, RB; T.J. Romano, QB/FS/P
Capistrano Valley: Brandon Brennan, QB; Lee Casas, WR; Ryan Shott, T/DT; Bardia Rezaei, RB; D'Eric Skillern, DE
Dana Hills: Sean Schroeder, QB; Brett Giesen, RB/DB/KR; Connor St. Clair, SS/P/K; Anthony Kaspar, DL; Dylan Denso, WR/PR
Mission Viejo: Kevin Chandler, WR; Alex Mascarenas, CB/WR; John Akiba, FB; Jake Marshall, RB; Colton Fitch, CB
San Clemente: Duke Delancelotti, QB; Ben Gomez, WR; Evan Jacobsen, C, Dylan Reda, MLB; Aaron Jones, FS/K/P
Tesoro: Robbie Picazo, QB; Preston King, WR/CB/KR/PR; Scott Graves, MLB; Evan Finkenberg TE/T; John Michael Davis, OLB.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Mission Viejo at Tesoro, Oct. 17, 7 p.m.
In last season's regular-season finale at Mission Viejo, the Titans scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to stun the Diablos, 28-24, clinching the first South Coast title in school history. An undoubtedly motivated Diablos team will get an early chance for revenge, as this highly anticipated contest kicks off league action for both teams and should go a long way to determining the league's balance of power in 2008.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE
Dana Hills and San Clemente. By the time the Dolphins and Tritons square off on Oct. 17th at San Clemente to open the league portion of their schedules, each team will have played some of the county's best teams. The Dolphins traditionally schedule some of the toughest nonleague competition in the county and 2008 is no different, as their nonleague opponents include perennial county powerhouses Foothill, Newport Harbor and Edison. The Tritons will also be tested early, as they square off against 2007 Southeast Division champion La Habra and Southwest Division runner-up Trabuco Hills, who went a combined 25-2 last season.
Related:
• South Coast League schools: Aliso Niguel | Capistrano Valley | Dana Hills | Mission Viejo | San Clemente | Tesoro
• All Football Kickoff '08 articles
Contact the writer: jeichelberger@ocregister.com
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