Kickoff '08: Fountain Valley Barons
Kickoff '08: Fountain Valley Barons
OCVarsity previews football teams for the 2008-09 season.
Fountain Valley
Last season: 5-5, 1-4 (fifth)
Postseason: 2004, lost to St. John Bosco, 16-9, in Division I first round
Coach: John Shipp (fifth year, 18-23)
Outlook: After consecutive 5-5 seasons, the Barons are looking to reach higher ground. They hope the return of five starters on offense and six on defense will help lead the way.The Barons have a strong backfield with the speedy Kyle Middlebrooks and senior leader Dylan Garcia at running back. The Barons don't have great size on defense but they could have playmakers in linebacker Artie O'Keefe and safety Dominic Ragland.
Home stadium: Orange Coast College/Newport Harbor (due to refurbishment of stadium at
Huntington Beach)
Factoid: The Barons averaged 6.5 points offense in their four league losses in 2007
Strongest: Freddie Garcia
Fastest: Kyle Middlebrooks
School record: 253-193-8
| Players to watch | |||
 | Kyle Middlebrooks Emerging junior could have a breakout season |  | Artie O'Keefe Linebacker is one of the key defenders for the Barons |
| Pos. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Steven Santana | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. |
| RB | Kyle Middlebrooks | 5-9 | 175 | Jr. |
| RB | Dylan Garcia | 5-10 | 185 | Sr. |
| WR | Ryan Manzon | 5-9 | 160 | Sr. |
| WR | Andre Mosley | 5-11 | 190 | Sr. |
| TE | Nyko Gonzalez | 6-3 | 200 | Sr. |
| LT | Scotty Rychlik | 5-10 | 210 | Sr. |
| LG | Freddie Garcia | 5-11 | 260 | Sr. |
| C | Andy Palacios | 6-1 | 250 | Sr. |
| RG | Anthony Vega | 6-3 | 260 | Jr. |
| DT | Courtland Drummond | 6-2 | 225 | So. |
| *K | Bryan Erskine | 5-10 | 165 | Sr. |
| *K | Sean Durkee | 6-2 | 190 | Sr. |
| KOR | Kyle Middlebrooks | 5-9 | 175 | Jr. |
| KOR | Dylan Garcia | 5-10 | 185 | Sr. |
| KOR | Ryan Manzon | 5-9 | 160 | Sr. |
| Pos. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Year |
| DE | Awaad Yasin | 6-0 | 185 | Sr. |
| DT | Casey Smith | 6-2 | 210 | Sr. |
| *DT | Andy Palacios | 6-1 | 250 | Sr. |
| *DT | Ullisese Misili | 6-3 | 245 | Sr. |
| DE | Chad Smith | 6-2 | 200 | Jr. |
| OLB | Artie O'Keefe | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. |
| MLB | Dylan Itkoff | 5-9 | 205 | Sr. |
| *ILB | Matt McWilliams | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. |
| ILB | Dylan Garcia | 5-10 | 185 | Sr. |
| OLB | Hayden Toney | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. |
| CB | Ryan Manzon | 5-9 | 160 | Sr. |
| *FS | Dominic Ragland | 6-1 | 180 | Jr. |
| *FS | Ryan Steadman | 5-11 | 170 | Jr. |
| CB | Scott Bailey | 5-9 | 150 | Sr. |
| P | Steven Santana | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. |
| PR | Kyle Middlebrooks | 5-9 | 175 | Jr. |
| PR | Ryan Manzon | 5-9 | 160 | Sr. |
* Final selection to be announced
Related:
• Sunset League schools: Edison | Esperanza | Fountain Valley | Los Alamitos | Marina | Newport Harbor
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
