Kickoff '07: Garden Grove League

COACHES POLL

1. Rancho Alamitos, 6-5 in 2006, 30 points

2. Santiago, 6-4, 25

3. Garden Grove, 5-6, 24

4. Los Amigos, 4-7, 22

5. Bolsa Grande, 4-6, 14

6. La Quinta, 0-10, 11

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Los Amigos

A program that once dominated this league is 7-4 in league play over the past two seasons. This is Lobos coach Scott Beard's second year, and he is confident that the players have got a handle on operating the wing-T offense and will contend for the league championship.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Bolsa Grande
(Click here to watch the ocvarsity.com video)

It seems to always fit the "under construction" label, but this year all of that building could produce more than just one league victory as the Matadors might have their best team in years.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Tyler Madrid
DL, Garden Grove

Madrid was a league co-defensive player of the year last season as a junior.

OTHER TOP PLAYERS

David Laloulu, Garden Grove, Sr., OL; Omar Majid, Rancho Alamitos, Sr., DL; Alkeem Flowers, Santiago, Jr., DL; Octavio Flores, Rancho Alamitos, Sr., LB; Aaron Nelson, Garden Grove, Sr., LB; Greg Gonzalez, Los Amigos, Sr., LB; Jonathon Motuga, Los Amigos, Sr., DB; Gary Lopez, Santiago, Sr., DB

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Garden Grove vs. Rancho Alamitos
Nov. 1 at Bolsa Grande High

The past four meetings have been decided by a cumulative margin of 16 points. Last year's score: Rancho Alamitos 22, Garden Grove 21.

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE

Garden Grove

Four of the Argonauts' five nonleague opponents finished above .500 and went to the playoffs in 2006.

Bolsa Grande Matadors

Players to watch
	Jesus Segovia: Takes over at QB
	Xavier Mitchell: Two-way starter

LAST SEASON: 5th place 4-6, 1-4

POSTSEASON: 1987, lost to Saddleback, 36-33, Central Conference second round

COACH: Jim Lamb (6th year, 6-44)

OUTLOOK: Lamb is the most optimistic he has been during his tenure with the Matadors. Their offensive and defensive lines are strong, Jesus Segovia is a talented quarterback and they have good receivers. The secondary is a concern, and that is an area that opposing teams attacked in 2006.

HOME STADIUM: Bolsa Grande High

FACTOID: The Matadors' four victories last season was their most since 1996.

FASTEST: Ryan Nguyen

STRONGEST: Miles Davy

SCHOOL RECORD: 153-328-7

TO SEE THE TEAM ROSTER AND SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE

Garden Grove Argonauts

Players to watch
	Tyler Madrid:Defensive MVP in 2006
	David Laloulu:Two-time all-league selection

LAST SEASON: 2nd place, 5-6, 4-1

POSTSEASON: 2006, lost to Kennedy, 33-7, Southern Division first round

COACH: Ron Vander Sluis (6th year, 30-22-1)

OUTLOOK: The Argonauts lost several top 2006 contributors to graduation. But every other coach in the league figures Garden Grove will have enough talent to make a run at the league championship. Among the returnees is Tyler Madrid, who was a league co-MVP on defense. He is among seven defensive players who started in '06. Garden Grove does lack experience on the offensive line.

HOME STADIUM: Garden Grove High

FACTOID: Garden Grove has finished in second place for three years in a row.

FASTEST: A.J. Cummings

STRONGEST: Kraig Hurley

SCHOOL RECORD: 218-254-6

TO SEE THE TEAM SCHEDULE AND ROSTER, CLICK HERE

La Quinta Aztecs

Players to watch
	Nathan Do:Rushed for 650 yards last season
	Jon Rio:Will start at receiver and safety

LAST SEASON: 6th place 0-10, 0-5

POSTSEASON: 1998, lost to Fullerton, 43-26, Division IX first round

COACH: James Stewart (5th year, 4-36)

OUTLOOK: Because of their size deficiencies, matchups are always a challenge for the Aztecs. But, for the first time in quite a while, La Quinta has some depth at several key positions. Stability is always an asset in high school football, and La Quinta finally has that and some optimism.

HOME STADIUM: Bolsa Grande High

FACTOID: After snapping a 23-game losing streak in 2005, the Aztecs now have lost 14 in a row.

FASTEST: Jonathan Rio

STRONGEST: John Au

SCHOOL RECORD: 164-268-3

TO SEE THE TEAM SCHEDULE AND ROSTER, CLICK HERE

Los Amigos Lobos

Players to watch
	Greg Gonzalez: He had 90 tackles in 2006.
	Jonathon Motuga:Chipped in 74 tackles last season.

LAST SEASON: 3rd place 4-7, 3-2

POSTSEASON: 2006, lost to Laguna Hills, 41-6, Southern Division first round

COACH: Scott Beard (2nd year, 4-7)

OUTLOOK: Once the Lobos figured out how to run Beard's wing offense, they averaged 35 points a game in league. Beard expects that to continue this season, although the Lobos have five new starters on the offensive line. Los Amigos has plenty of size and senior leadership on defense. This could be a league championship team.

HOME STADIUM: Garden Grove High

FACTOID: Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson's first Orange County head-coaching assignment was at Los Amigos, where he was 8-19 from 1970 through '72.

FASTEST: Fidel Mendoza

STRONGEST: Ricki Torres

SCHOOL RECORD: 200-191-11

TO SEE THE TEAM SCHEDULE AND ROSTER, CLICK HERE

Rancho Alamitos Vaqueros

Players to watch
	Brandon Duvall: Senior receiver is team's fastest player.
	Omar Majid: He was an all-league selection last season.

LAST SEASON: 1st place 6-5, 5-0

POSTSEASON: 2006, lost to Anaheim, 35-0, Southern Division first round

COACH: Mike Enright (8th year, 34-37-2)

OUTLOOK: A highly skilled group of seniors on offense led the Vaqueros to an undefeated league season in 2006. Rancho Alamitos has to replace all of them this year, but at least it is an experienced offensive line that can make it a smooth transition. The Vaqueros also are strong at linebacker. Rancho Alamitos annually is a playoff contender in this league, and '07 should be no different.

HOME STADIUM: Bolsa Grande High

FACTOID: Rancho Alamitos has not won a playoff game since 1997.

FASTEST: Brandon Duvall

STRONGEST: Omar Majid

SCHOOL RECORD: 262-235-14

TO SEE THE TEAM SCHEDULE AND ROSTER, CLICK HERE

 

 

Santiago Cavaliers

Players to watch
	Alkeem Flowers: He'll start at TE and on the defensive line.
	Gary Lopez:He'll have an impact at fullback and free safety.

LAST SEASON: 4th place 6-4, 2-3

POSTSEASON: 1998, lost to Northview of Covina, 27-18, Div. IX first round

COACH: Aaron Shahrestani (5th year, 19-21)

OUTLOOK: This could be one of the league's more-improved teams. Advances in skill and strength have Shahrestani optimistic that the Cavaliers will get to the playoffs for the first time in nine years. Santiago does have to replace graduated seniors at some skill positions. Other than that, Santiago should contend for a playoff berth.

HOME STADIUM: Garden Grove High

FACTOID: Santiago has not won a football playoff game since 1978.

FASTEST: Danny Rujchanarong

STRONGEST: Edgar Chavez

SCHOOL RECORD: 175-264-11

TO SEE THE TEAM SCHEDULE AND ROSTER, CLICK HERE

Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com