Kickoff 2012: Golden West League preview

COACHES POLL:

1. Segerstrom (33 points)

2. Westminster, 31

3. Loara, 19

4. Orange, 18

5. Ocean View, 15

6. Santa Ana, 10

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Segerstrom. The Jaguars were once again the class of the league in 2011, winning the league title and advancing to the second round of the CIF Southern Division playoffs for the third straight season. Head coach Mike Maceranka will field a team that returns seven starters on offense and 10 on defense and will be looking to continue their run of league supremacy and advance further in the playoffs.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Ocean View. Coming off back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2000-01 and their first ever playoff victory, the Seahawks will have a decidedly different look as they look to get back to the postseason for a third straight year. New head coach Luis Nunez replaces veteran coach Harold Eggers and will lead a squad that lost both the league’s reigning MVP (Timmy Robinson) and the reigning lineman of the year (Ben Sumner) to graduation while returning only three starters overall.

PLAYER TO WATCH:

David Perkins, Segerstrom, DB/RB: Perkins was the definition of versatility for the Jaguars in 2011. The all-CIF cornerback led the team with five interceptions and recorded 26 tackles. He also added 793 yards on the ground and scored 11 touchdowns.

OTHER TOP PLAYERS (In Alphabetical Order):

Loara: David Gistlinck, QB, Connor O’Shea, WR/CB, Joseph Stirrat, RB/SS, Ocean View: Speiser Alani, TE/DE, Christian Negrete, WR/SS/K, Evan Perzanowski, T; Orange: Aaron Aguilar, RB, Chris de Leon, WR/CB/PR, Lorenzo Rosario, QB/SS; Santa Ana: Anthony Farias, TE/DT, Luis Macias, RB/SS, Brad Tiliaia, DT Segerstrom: Kiona Drayton, DE/G, Joseph Gomez, RB/MLB, Sonny Roa, RB, Westminster: Myron Aiava, TE/DE/QB, Sam Balandran, MLB/TE, Nate Juarez, RB

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Westminster at Segerstrom, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

The regular season finale will see the league’s top projected powers square off in a game that could determine a league champion and/or potential playoff seeding. Westminster’s run of five straight league titles was ended in 2009 by Segerstrom, who has now won three straight themselves. The Lions will be looking to beat the Jaguars for the first time since a 33-28 victory on October 30, 2008.

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE:

Westminster. The Lions nonleague schedule will once again provide them a strong test before they dive into league play on the first Thursday of October. After facing off against Garden Grove and Marina in the first two weeks of the season, Westminster will host Bosco Tech of Rosemead. They close out nonleague play with games against 2011 CIF playoff teams Huntington Beach and Buena Park, who were a combined 17-6 and finished second in their respective leagues.