Kickoff 2012: Villa Park preview

August 13, 2012 1:09 PM

By DAMIAN CALHOUN

OCVARSITY.COM

Last season record: 11-1, 6-0 (first place)

Postseason: 2011, lost to Tustin 35-7 in the second round of the CIF-SS Southwest Division playoffs

Coach: Dusan Ancich (4th year, 27-9)

Home stadium: El Modena High

Outlook: Fresh off of a consecutive league title, the Spartans are loaded up for a shot at a third. Villa Park has 13 starters returning (seven on defense). Offensively, the Spartans will need to find a replacement for quarterback Blair Boyce (Cornell). Otherwise, the Spartans have the key personnel in place. Three returning starters on the offensive line, size and strength on the defensive line and a pair of backs that coach Ancich is excited about. It looks as if the Spartans’ demise might have to wait.

Factoid: Last year’s two-way star Jacob Scavuzzo was a 21st round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the June draft.

School record: 302-199

Scroll down to see the starting lineup and players to watch at Villa Park High School. See the Century League preview. See all Kickoff 2012 football preview coverage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FB/OLB Meki Tafuna – Sorry opposing Century League teams, but Tafuna is back for another season to torture you. Tafuna will be on both sides of the ball, so there’s no hiding from him.
OL/DL Nick Whitton – One of the top recruits in the county, Whitton is slated to play on both sides of the ball. Whitton earned third-team all-county honors last season.
STARTING LINEUP
Offense Pos.	Player name	Height	Weight	Year
QB*	Dylan Osborne	5-10	170	Jr.
QB*	Sean Halal	5-9	185	Sr.
FB	Meki Tafuna	6-0	220	Sr.
RB*	Justin Mottram	5-11	190	Sr.
RB*	Charles Kendrick	6-1	230	Jr.
WR	Dustin Harrison	5-10	160	Sr.
WR	Ralph Valle	6-2	180	Sr.
TE*	Luis Vecchio	6-4	235	Jr.
TE*	Lane Reiter	6-0	175	Jr.
T	Nick Whitton	6-3	275	Sr.
G	Demitri Medenas	6-2	290	Sr.
C	Chad Buller	6-2	270	Sr.
G	Andrew Sotelo	5-11	260	Sr.
T	Chaz Murakami	5-11	270	Jr.
K	Jason Sanders	5-10	155	Jr.
KR	Michael Holmes	5-9	185	Sr.
PR	Dustin Harrison	5-10	160	Sr.
Defense Pos.	Players name	Height	Weight	Year
DE	Lenny Cowans	6-3	255	Sr.
DT	Nick Whitton	6-3	275	Sr.
DT	Abe Lynch	5-10	265	Soph.
DE	Rudy Hurtado	6-0	210	Sr.
OLB	Jeremy Greer	5-9	185	Jr.
OLB	Grant Klasna	5-10	190	Sr.
MLB*	James Stamos	6-0	230	Sr.
MLB*	Christian Castro	6-0	210	Sr.
CB	Kyle Gordon	6-2	180	Sr.
S	Justin Mottram	5-11	190	Sr.
S	Michael Harlin	6-0	180	Sr.
CB	Derrick Kendrick	6-3	205	Jr.
P	Jason Sanders	5-10	155	Jr.