Metro Preview : This New Conference Has a Familiar Favorite: Sweetwater

SAN DIEGO — Will the song remain the same in the South Bay?

The lyrics maybe. Sweetwater is favored to--yawn--successfully defend its league title for the ninth consecutive time, with Chula Vista again likely to finish second.

But the tune has definitely changed. The merging in March of the South Bay and Mesa leagues has created the eight-team Metro Conference. This should have little effect on 3A Bonita Vista, Chula Vista, Montgomery, Southwest and Sweetwater. But the former 2A teams--Hilltop, Castle Park and reigning, and perhaps final, South Bay League champion Mar Vista--will struggle against the schools with larger enrollment.

Gone are Coronado, which will compete as a 2-A independent, and Marian, which will play in the 1-A Desert-Coastal League, where Coronado won two consecutive titles before returning to the South Bay last year.

Sweetwater and Mar Vista have more than championship banners in common. Both are under the leadership of Castle Park graduates. Former Sweetwater junior varsity baseball coach Andy Sanchez takes over for Gene Alim at Sweetwater, and Sam Coe, after two years as the offensive coordinator at Montgomery, replaces Bud Aubuchon at Mar Vista. Coe graduated in 1967, Sanchez in 1969.

With a number of experienced players returning and new defensive back coach Coco Jarin coming over from Sweetwater, Southwest is being touted as the candidate most likely to finish third. The last week of the regular season could be interesting. That’s when Bonita Vista will play Chula Vista and Sweetwater will meet Southwest.

Bonita Vista

Last season’s record: 4-5-1, 2-2 in Mesa League.

Finish: Third.

Coach: Jim Wilson.

Top returners: Rob Cranfield (6-3, 220, Sr., SG), Matt Gibbs (6-3, 185, Jr., QB), John Funks (5-9, 165, Sr., TB), Jason Garcia (5-10, 170, Jr., LB), John Zamora (5-8, 195, Jr., LB), Ed Urbano (6-0, 170, Sr. CB), Alex Estrada (5-11, 280, So., ST).

Top newcomers: Matt Sherard (6-0, 168, Jr., FS), Bryan Clark (6-0, 165, Jr. WR).

Outlook: The Barons have 13 returning starters and a little different scheme on defense with new coordinator Eddie Minshew. “(On defense) we’re very young, and we’ve changed positions around a lot,” Wilson said. Sherard and Clark, up from junior varsity, have been impressive in practice. Sean Kregness and all-league strong guard Cranfield lead the big offensive line. Gibbs started all last season as a sophomore and will direct Bonita Vista’s running attack.

Castle Park

Last season’s record: 2-5-2, 2-2 in South Bay League.

Finish: Second (tie).

Coach: Bob Korzep.

Top returners: Brian Bane (6-1, 165, Sr., QB), Kiyoshi Moody (5-11, 185, Sr., RB), Noel Wood (6-0, 190, Sr., FB/LB), Nate Favors (5-11, 180, Sr., WR), Roger Van Orden (6-3, 225, Sr. (OG), Joe Ham (6-2, 205, Sr., DE), Juan Beltran (5-9, 150, Sr., DB)

Top newcomer: David Fernandez (5-5, 160, Jr., RB)

Outlook: With 11 returning starters, the offensive and defensive lines should be improved. Mistakes plagued Castle Park last year, and Korzep is hoping for a good start. With proven talents Moody and Favors, Korzep expects the Trojans to be “a little more successful with the passing game.” Castle Park has a young defense but some experience in key spots.

Chula Vista

Last season’s record: 6-2-3, 3-1 in Mesa League.

Finish: Second.

Coach: George Ohnesorgen.

Top returners: John Krupp (6-0, 190, Sr., FB), J.D. Hawke (6-2, 210, Sr., C), Larry Anderson (6-4, 240, OG/DL), James Shaw (5-8, 160, Sr., WR), Ryan Dunn (6-4, 240, Sr. OT), Jose Perez (6-0, 165, Sr., FS), John Heaton (5-10, 185, Sr., LB)

Top newcomer: Derek Chapman (6-2, 170, Jr., QB)

Outlook: The key to Chula Vista’s success might be the performance of players up from the junior varsity, which was 10-0 last year, and how much they learn in a tough non-league schedule. Ohnesorgen said Chapman will be a good drop-back quarterback but is having trouble reading defenses. The defense is experienced, led by senior linebackers Heaton, Anderson and Jess Doe and Perez in the secondary. Sophomore defensive backs Neviette Richardson and Eddie Llamas and junior linebackers Chris Kruz and Bubba Phillips are expected to contribute.

Hilltop

Last season’s record: 2-7, 2-2 in South Bay League.

Finish: Second (tie).

Coach: Joy Gritts.

Top returnees: Chad Boyd (6-1, 170, Sr., QB), John Barone (6-0, 170, Jr., WR), Paul Costello (5-10, 190, Jr., FB), Chris Costello (5-9, 155, Jr. TB), Jon Burke (6-1, 180, Sr., WR/LB), Mario Martinez (6-0, 195, Sr. OL/LB).

Top newcomers: Eric Walters (5-10, 160, Jr., RB), Josh Wenning (6-2, 180, Jr., TE).

Outlook: Eighteen returners fill out the Lancer roster, including strong defensive backs and receivers, but the schedule is tough. Boyd has shown steady improvement in the past 15 games he has started and has experienced targets in receivers George Hernandez, Barone and Burke, who also plays linebacker. The speed of the backfield concerns Gritts, but he hopes to get some help from Walters, a transfer from Las Vegas. On defense, senior twins Kurt and Kevin Klaser and junior Alex Appel give the secondary strength.

Mar Vista

Last season’s record: 8-4, 4-0 in Mesa League.

Finish: First.

Coach: Sam Coe.

Top returners: Pedro Rosselle (5-8, 168, Sr., RB), Kiko Garcia (6-0, 220, Sr., LB), Eric Syverson (6-3, 188, Sr. TE/LB), Paul Romero (6-2, 178, Sr., TE), Francisco Mondragon (5-10, 165, Sr., QB), Mark Dearing (5-8, 178, Sr., TB/DB).

Top newcomers: Shawn Freeman (6-2, 168, Sr. WR), Chris Hicks, (6-0, 170, Jr., WR/LB).

Outlook: Last year’s title broke a 14-year dry spell, but the Mariners must “try not to look at the past,” said Coe, and face the reality of only four returning starters and frequent use of players both ways because of numbers. Coe is betting on immediate contributions from junior varsity receivers Freeman, Hicks and Olin Palanca. Dearing has the strength and speed to run the ball well. Coit Valentine and Robert Rotsolk are experienced linebackers.

Montgomery

Last season’s record: 4-6, 1-3 in Mesa League.

Finish: Fourth.

Coach: Steve Summers.

Top returnees: Adalberto Anguiano (6-2, 220, Sr., OG), Rigoberto Arellano (6-1, 220, Sr., OT), Colvert Burgos, (5-11, 190, Sr., TE), Gabriel Hernandez (6-2, 250, Sr., OT), John Ross (5-11, 220, Sr., OG), John Gill (5-10, 165, Sr., LB), Dan Powers (5-11, 170, Sr., DT).

Top newcomers: Kurt Sanft (6-2, 255, Jr., C), Tony Dunkle (6-0, 185, Jr., TE/LB).

Outlook: An experienced and strong offensive line including all-leaguer Anguiano and Sanft, up from the junior varsity, gives the Aztecs confidence. Seniors Alan Lee and Mike Burgos and junior Mike Dorame have been battling for at quarterback since spring. Summers said Montgomery should have an offense that is “greatly improved, more explosive, exciting to watch.” Cornerbacks Esteban Rascon and Maile Geronilla add to an otherwise young defensive unit that has Summers concerned.

Southwest

Last season’s record: 3-6-1, 0-4 in Mesa League.

Finish: Fifth.

Coach: Carl Parrick.

Top returnees: Richard Delano (5-11, 175, Sr., QB), Hubert Phillips (6-0, 195, Sr., FB), Rick Huerta (6-0, 195, Sr., OG), Will Tate (6-0, 165, SR., WR), Eric Alfsen (6-1, 190, Jr., TE).

Top newcomers: Detrick Stanford (5-11, 155, Jr., DB), Mike Johnson (5-11, 195, So., DT).

Outlook: With 14 returning starters, the Raiders should improve on last year, when they lost three games in the last minute and gave up an average of 17 points a game. Tate, one of the top receivers in the county, had 47 receptions last season. He and Dion Walker are comfortable with Delano, who has 3,000 passing yards in the past two years. Phillips is a strong and fast runner.

Sweetwater

Last season’s record: 8-3, 4-0 in Mesa League.

Finish: First.

Coach: Andy Sanchez.

Top returnees: Joe Gonzalez (6-1 1/2, 230, Sr., C), Ruben Hernandez (6-3, 230, Sr., OT/LB), Anthony Portillo (5-10, 190, Sr., TE), Tommy Yaotani (5-9, 170, Sr., DB), Andy Pekarek (5-10, 195, Sr., NG) Alan Pekarek, (5-10, 195, Sr., OG), Tana Lepule (5-8, 240, Jr., FB).

Top newcomer: Larry Branch (5-7, 150, Jr., TB).

Outlook: Sanchez inherits a team that is large on confidence--”They fear no one,” he said-- but small otherwise. “We lost a lot of size; in fact, our junior varsity will probably be bigger.” Sophomore David Gregorio, up from the JV, comes in as quarterback and will operate behind an experienced offensive line that includes Gonzalez, Hernandez, Portillo, Pekarek, Danny Hunt and Larry Castro. Tailback Branch, with only Pop Warner experience is described by Sanchez as “a darter more than a slasher, he finds any opening.” He joins returning tailbacks Jason Rather and Dave Gibson.