Can Anyone Lasso Nationally Ranked Carson Colts? : By ROB FERNAS

For the first time since the school opened in 1963, Carson High did not have a football banquet last year.

Did the Colts’ booster funds run dry?

Did Coach Gene Vollnogle forget to reserve the Queen Mary?

Were all the seniors on recruiting trips?

Answer: none of the above.

But there must be a good reason. After all, the 1987 Colts were worthy of being honored. They had an 11-1 record, outscored opponents 437-89, won the Pacific League title, climbed to the country’s No. 2 ranking and reached the L.A. City 4-A championship game.

A fine season, indeed, but it was not enough to satisfy Carson’s players. They voted against having a banquet after losing to Granada Hills, 27-14, in the City finals. Such is the price of perfectionism.

“The kids were extremely disappointed (after the loss),” said Vollnogle, adding: “I think we want to have a banquet this year.”

In other words, Carson is ready to make another run at its seventh City title and a mythical national championship, which would be achieved if the Colts ended up atop the USA Today Super 25 rankings. They are ranked No. 2 behind Brockton, Mass., in the newspaper’s preseason poll.

And (as if there was any doubt) Carson is The Times’ No. 1-ranked team in the South Bay heading into its opener at 7:30 tonight against host Sweetwater High of National City, near San Diego.

The high expectations are based on a wealth of talent. Vollnogle said he has “11 or 12” Division I prospects, including two preseason All-Americans in quarterback Perry Klein and offensive guard Morris Unutoa. There are six returning starters, and that’s not counting Klein.

The Colts are so talented that Klein, who passed for a state-record 3,899 yards at Palisades High last season, will open the season splitting time with Fred Gatlin, Carson’s backup quarterback a year ago.

With a team like this, a coach has to dig pretty deep to find something to worry about. Vollnogle said his main concern is team chemistry.

“Like I’ve told our kids, it’s not always the team with the best players that has the best team,” he said. “It all depends on how they play together. If we do, we can be excellent. We certainly have the makings.”

Few would dispute that.

Here’s a look at the top 10 teams in the South Bay. Last year’s record and league finish are in parentheses:

1. Carson (11-1, first in Pacific League)--New offensive coordinator Steve Clarkson, who was credited with Klein’s development at Palisades last season, has implemented what he calls the “Four Horsemen” offense. It resembles a run-and-shoot attack and is named after Klein and Gatlin and wingbacks Errol Sapp and Larry Billoups. The scheme features Carson’s traditional veer option, the short passing game Clarkson installed for Klein at Palisades and a long passing game suited for the strong-armed Gatlin. Klein and Gatlin will open the season alternating each series. Whether the two-quarterback system can work remains to be seen. “I think it will be OK,” Vollnogle said. “But we’ll find out.”

The Colts must replace the talented wide receiver tandem of Bryan Reeves (Arizona State) and Brian Treggs (UC Berkeley). Juniors Michael Ross and Tydus Winans are the leading wideouts. Experience is more plentiful at running back, where Sapp and Billoups saw extensive duty last season. Sapp, an all-City choice, led the Colts with 871 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing, and Billoups is the team’s fastest player. Talented junior Armin Youngblood, the No. 3 quarterback, backs up at wingback. Sam Manu (6-1, 215) moves from defensive end to fullback, where he will share time with Ferron Davison (5-11, 205), a transfer from St. Bernard who sat out last season.

Vollnogle said this could be his best offensive line. Unutoa (6-3, 240), a consensus preseason All-American, heads a large and experienced unit. Another returner is tackle Moheni Toilolo (6-3, 240). Center Robert Eneliko (6-0, 240) makes the switch from the defensive line, and tackle Tauese Letuli (6-5, 245) has the size that interests colleges. The kicking game is in good hands with all-City choice Louis Perez, who connected on 9 of 12 field goals, including longs of 45 and 42 yards, last season.

The all-City linebacking crew of Arnold Ale, Rick Tiedemann and Arthur Warren--dubbed The Relentless Force--graduated, but Vollnogle said this year’s unit could be just as good. Middle linebacker Peter Hunt (6-0, 210) played a lot last season and has emerged as one of the team leaders. He’ll be flanked by Todd Auvaa (6-4, 200) and Jeff Leito (6-3, 215), both gifted athletes. The defensive line returns only one starter in tackle Ray Harris (6-2, 245), but newcomer Eric Bender (6-4, 210), a basketball player with explosive speed, could develop into a prominent player at right end. The secondary is headed by free safety Howard McCowan, an all-league choice last year, and strong safety Greg Lindsey, another basketball player trying his hand at football.

2. Banning (6-4, tied for second in Pacific League)--College recruiters shopping for linemen must feel like kids in a candy store when they scout Banning. Seven of the Pilots’ starting offensive and defensive linemen weigh 235 pounds or more, and five are in the 250-and-above category. King of the giants is Bob Whitfield, a 6-7, 275-pound offensive tackle who is rated among the top college prospects in the nation. Other starters on the O-line include guard Andy Gonzales (6-4, 250), tackle Paul Ordonez (6-4, 260) and tight end Bryan Proby (6-5, 235). “They look very good so far,” said first-year Coach Joe Dominguez.

Junior quarterback John Ma’ae returns to run Banning’s option attack, which features Chris Griffieth, the Pilots’ top running back from a year ago. Griffieth will share duties with Keith Mimms, Eric Williams and sophomore Derek Sparks. “We’re going to alternate three or four backs,” Dominguez said. “We want to keep a pair of fresh backs in there.” With a big line and depth at running back, you can guess what Banning will emphasize. “We’re going to run the ball a lot,” Dominguez said. “On every down.”

All-City end Sonny Fuavai (6-2, 215) returns on a defensive line that has plenty of brawn. Tackles Carlson Leomiti (6-3, 310) and Roderick Torrance (6-3, 260) will be tough to move out of the middle. Darnell Riles (6-2, 220) is expected to play the other end. “Our down-front four are all going to be excellent,” Dominguez said. The coach also has high expectations for outside linebacker Deshon Gibson (6-0, 200), cornerback Nizam Walters and Williams at strong safety.

3. Hawthorne (9-2-1, tied for first in Ocean League)--Coach Goy Casillas catches himself smiling a lot these days. Of course, so would anyone if he had Curtis Conway at quarterback. All the 6-2, 180-pound senior did last season was account for 39 of the Cougars’ 42 touchdowns (21 rushing, 18 passing). Conway’s supporting cast is headed by a talented group of receivers. Returning starter Keith Pouncey moves from tight end to wideout. Tyrone Norman reminds the coaches of Victor Prince, Hawthorne’s leading receiver last year, and tight end Eric Tolbert (6-2, 220) reportedly has his act together after languishing in the doghouse last year.

The status of returning fullback Brent Floyd, the team’s most experienced running back, is questionable because of a pulled groin. If he is unable to play, tailback Dean Dunbar will move into his spot. That would leave Chris Alexander, a sprinter from the state champion track team, and Ray Bolden, who was impressive in workouts, to share tailback duties. All the backs have speed. The offensive line lacks experience. Guard Dan Rezzuti (6-0, 190) is the only returning starter, but tackles Gilbert Torres (6-2, 230) and Miguel Silva (6-1, 250) are big and promising.

Former Coach Larry Reed, who sat out last season, returns to handle the Cougars’ aggressive 4-4 defense. Returning starters include linebacker Allan Crenshaw (6-1, 190), end Dino Gonzalez (6-0, 185), safety Keith Sneed, who played linebacker last year, and Bolden at cornerback. Top newcomer is junior linebacker Sione Mahe (6-3, 200), who presented some problems during practice. “When we have him in there, we don’t get anything accomplished on offense,” Casillas said. “He just tears us up.” Eddie Korn returns for his third season as the kicker.

4. Leuzinger (9-2-1, first in Pioneer League)--The Olympians began practice with 83 players and were down to 67 last week. “We’ve never had this many,” said Coach Steve Carnes, who appears to have a talented pool of athletes to choose from. Perhaps the most talented is Damon Whitmore, a 6-2, 195-pound outside linebacker who could become the team’s top tailback by virtue of his speed and impressive workouts. Other standouts include returning wide receivers Richey Jacobs and Tyrone Scott, who double as defensive backs, and running back-inside linebacker Henry Bens (5-11, 190).

Junior quarterback Zak Odom established himself as the starter with impressive play during the summer. He directed Leuzinger to a win over Carson in the El Camino College passing tournament. “He has a lot of potential, but he’s inconsistent,” Carnes warns. “If he matures, he can be pretty good for us.” The offensive line might be without its best player. Guard Mike Delich (6-0, 215), an all-South Bay pick last year, is questionable because of back problems. Center Darren McMillan (5-11, 190) and guard Anthony Speer (5-11, 195) are the other returning starters up front.

Defense has been Leuzinger’s trademark in recent years, and it appears to have another quick, aggressive unit. Whitmore and Jonas Woodring (5-11, 185) return at outside linebacker and Carnes is confident Bens and sophomore Manny Gonzales (5-11, 185) can do a good job on the inside. The secondary is in good shape with Jacobs, Scott and cornerback Quang Banks, and both defensive ends, Tim Camilo and Dan Au, are returning starters. The down-linemen are suspect, however. Moving up to the Bay League will make it tougher for the Olympians to win a title, something they’ve done three of the past four years. But Carnes said: “I think we’ll be competitive.”

5. Gardena (5-4, tied for fourth in Pacific League)--Coach Dale Hirayama said this could be the best starting unit he’s had in three seasons, but he complains that academic ineligibility sapped the team’s depth. The Mohicans lost 15 players, including five starters, to grades. Still, a sound nucleus remains. Quarterback Rex Carroll, who went down with a knee injury in the third game last season, is back at full strength. He’ll be joined in the backfield by fullback Khybdeed Hairston, a three-year starter who can run or catch with equal skill. Hirayama plans to rotate several players at tailback, with Clifford Newman in the starting spot.

Gardena has experienced receivers in wideout Abe Seto and tight end Tim Higginbotham (6-0, 230), but the offensive line is young. Only guard Baylen Maglasang (5-9, 250) returns up front. However, Hirayama is high on newcomer Alex Martinez (6-2, 250), a junior who will play tackle. “We’re making great progress on offense,” the coach said. “The foursome of Seto, Higginbotham, Carroll and Hairston will make for a very balanced and versatile unit.”

Three starters return on defense: outside linebacker Michael Mimms (6-0, 210), tackle Brian Byrd (5-11, 250) and Newman at cornerback. Another standout is outside linebacker Cliff Burkhalter (6-0, 180). Several players will start both ways because of a lack of depth, making injuries that much more damaging. And injuries are always a possibility for a team that has to play Carson and Banning before it begins league play. The Mohicans will not only have to be good, they’ll have to be lucky.

6. Serra (9-2, first in Camino Real League)--The Cavaliers have big shoes to fill. Quarterback Eric Hamilton and wide receiver Deon Figures have gone on to the University of Colorado, and leading running back Steven Danzy also graduated. Moreover, longtime Coach Dale Washburn was replaced by Joe Griffin, the soph-frosh coach a year ago. It is a period of transition, but not one without hope thanks to the return of several linemen and many players from a successful soph-frosh team.

Preseason All-American Erik Simien (6-3, 227), who is being switched from tackle to linebacker, heads an aggressive defense. He’ll also play tackle on an offensive line that returns intact and averages 230 pounds. The backs and receivers are new, except for standout tight end Jerome Williams (6-4, 215). Glenn Baham, last year’s backup, and junior Fred Safford are contesting for the quarterback job, and junior Chris Cabaong leads the tailback candidates. Lamont Butler (5-11, 215) moves from center to fullback.

Tackle Jeff Hazelitt (6-2, 192) returns on the defensive line, and the secondary is inexperienced except for cornerback Andre Howard. “Anytime you lose that many skill players, it creates a lot of question marks about a team,” Griffin said. The younger players will provide the answers.

7. North Torrance (5-6, tied for first in Bay League)--With seven returning starters, the Saxons boast one of the area’s most experienced defensive units. Inside linebacker Ron Hanze (6-3, 230) and tackle Dan Hutchens (6-3, 245) were all-league picks last year. Other standouts include free safety Ron Perez and inside linebacker Juan Restropo (6-1, 210). “Our kids like to hit,” assures Co-Coach Don Bohannon, who, after two years as head coach, shares top billing with offensive coordinator Stew Roper.

North unveils a new offensive scheme, the wing-T, and a new quarterback. Sophomore Brian Jurado, whose older brother, Mike, quarterbacked North a few seasons ago, stepped in after senior Todd Gamble was declared academically ineligible. He has a talented wide receiver in all-leaguer Anthony Cole. Ken Taualii and Perez, perhaps the team’s best all-around player, will handle most of the running chores.

The Saxons have a nucleus of solid players, but not much depth. Bohannon is concerned that injuries could take their toll. “If we have key injuries, we could be in for a long year,” he said. The lack of depth will force a few of the top players to go both ways. Defensive stars Hanze and Restropo, for example, will double on the offensive line.

8. South Torrance (9-3, tied for first in Bay League)--Graduation took its toll on the Spartans. They lost all but four starters. Among the losses were tight end-linebacker Brett Austin, the Bay League MVP; all-league tailback Mike Wyrick and quarterback Zak Krislock, one of the South Bay’s top passers. “We can’t replace all that,” conceded Coach Joe Austin, back for his 16th season. “But we should be competitive.” Heading the returning players is all-league wide receiver John Morton, who caught 48 passes for 850 yards and had a 33-yard average on kickoff returns last year. “We need to get him the ball,” Austin said.

Also back are junior fullback Chad McGovney, tight end-linebacker Paul Batchelor (6-5, 205) and two-way lineman Joe Dialeda (6-2, 205). Quarterback Dan Jenkins didn’t play much in a reserve role last season, but he was impressive this summer, Austin said. A strong junior class includes wideout Tom Adams and linemen Bob Ferkula (6-3, 200) and Tay Snedden (6-0, 210). The Spartans boast a winning tradition. They have not finished lower than second in league play in the last five years. “The kids have been used to winning,” Austin said. “I hope they can keep that up.”

9. San Pedro (7-3, second in Freeway League)--Coach Henry Pacheco said his team should be better than last year. “We’re a little more versatile,” he said. “We’re running a lot more option. Our offense has opened up.” Fullback Tyrone Futch (6-1, 195), a returning starter, heads a sound group of running backs that includes tailbacks Darrel Dupree and Ernie Castaneda, who transferred from Bishop Montgomery. Quarterback Mike Seward lacks experience, but he is a capable passer, Pacheco said.

Up front, the Pirates return center Ray Gomez (5-10, 180) and all-L.A. City choice David Samperio (6-4, 250), a two-way lineman who has lost some strength because of a bout with the flu. The secondary looks to be the strongest area of the defense largely because of the return of free safety John Pinel, who led the South Bay with 11 interceptions last year. San Pedro plays its first three games on the road against Venice, Leuzinger and Cleveland of Reseda.

10. El Segundo (9-4, second in Pioneer League)--Last season the Eagles were picked to finish last in the Pioneer League and surprised nearly everyone by reaching the semifinals of the Southern Section playoffs for the first time in school history. This year, with five returning starters, El Segundo is picked to win the Santa Fe League and is ranked seventh in the Division VIII ratings. Clearly if the Eagles are successful again, it won’t be by surprise.

Coach Steve Newell said he has what might be the best collection of skill-position players in his 12 years at the school. Forming the team’s nucleus are tailback-cornerback Erik Evans, last year’s leading rusher; linebacker-tight end Robbie White (6-2, 210), who is considered a major college prospect; wide receiver-safety Donovan Gallatin and quarterback-linebacker Matt Wise. On the down side, El Segundo returns only one starting lineman and will rely on many players to go both ways.

Other teams to watch:

Bishop Montgomery (4-6) returns 12 starters, including seven on defense. Standouts include the all-league trio of tackle Shawn Jackson (6-2, 230), nose guard Eric Griffin (6-0, 205) and linebacker Pete Ortiz (6-1, 205). But, as usual, the Knights will find the going tough in the competitive Angelus League.

Now that St. Bernard (3-6) has escaped the Angelus League, where it was 0-12 over the last two seasons, the Vikings figure to be contenders in the Camino Real League. Quarterback Danny Ulrich (6-4, 193), wide receiver-defensive back Jason Lucky and linebacker Doug Nelson (6-3, 210) head a team that is young on both lines.

Look for Palos Verdes (6-5), traditionally a running team, to go more to the air with the return of quarterback David Walsh (6-4, 215), wide receiver Lance Haworth and tight end Spuds Powell (6-5, 205). But the line is small and untested on the varsity level.

Many believe Rolling Hills (3-6-1) is ripe for a revival under new Coach Gary Kimbrell. The Titans will rely on a running game featuring tailback Tim Wagner and fullback Brandon Lu and a good-sized line anchored by guard John Lee (6-2, 220).

Westchester (10-2), last year’s L.A. City 2-A champion, returns five starters headed by quarterback Damion Smith and two-way lineman Mario Goins (5-9, 210).

With 22 returning lettermen, including quarterback Robbie Zeller, Redondo (6-5) is considered a contender for the Ocean League title. Some coaches also expect West Torrance (1-8-1) to rebound from one its worst seasons and threaten in the Ocean.

Coast Christian (12-0) and Chadwick (2-5-1) will challenge for CIF eight-man football titles. Coast Christian, the defending Small Conference champion, has five starters back on offense and defense. Most notable are running back Earl Rhodes (6-2, 205), who had 2,083 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns last season, and quarterback Steve Luce, a three-year starter.

Chadwick, ranked No. 3 in the Large Division, figures to rely on the passing of returning quarterback Greg O’Riordan and linebackers Wenny Miao (6-0, 200) and Kevin Neal.

South Bay Top 10

Football

Selected by Times sportswriters Rank, School, League ’87

1 Carson (Conf. 2, League 1) 11-1

2 Banning (Conf. 2, League 1) 6-4

3 Hawthorne (Bay) 9-2-1

4 Leuzinger (Bay) 9-2-1

5 Gardena (Conf. 2, League 1)5-4

6 Serra (Camino Real) 9-2

7 North Torrance (Ocean) 5-6

8 South Torrance (Ocean) 9-3

9 San Pedro (Conf. 2, League 1) 7-3

10 El Segundo (Santa Fe) 9-4