Grossmont 2-A Football Preview : Some Unfinished Business to Be Settled

To get an idea of just how bizarre last season was in the Grossmont 2-A League, look at Valhalla.

The Norsemen went to the playoffs for the first time in school history--and officially finished 0-11.

At the end of the regular season, it appeared there was a three-way tie for first in the four-team league. But finding someone willing to take the title was difficult.

Grossmont was playing the best of any league team by season’s end but forfeited two games because of an ineligible player. Then, for the same reason, Valhalla forfeited its forfeit victory over Grossmont, giving a loss to both teams. The result was that Santana and Valhalla each won its first league title as co-champs, and Grossmont was knocked out of the playoffs.

But that wasn’t the end. After the playoffs, Valhalla forfeited its entire season.

“After what happened to Grossmont I asked (the players) not to wear (their league champion patches),” Valhalla Coach Carl Iavelli said. “But most of them didn’t listen. I tried to sell them to (Santana Coach) Doug Coffin, but he wouldn’t take them. They were the wrong colors.”

The first thing on the agenda for the coaches this season was a seminar in making sure the paper work was properly filled out.

THE RACE Top contenders: Grossmont (5-5, including two forfeits), Santana (6-4).

Surprise potential: Valhalla (6-5 before forfeiting season).

Hoping for improvement: El Cajon Valley (1-9), West Hills (first year).

Game of the year: Santana at Grossmont, Nov. 3. With majority of team returning, Grossmont wants to prove who the league champion really was.

THE PLAYERS The man: After being the “Mystery Man” last season, Grossmont quarterback Trevor Hanks may get a chance to drop the first part of that this year. Hanks was overshadowed by Mr. Everything--Rick Daynes, who rushed for 792 yards, caught 21 passes and played linebacker. Hanks quietly led the league with 975 yards passing and nearly 17.5% of his completions (80) were for touchdowns (14).

Who will fill Rick Daynes shoes? All Jack Bewley had to do was take a couple steps backward. Bewley (6-3, 210) learned the position last year while blocking for Daynes at fullback. He was also an all-league middle linebacker.

“I don’t think we will be losing much with Bewley,” Grossmont Coach Judd Hulbert said. “He’s a little bigger than Daynes, and he has better hands.”

Others to watch on offense: Santana quarterback Ferdi Hollis (6-2, 200) returns, and Andy Penwarden (5-11, 180) will have to take over for running back Steve Cardoza (15 touchdowns and 99 yards per game). Scott Lapinski (5-11, 220) returns at running back for Valhalla. He rushed for 386 yards in six games while playing hurt most of the season. Quarterback Joey Fitzgerald threw for 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns against junior varsity competition for West Hills.

Others to watch on defense: West Hills linebacker Craig Threlfall (6-0, 210) is making an impression on league coaches, and he has yet to play a down against varsity competition. Strong safety Jason Eatherton (6-0, 176) will lead an improved Santana defense. Linebacker Mike Jackson (6-2, 225) and safety Erik Weichelp (5-10, 175) are among seven returning starters for Grossmont’s league-leading defense.

THE INTANGIBLES Returners with a vengeance: The theme around the Grossmont locker room this season is “It’s Hiller Time.” With the bitter taste of last year in 18 returning lettermen’s mouths, the Foothillers are ready to prove who was the best team last season. Grossmont was knocked out of the playoffs when a rarely used player was found to have violated an intra-district transfer rule.

“We have a lot of seniors, and they want to prove to everybody they should have been in the playoffs,” Hulbert said

With eight all-league players returning, several coaches said Grossmont could be the best team in the conference. And that includes the 3-A league.

Tying up the playoffs: After the league almost wound up with three of its four teams tied for the league title and in the playoffs, San Diego Section coaches quickly decided to make an amendment to the post-season selection criteria. Under normal circumstances, the league would have only been guaranteed one playoff spot because there were just four teams. But section rules dictated that all co-champions must be given a playoff berth. That would have meant that one fourth of the 2-A playoff teams would have come from the Grossmont when only one or possibly two normally would have been taken. In the future, co-champions will not be guaranteed playoff spots.

New kid in town: West Hills will play its first varsity season with no seniors. The Wolfpack were 8-2 against junior varsity teams last season, but Coach Steve Sutton doesn’t expect West Hills to be as successful against varsity competition.

“I think the hard work will pay off when they’re seniors,” Sutton said. “Some of the hard knocks they get will help them next year.”

The addition of West Hills gives the league five teams and two guaranteed berths in the playoffs.