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Eastlake Titans shoulder defense of first league title

By Phillip Brents

CHULA VISTA, Aug. 30, 2001 -- The 2001 Eastlake High football team inherits the honor of being the first team to live in the shadow of the school's first-ever league football championship title. Expectations abound - not only among returners from that history-making 2000 Titan squad but from parents, classmates and coaches.

Will the 2001 season prove yet another championship odyssey or a campaign in which memories will include a taste of the bittersweet?

"We lost some great kids from last year but we should be all right," noted head coach John McFadden after taking a break from preseason drills.

The 2000 Titans captured the South Bay League title with a 4-0 record and finished the 10-game regular season 9-1 overall. Eastlake, seeded fourth in the 12-team postseason field, advanced as far as the Division II quarterfinals before bowing to defending division champion Oceanside.

With the team's top two scoring leaders of a season ago back on the field, the 2001 edition of the Titans should be difficult to contain once again but containing the opposition will be just as much the order of the day with a defensive unit that has had to be rebuilt the most.

Despite the turnover, McFadden doesn't flinch when explaining his team's goals for 2001. "Our first goal of the season is to win the championship again. To do that, we must stay healthy," he said. "In the first group, we're solid. We're not as deep beyond that. We'd also like to go farther into the playoffs."

From the standpoint of putting points on the scoreboard, that area seems to be taken care of. The majority of the team's returners line up on the offensive side of scrimmage. The Titans will count heavily on senior fullback Ryan Bartsch (6-1, 205) and junior halfback Mark Whaley (5-9, 195) for production from the backfield. Last year, Bartsch, an All-South Bay League First Team selection and the league's Offensive Player of the Year, led all Metro Conference ball-carriers with 13 touchdowns and gained 852 yards (including playoffs) despite missing two games. Whaley, an all-league second teamer as a sophomore, paced the Titans in the rushing department with 1,025 yards (including playoffs) while scoring 10 times.

Both backs should benefit from an offensive line anchored by senior tackle Eric Stevens, senior guards Chris Livesay and Dane Ives, senior lineman Lance Karns (6-3, 280), senior defensive end Abraham Ley (6-0, 245) and senior center Adrian Galindo. Ives (6-2, 245) is a returning All-South Bay League First team pick. A pair of promising juniors joining the O-line this season are Don Bonahoom (6-4, 280) and R. J. Phillips (6-4. 290), both with size. Though the quarterback duties have yet to be decided, the front-runner to take over from the departed Devon Aleman (1,104 yards, 7 touchdowns) is junior Neftali Lizarraga (5-11, 180), "a pretty good athlete," in McFadden's words, who played halfback on last year's junior varsity team. Azuma Franklin moves up to take over the prime receiver's slot where Josiah Clark starred while racking up 501 yards last year.

Sophomore Craig Jackson, a transfer from Alexandria, Va., shows signs of becoming a good athlete, according to McFadden, and could be an impact addition to the offense.

The losses hit heaviest on defense, particularly in the secondary where the Titans have to contend with the absence of such standouts as Freddy Arcaina, Demarcus Small and Isaac Pastrana. Arcaina is now at Hancock College in northern California while Pastrana is at Yale. Junior Anthony Howard, who will also see some time on the offensive side of the ball as the team's "Z-back," moves into the free safety spot to help offset those big losses. "The guys we have are looking O.K. They're young and inexperienced but there's room to grow," McFadden said.

The defensive line and linebacking units are more tangible. Abraham Ley and Karns are the key players on the defensive line, joining senior Jose Martinez, a transfer from Montgomery, who will see two-way action this season, and nose guard Jordan Mullare. They are complemented by Ives, junior Emmanuel Ley and senior Anthony Luongo (6-1, 205) in the linebacking corps. Karns, Stevens and Abraham Ley all earned second team all-league status last season. Luongo will also see duty on offense at tight end.

McFadden sees numerous positives among the returning core of players. "The offensive line and our two running backs are our biggest strength. They're going to be very difficult to stop," he said. "Our front seven are formidable defensively. As long as we can keep people away from he DBs, we'll be in good shape."

What the 2001 Titans may have in their favor more than in any one area is the spirit instilled by the 2000 championship team: the expectation of winning.

"When you expect to win, it makes winning easier," McFadden said.

Eastlake High 2001 football photo album

The chase for the 2001 South Bay League crown will likely be closer this season with both Castle Park and Marian Catholic returning a majority of successful teams from last season to engage defending champion Eastlake. Hilltop, under new coach Brian Hay, and Mar Vista will likely once again play the potential spoiler’s role.

Castle Park, which fell 13-7 to Eastlake in what turned out to be the battle for last year’s league championship, returns 25 players — 22 of them seniors. The Trojans finished regular season play 7-5 a season ago after kick-starting the 2000 campaign with three consecutive losses that could easily have become victories with better execution. Castle Park ended its season in the Division II playoffs with a 1-1 mark after defeating Pt. Loma in the first round and then suffering elimination in the quarterfinals to Mira Mesa.

The Trojans bring back five of their top six point-scorers of a season ago, their top two rushing-average leaders and their starting quarterback.

"With the team we had at the end of the season heading into the playoffs, all the skill positions are back with the exception of one player and we think we have a replacement this year for that player," Castle Park head coach Paul Van Nostrand explained.

The Trojans’ backfield looks to rival Eastlake for the envy of the league. Anthony Jacques rushed for 824 yards and scored a team-leading 11 touchdowns last season to go along with a 7.1 rushing average. Robert Bell gained 766 yards on a team-best 8.1 rushing average and scored seven touchdowns before being felled by a broken leg in the playoffs. Quarterback Chase McGuire threw for 776 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore last season.

Jacques and Bell are both seniors this year. "Anthony Jacques had a phenomenal second half of the season. He just all of a sudden found himself," Van Nostrand said.

McGuire, meanwhile, will be looking to overcome the nine interceptions he made last season to go with the nine TD passes while senior Ishajuwan Saunders will be looking to contribute from his flanker position.

With just three starters back on the offensive line, Castle Park will be looking for a little more continuity in protecting its skilled personnel in the backfield. The three returning starters on the O-line include James Chudy, guard Daniel Barragan and tackle Stephen Guevara.

"This year we’re not as big (with the losses to graduation) but we’re quicker. Our overall team speed is much better than last year. Our depth on the line is not bad," Van Nostrand assessed.

The Trojans defensive strengths are in more of a rebuilding mode. Castle Park rates strong in the secondary department with veterans Freddy Dunkle, Chris Riggs, Jesus Macias and newcomer DeMarco Sampson. Riggs, a senior, is being looked upon as the leader in the secondary while Dunkle, a junior, who will also see duty on offense. Dunkle led the team with five pickoffs last season. The linebacking corps is led by senior Maurice Williams, junior inside backer Santiago Dominguez and senior outside backer Diego Herroz, yet another returner.

The Trojans’ have more holes to plug on the defensive line, however. Chudy, an all-league nose guard, and senior defensive end Jacob Oraha are the anchors. At 260 pounds, Oraha is quick and physical for his size. "We have some holes to fill but we think we have some kids who can step into and fill those holes," Van Nostrand said.

Joining Sampson, a sophomore, as impact players up from last year’s junior varsity team are juniors Mark Street and David McClurg. Van Nostrand describes Street as a wide receiver with "good hands." McClurg is being groomed as a flanker.

With the large number of experienced returners, the Trojans are not looking to repeat their 0-3 start of a season ago. In this case, experience is the key operating word.

"Offensively, we should start off better than last year. We expect to do better on offense," Van Nostrand said. "In the first three games last year, we did the three things you cannot do in a football game -- fail to convert on scoring situations, commit turnovers and make penalties. Hopefully this year we’re more mature — a senior laden team."

Van Nostrand added: "Last year, we started slower than we anticipated but we finished strong. We really thought we’d do well in the playoffs. We thought we’d get a shot at (second seeded) San Pasqual (in the semifinals) but Mira Mesa really put together a strong game against us. Hopefully, that’s where we’ll start this year — picking right up from where we left off last year."

Eastlake will play at Castle Park on Oct. 26.

Castle Park High 2001 football photo album

Marian Catholic, which won back-to-back San Diego Section Division IV championship titles before jumping back into Metro play last season, opens the season Sept. 1 with a non-league game in Reno, Nev. The Crusaders, who fell 42-14 last year to the Titans, hope to gain a measure of revenge by hosting Eastlake on Oct. 12.

Overall, Marian Catholic returns 22 players from last year's otherwise highly successful season, including seven starters on both offense and defense. First Team All-South Bay League defensive lineman Eli Garcia highlights the returners on defense. He's joined by teammates Mickey Pimentel (outside linebacker), Steve Bossett (defensive end) and two-way players Cesar Serrano and Stanley Daniels (both offensive and defensive linemen). Running backs Eugene Alaniz and Mario Contreras will line up in the backfield behind quarterback Mario Ledesma. Also back is kicker Jose Maldonado.

"We had our ups and downs last year. We feel this year this is one of our strongest teams (in terms of physical strength). We've got excellent team speed, especially at the running back position," explained head coach Mike David.

The Crusaders definitely made a statement from the backfield in last Saturday’s 42-6 season-opening victory in Reno, Nev. Alaniz rushed for 172 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns while hauling in an aerial strike from Ledesma to lead the team with three touchdowns. Ledesma completed eight of 12 passes for 166 yards. Also gaining more than 100 yards on the ground were Contreras and Patrick Gates.

Defensively, Marian Catholic was even more impressive by limiting its opponent to just six rushing yards.

The Crusaders led 14-6 at halftime but put the game away with 28 unanswered points. Contreras scored on a 54-yard run and 50-yard pass play. Alaniz opened scoring in the contest on a 25-yard pass play and later scored on runs of 42 and 35 yards.

Photos by Phillip Brents: Ryan Bartsch (top); Mark Whaley (bottom)

31: Eastlake at El Capitan, 6:45 p.m. (scrimmage).

7: Ramona at Eastlake, 7 p.m. 14: Eastlake at Montgomery, 7 p.m. 21: Bonita Vista at Eastlake, 7 p.m. 28: Sweetwater at Eastlake, 7 p.m.

5: Eastlake at Chula Vista, 7 p.m. 12: Eastlake at Marian Catholic, 7 p.m. 19: Mar Vista at Eastlake, 7 p.m. 26: Eastlake at Castle Park, 7 p.m.

2: Southwest at Eastlake, 7 p.m. 9: Hilltop at Eastlake, 7 p.m.

Marian Catholic at Bishop Monogue (Reno, Nev.)

Torrey Pines at Castle Park

Chula Vista at University City, 3 p.m.

Bonita Vista at Vista

San Diego at Hilltop

Ramona at Eastlake

El Cajon Valley at Southwest

Cetys at Marian Catholic

Mt. Miguel at Montgomery, 7:30 p.m.

Sweetwater at Monte Vista

Bishop's at Mar Vista

Chula Vista at West Hills, 7:30 p.m.

Castle Park at La Costa Canyon

Silverado vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College

Eastlake at Montgomery

Sweetwater at Mar Vista

Hilltop at Southwest

Bonita Vista at Eastlake

Chula Vista at Castle Park

Hilltop at Montgomery

Southwest at Mar Vista

Marian Catholic at Sweetwater

Bonita Vista at Hilltop

Mar Vista at Chula Vista

Castle Park at Montgomery

Marian Catholic at Southwest

Sweetwater at Eastlake

Mar Vista at Bonita Vista

Eastlake at Chula Vista

Montgomery at Marian Catholic

Southwest at Castle Park

Sweetwater at Hilltop

Bonita Vista at Sweetwater

Southwest at Chula Vista

Eastlake at Marian Catholic

Castle Park at Hilltop

Montgomery at Mar Vista

Southwest vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College

Sweetwater at Montgomery

Mar Vista at Eastlake

Marian Catholic at Castle Park

Chula Vista at Hilltop

Chula Vista at Montgomery

Sweetwater at Southwest

Eastlake at Castle Park

Mar Vista at Hilltop

Marian Catholic vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College

Montgomery vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College

Chula Vista at Sweetwater

Castle Park at Mar Vista

Hilltop at Marian Catholic

Southwest at Eastlake

Bonita Vista at Chula Vista

Montgomery at Southwest

Hilltop at Eastlake

Marian Catholic at Mar Vista

Castle Park at Sweetwater