SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Football

Spartans have paid their dues, now it's time to reap reward

By Phillip Brents

Posted Sept. 7, 2002

How much is experience worth? The Chula Vista High Spartans will discover if it translates into a Mesa League championship this season.

After suffering through the trials and tribulations of a proverbial “rebuilding year” last season, most of the pieces appear to be in place for something much better in 2002.

“The key for us is experience with 11 starters back,” Chula Vista coach Rex Johnson said. “We’re really well prepared skillwise. We have some good athletes, good team speed, athletic ability.”

The Spartans finished 4-6 last season, 1-3 in league. But look for an upgrade in those numbers this year.

Chula Vista’s offense has a balanced blend of returning linemen and “hands people,” including First Team All-League running back Kevin Davies, a senior, All-Mesa League Second Team pick Julian Smith, a senior wide receiver, and junior quarterback Travis Crawford, another returning starter. The offense is further blessed with returning starters John Morales and Nathan Flowers, both juniors who earned All-Mesa League Second Team status last year as sophomore starters. At 6-3 and 270 pounds, Morales (a guard) and, at 6-4, 280 pounds, Flowers (a tackle) are the mainstays — with good reason — for the offensive line.

The Spartans should not find any remaining holes too hard to fill. In fact, Chula Vista will fill virtually all key positions with either juniors or seniors this season — reducing the key element of inexperience that defined last year’s squad.

Juniors Lanscarlo Collins (6-3, 240, tackle), Cameron Turner (6-1, 215, center) and Clarence Richardson (5-10, 250, guard) all move up from last year’s junior varsity team to flesh out the team’s experience in its offensive line. They will be joined by senior Matt Neal (6-2, 205) and juniors Julian Silvas (5-11, 225) and Jonathan Torres (6-4, 250).

Senior transfer David McClurg joins Davies (more than 1,000 rushing yards last year) in the team’s backfield. McClurg competed his freshman and sophomore years in Castle Park’s program before injury sidelined him at the varsity level last year.

Senior Rodrigo Ruiz, a returning letterman, will battle Crawford for the starting quarterback spot while another returning letterman, senior Eric Williams, adds depth to the wideout position that also will tap the talent of senior David Ruiz and junior Bowe Fertig, one the JV team’s leading receivers last season.

Junior Carlos Santamaria and senior Eduardo Jaimes will man the tight end spot while also doubling as linebackers.

The Spartans have a lot of depth on defense as well, led by senior outside linebacker Romero Crawford (All-Mesa League Second Team in 2001), Santamaria at junior middle linebacker and Jaimes at outside linebacker. Santamaria is a returning starter while Jaimes is a returning letterman.

The team’s defensive line is anchored by returning All-Mesa League First Team starter John Hill, a senior. Morales and Flowers will both see double duty at the tackle positions while Collins and Neal are both likely to see action on the other side of the ball in the trenches as well. Senior end Dorian Long (5-10, 185) is also being counted on as a key cog on the defensive line.

The defensive backfield is keyed by senior Marques Lattin, a returning letterman, and Davies. Up from the JV are juniors Jimmy Clark, Roderick McPeak and Lonnie Brookins.

Chula Vista also has a bonus luxury in senior Ricky Alvarado, the team’s returning place-kicker.

Johnson, who is entering his ninth year as head coach and 29th overall in the Spartan program, is cautiously optimistic about the promise the upcoming season could hold.

“Last year, we were pretty inexperienced. We had only five lettermen. This year, we have 11 starters back. The comparison between this year and last year is tremendous,” Johnson said. “That will be a key for us — it will not take us half a season to get into the swing of things.”

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws