By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
Following is the eighth in a series of stories previewing the upcoming football season in California. Today's previews include the leagues that play in the Los Angeles City Section. Next - Central Section.
Coliseum League
Expect Dorsey (8-4, 5-0) and Crenshaw (9-4, 4-1) to battle it out again this year in the Coliseum League as both teams are loaded with talent. Crenshaw should be explosive on offense with Kemonte Bateman and Clint Floyd at receivers, Curtis Price at running back and Cameron Hart at quarterback. Dorsey counters with all-state nominee Rahim Moore at defensive back.
Team to Beat: Crenshaw Cougars
Top MVP Candidate: Cameron Hart, Crenshaw
Players to Watch: Kemonte Bateman, Crenshaw, WR, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass 2nd Team, 36 catches, 814 yards, 8 TDs; Clint Floyd, Crenshaw, WR; Curtis Price, Crenshaw, RB, All-City 2nd team, 122 carries, 930 yards, 5 TDs; Cameron Hart, Crenshaw, QB, 96-193, 1,804 yards, 17 TDs; Rahim Moore, Dorsey, DB, All-City First Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass First Team; Jonathan Franklin, Dorsey, RB; Kalii Robinson, Dorsey, DB; Al White, Fremont, RB, 170 carries, 947 yards, 12 TDs; Jermon Powell, Fremont, FS, 72 tackles.
Eastern League
Huntington Park (10-2, 6-0) won the league last year, but Garfield (12-2, 5-1) advanced to the City 3A championship game, falling to Eagle Rock 21-17. Garfield returns more starters than Hunting Park, including three standouts on defense - Christian Orozco (DL), David Lopez (LB) and Roy Fonseca (DB). Jordan (3-7, 3-3) should be improved with All-City lineman Steven Tovar and QB James Boyd (1,810 yards) returning.
Team to Beat: Garfield Bulldogs
Top MVP Candidate: James Boyd, Jordan
Players to Watch: Christian Orozco, Garfield, DL, All-City 3A First Team, 103 tackles, 8.5 sacks; David Lopez, Garfield, LB, All-City 3A First Team, 126 tackles; Roy Fonseca, Garfield, DB, All-City 3A 2nd Team; Oscar Ramos, Huntington Park, DB, 72 tackles; Miguel Muniz, Bell, LB, All-City 3A 2nd Team; Julio Segura, South East, DB, All-City 3A First Team, 8 Int; Steven Tovar, Jordan, OL, All-City First Team; Erick Hunter, Jordan, DB; James Boyd, Jordan, QB, Jr, 125-217, 1,810 yards, 7 TDs; Delvon Purvis, Jordan, RB, 50 catches, 719 yards; Jona Torres, Roosevelt, RB, 80 carries, 704 yards, 6 TDs.
Marine League
San Pedro (12-2, 4-1), Carson (9-4, 4-1) and Narbonne (7-5, 4-1) all finished tied for first place in the Marine League, but it was San Pedro that reached the City 4A finals before falling to Birmingham. The Pirates look formidable again with Robert Franco (LB) and Ahmad Wood (DB) back on defense and RBs Marcelez Brooks and Joseph Chavez returning in the backfield. Carson should also be stronger, however, with the return of RB Jack Sula and QB Dominique Blackman. David Sausau (LB) and Albert Miller (DL) lead the Carson defense.
Team to Beat: Carson Colts
Top MVP Candidate: Jack Sula, Carson
Players to Watch: Robert Franco, San Pedro, LB, Jr, All-City 2nd Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores, 141 tackles; Ahmad Wood, San Pedro, DB, All-City 2nd Team, Long Beach Dream Team, 4 Int; Marcelez Brooks, San Pedro, RB, 133 carries, 769 yards, 8 TDs; Joseph Chavez, San Pedro, 96 carries, 673 yards, 7 TDs; Jack Sula, Carson, RB, All-City First Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass 3rd Team, Long Beach Dream Team, 223 carries, 1,834 yards, 20 TDs; Albert Miller, Carson, DL; Dominique Blackman, Carson, QB, All-City 2nd team, 123-215, 1,673 yards, 14 TDs; David Sausau, Carson, LB, All-City 2nd Team, 86 tackles; Eric Bender, Narbonne, OL; Sam Tupua, Banning, OL; Nick Garibay, Banning, OL; Josh Limosnero, Banning, RB, Jr, All-City First Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores honorable mention; Matt White, Banning, WR; Lavon McCoy, Washington, DL, All-City First Team; Richard Nichols, Washington, LB, 96 tackles.
Northern League
The Eagle Rock Eagles (13-1, 7-0) have won 12 straight games entering the 2007 season after winning the Northern League and the City 3A championship over Garfield 21-17. The Eagles return the league's best defensive player in Darwin Bacelis while RB Andrew Trejo is one of the top returning offensive players.
Team to Beat: Eagle Rock Eagles
Top MVP Candidate: Darwin Bacelis, Eagle Rock
Players to Watch: Darwin Bacelis, Eagle Rock, LB, All-City 3A First Team, 4 sacks, 4 Int; Jelani Blunt, Eagle Rock, P, All-City 3A First Team; Andrew Trejo, Eagle Rock, 117 carries, 681 yards, 7 TDs; Kevin Leon, Marshall, OL, All-City 3A 2nd Team; Nathan Gutierrez, Wilson, DL, All-City 3A 2nd Team; Laramie Martinez, Wilson, DB, 2nd Team; William Alvarado, Franklin, OL, All-City 3A 2nd Team; Jerry Meza, Lincoln, DB; Johnny Casillas, Lincoln, LB, All-City 3A 2nd Team, 112 tackles.
Sunset Six League
The Verdugo Hills Dons (12-1, 6-0) won their first 12 games of the season before falling to Garfield in the City 3A semifinals 14-7. Many of the top players in the league have graduated, but the Dons return one of the league's top rushers in Sammy Garcia De Alba. Poly (4-6, 2-4) also has two solid weapons in Terrell Cable (RB) and Daniel Lopez (WR). North Hollywood (6-4, 4-2) has the league's top defensive player in Mike Hodeib (DL).
Team to Beat: Verdugo Hills Dons
Top MVP Candidate: Sammy Garcia De Alba, Verdugo Hills
Players to Watch: Sammy Garcia De Alba, Verdugo Hills, RB, 86 carries, 446 yards, 5 TDs; Armando Orozco, Grant, 65-133, 941 yards, 13 TDs; Mike Hodeib, North Hollywood, DL, All-City 3A First Team; Terrell Cable, Poly, RB, 116 carries, 686 yards, 6 TDs; Daniel Lopez, Poly, 30 catches, 519 yards, 4 TDs.
Valley Mission League
San Fernando (7-3, 3-1) returns the league's best player on offense in Rashaad Reynolds (1,629 yards passing) and the league's best player on defense in Daniel Gonzalez (117 tackles). The Tigers nearly had an undefeated league season last year, but lost to Reseda (6-4, 1-3) in the final league game of the season.
Team to Beat: San Fernando Tigers
Top MVP Candidate: Rashaad Reynolds, San Fernando
Players to Watch: Rashaad Reynolds, San Fernando, QB, All-City 2nd team, LA Daily News All-Area Honorable Mention, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores, 90-162, 1,629 yards, 17 TDs; Daniel Gonzalez, San Fernando, LB, 117 tackles; Giovannie Dixon, Reseda, RB, All-City 3A First Team; Lazelle Allston, Monroe, LB, All-City 3A 2nd Team.
West Valley League
After losing three of their first four games of the season, the Birmingham Patriots (11-3, 5-0) found their stride, winning their final 10 games including a 45-7 wipeout of San Pedro in the city championship game. The Patriots look to have the best offense and defense in the city. Milton Knox, an all-american candidate at RB after gaining 2,374 yards last year, won't have to carry the load thanks to the transfer of Taft quarterback Exavier Johnson, who threw for 1,760 yards last year. Meanwhile the defense is loaded with All-City picks Malik Jackson at DE and Donovan Carter and TJ Rosas at LB. Taft (6-5, 4-1) might give Birmingham the toughest game, although the loss of Johnson will be tough to overcome. Speedster Jarrell Holland leads the Toreadors on offense and defense.
Team to Beat: Birmingham Patriots
Top MVP Candidate: Milton Knox, Birmingham
Players to Watch: Mychal Rivera, Birmingham, TE; Milton Knox, Birmingham, RB, All-City Offensive MVP; LA Times All-Area Team, LA Daily News All-Area Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-Underclass First Team, 328 carries, 2,374 yards, 29 TDs; De'von Flournoy, Birmingham, WR, Jr, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores, 22 catches, 623 yards, 7 TDs; Malik Jackson, Birmingham, DE, All-City First Team; LA Daily News All-Area 2nd Team, 54 tackles, 12.5 sacks; Donovan Carter, Birmingham, LB, All-City First Team, LA Daily News All-Area Team, 128 tackles, 5.5 sacks; Exavier Johnson, Birmingham, QB, 100-197, 1,760 yards, 15 TDs; Gregg Burgess, Birmingham, DB; Marquis Jackson, Birmingham, DL; TJ Rosas, Birmingham, LB, All-City 2nd Team, 82 tckles, 9 sacks; Andrew Hunt, Chatsworth, LB, 6 sacks; Greg Jimenez, Chatsworth, QB, 88-177, 1,418 yards, 15 TDs; Craig Noble, Taft, OL; Jarrell Holland, Taft, RB, 31 carries, 337 yards, 9 TDs, 8 sacks; Anthony Dawkins, Granada Hills, RB, 166 carries, 713 yards.
Western League
Venice (9-3, 5-0) returns a boatload of talent this year, led by All-City first team picks Curtis McNeal (2,080 yards) at running back and Richard Ragland (2,571 yards) at quarterback. The Gondoliers are also solid on defense, where Que Sean Greogry, Jordan Winters, Kris Johnson and Naeem Forrester all return. Venice just missed advancing to the city finals last year, losing to San Pedro in the second round.
Team to Beat: Venice Gondoliers
Top MVP Candidate: Curtis McNeal, Venice
Players to Watch: Curtis McNeal, Venice, RB, All-City First Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass 2nd Team, 187 carries, 2,080 yards, 34 TDs, 21 catches, 326 yards, 4 TDs; Richard Ragland, Venice, QB, All-City First Team, 142-230, 2,571 yards, 21 TDs; Reuben Hassani, Venice, OL, All-City 2nd Team; Que Sean Gregory, Venice, DB, All-City First Team, 48 catches, 865 yards, 4 TDs; Jerry Johnson, Venice, WR, 24 catches, 613 yards, 4 TDs; Jordan Winters, Venice, LB, 96 tackles; Kris Johnson, Venice, DE, 92 tackles, 9 sacks; Naeem Forrester, Venice, DB, 85 tackles, 5 Int; Chad Martinez, Hamilton, DB, All-City 2nd Team; Trayone Harris, University, RB; 71 carries, 687 yards; Joe Bergman, Palisades, K; All-City 3A First Team; Courtney Campbell, Fairfax, DE, All-City First Team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass 2nd Team.