BALBOA TO DISPLAY LOAD OF `TOP GUNS' IN AIR-IT-OUT PLAY.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer

The NFL Air-It-Out flag football festival that begins today will showcase some of the area's premier football players, past and present.

Tommie Smith from Antelope Valley High, the 1988 Daily News Player of the Year who was cut by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1992 preseason, looks at the two-day four-on-four tournament at Encino's Balboa Park as a chance to showcase his skills in his bid to make it back to the NFL.

``This is my chance to show what I can do, especially to all the people that don't believe in me anymore,'' Smith said.

Meanwhile, Zac Wasserman, standout quarterback at Westlake, figures competing with four of his varsity teammates will sharpen his own skills and add camaraderie.

Most of nearly 600 teams competing in various divisions are in the tournament solely for recreation. But there are stakes in the Top-Gun division: the winner advances to the 18-team national playoffs and eventually could play a team of current NFL players in the nationally televised championship in Orlando in March.

Smith and his teammates from the semipro California Dolphins are among the favored Top Gun teams. Ex-Camarillo stars Andy Kroneberger, Justin Howe and current 1,000-yard rusher John Howe play for the Top Gun Bruisers. Westlake-based Casey Preston (quarterback), Joey Cuppari and Jon Weems have been practicing all week. Former Calabasas standouts Scott Quigley (quarterback) and Kevin Wang are also making a bid in Top Gun with a squad called Team 420.

Meanwhile, Bang features ex-San Fernando players, and former Notre Dame players are also represented.

``It should be fun,'' said Wang, now at Brown University, where he sat out his freshman season after injuring his knee and plans to study medicine. ``All of us are pretty competitive once we get on the field.''

Marcelo Troilo, captain of Van Nuys-based M.I.B. & Gold, has played in the Top Gun division for four years. His team, featuring Arena Football starter Donte Abron and former Poly High star Joey Speakes, is stacked.

``We've got some pretty awesome players,'' said Troilo, 27, a former linebacker at Birmingham. ``Yes, we're out there to have fun, but we've been practicing regularly.''

The youth division matches teams representing most of the area's top high-school programs. Wasserman's Warriors gives the quarterback an opportunity to team with up-and-coming receiver Michael Brignac.

Birmingham All-City quarterback Scott Doherty teams with speedy teammate Jerome Riley on a squad called Braves Hall of Shame.

Royal's Jon Palacious (quarterback) and Kevin Krause spark the Royal Boys. Valtron features Moorpark standouts Kevin Sedik, Jeremy Shoop and Art Garcia. Highland and Simi Valley teams are also involved.

``I think the tournament will help a lot,'' said Palacious. ``I get a chance to get my timing down with receivers and, personally, it helps me get a quicker release because the rush is coming. Yes, it's for fun. But we're taking it pretty seriously, because we like to win.''

Some younger teams feature possible future high-school stars such as the Oak Park Eagles, captained by 13-year-old Ryan Lewis.

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Photo

Photo: The passing arm of Westlake's Zac Wasserman will be tested at Balboa Park this weekend.

Hans Gutknecht / Daily News