KENNEDY RISING TO SYLMAR SAN FERNANDO IS ALSO EXPECTED TO COMPETE FOR TITLE.

Byline: KEVIN CONNELLY  Special to the Daily News

How does a perennial prep football power, especially one that won its first 12 games last season, fall to the middle of the pack in its league the very next year?

Well, there is the pesky task of replacing one of the most prolific running backs in area history, a fine quarterback, and a long list of senior standouts.

The C.J. Gable era has officially come to a close at Sylmar High, and along with it a gaudy two-season stat line: 4,140 yards rushing at nearly 11yards per carry and 59 touchdowns. Gable, who is competing for playing time this year at USC, also had 12 interceptions in two years as a defensive back.

Coach London Woodfin is not yet willing to admit defeat in the Valley Mission League, but he understands that losing nine starters to graduation -- most of them two-way players -- puts his team in an unfamiliar underdog role. Sylmar has won at least a share of the league title every year since it joined in 1999.

``With C.J. running the ball for us, we had the mentality that we couldn't be stopped,'' said Woodfin, whose Spartans lost to Taft of Woodland Hills in last season's City Section semifinals. ``He is a fine individual, and I think we could eventually see him playing on Sundays in the NFL.''

Sylmar also loses quarterback John Austin (1,493 yards, 19 TDs), fullback/linebacker Mark Alanis (11 TDs, 121 tackles), linebacker Arnold Iniquez (102 tackles), and tight end Luis Valdez (eight TDs).

Its top returning players are tight end James Wiggins (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), nose guard Emilio Rivera (6-5, 305), and receiver Deandre Arnold (6-1, 175), who figures to be one of the league's top performers after missing much of last season because of injury.

``It's definitely going to be tough this year replacing (the departed players),'' Woodfin said. ``We want to stay within our system and run the football here, but we don't nearly have as much team speed. On paper, Kennedy (of Granada Hills) will be the team to beat. We will have to play smart football and watch a lot of film to knock them off.''

Kennedy enters this season with newfound confidence after a breakout campaign last year, when it advanced to the City Section championship bracket. The Golden Eagles (9-2 overall, 4-1 Valley Mission last season) have turned things around after a three-win season in 2004.

First-year coach Dion Lambert takes charge after the retirement of Bob Francona, who spent 20 years on the sidelines. Lambert, a former defensive back who was on Francona's staff last year, was a fourth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 1992 after successful careers at Kennedy and UCLA.

The Golden Eagles lost running back Chris Gadella (1,284 yards, 13 TDs) and quarterback Kenny Everett (1,121 yards, 12 TDs) to graduation, but Lambert says his team could be significantly stronger this season. Junior running back Matt Gentle will benefit from a potentially dominant offensive line that includes 300-plus-pounders Thomas Chavez and Carlos Rosas.

``Oh, man, you've got to love running behind those guys,'' said Gentle, who rushed for 515 yards and two touchdowns last season. ``There's a lot of pressure on me to come in this year and fill in for Chris, but I'm shooting for a lot of yards. This is a team that feels it can build on the success of last year, and our goals are to come out and win league - and possibly go undefeated.''

Kennedy faces a difficult schedule, meeting its four toughest regular-season opponents on the road, including a Sept. 21 showdown with Taft. Kennedy also visits Sunset Six League champ Verdugo Hills of Tujunga and top league rivals San Fernando and Sylmar.

Back are tight end Daryll Hill (6-4, 235), defensive tackle Cedric Reeves (6-3, 275) and linebacker Lee DeBose (5-11, 215), making Kennedy, along with fellow contender San Fernando, one of the league's deepest teams.

``It's important not to be cocky, but I really think we are the team to beat this year,'' said Reeves, a first-team all-leaguer last season. ``I expect a lot from myself, as well. I want to be All-City, and to do that, you have to go into the season with the mentality that you can't be stopped.''

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CAPTION(S):

photo, 4 boxes

Photo:

Kennedy of Granada Hills head coach Dion Lambert, front, and, from left, players Lee DeBose, Cedric Reeves, Daryll Hill, and Matt Gentle are eyeing a league title this season.

Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News

Box:

(1) 5 GAMES TO WATCH

(2) TOP FIVE PLAYERS

(3) EXTREMES

(4) PREDICTED FINISH