MISSION LEAGUE: THE N.D. STANDS FOR NO DOUBT : AT LEAST ONE KNIGHT EXPECTS TO WIN TITLE.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

Travis Johnson leaves Notre Dame with no escape exits.

``We're thinking nothing less that a (Southern Section Division IV) championship,'' said Johnson, the Knights' maniacal defensive lineman. ``That should be every team's goal, and it's definitely what we expect. But we'll just take it quarter by quarter.''

The Knights, who return to Division IV after playing last year in Division I, are favorites to claim the section title. First, however, they must get through the four-team Mission League, where the biggest challenge will come from St. Francis, which fields potentially the best team in coach Bill Redell's seven years at the school.

Notre Dame's strength is an experienced, intelligent defense (DLs Johnson, Alec Moss and Chris Burgess; LBs Mike Barron and Pat Wade; DB Jon Brewster) and a typically opportunistic offense led by QB Brewster, RB Darin Barton and all-league OL Burgess.

``They've got things going over there at Notre Dame,'' said Chaminade coach Ed Croson. ``They've got the marquee guy in the Valley (Johnson), and everybody is trying to figure out what to do with him.''

St. Francis has the league's premier QB in junior John Sciarra, who threw for 1,505 yards and 15 touchdowns. But interceptions - he threw 14 last year - were a problem.

He gets help from a gifted group of playmakers in RB Jimmy Knauf (264 yards), WRs Kenny Garcia (25 catches, 420 yards) and Mark Garcia (16 catches, 226 yards) and junior RB Matthew Milton (194 yards). TE Tyler Terrazone (6-3, 220) is considered a Division I prospect.

``Most of our skill players are back, and we lose only two linemen,'' Sciarra said. ``I'd like to think (we'll be good).''

Chaminade had just 11 juniors on last year's team. The Eagles are young, but there is promise.

Wide receiver Eric Zdenek is one of the area's most sought-after players, combining great speed with terrific hands. He caught 18 passes for 368 yards last year, but those number will improve with the graduation of leading WR Chris Canoles.

``He's a for-sure, big-time recruit,'' Croson said.

The job of getting the ball to Zdenek falls to QB Jon Palacios, a senior transfer from Royal. Palacios isn't very big, but he has a nice feel for the game and has experience playing against top competition.

``He's been around a while and he's a polished kid,'' Croson said. ``We really like him a lot.''

Keep an eye on sophomore Jessie Taylor, who will play both TE and LB. In two years Taylor will be one of the most exciting players in the area.

First-year coach Ron Gueringer takes over at Crespi, where the transfers of QB Mike Luderer and TE/DE Gregg Guenther will hurt. They leave behind a young team, with potential impact players in RB/LB Donnelly Pyle and WRs Larry Vitts and Chris McCauley.

``The key will be how quickly we adapt to the new system and how quickly our young players mature,'' Gueringer said. ``But we're excited and ready for the challenge.''

TOP FIVE RETURNING PLAYERS

Travis Johnson DE Notre Dame 92 tackles, 17 sacks

John Sciarra QB St. Francis 1,505 passing yards

Kenny Garcia WR St. Francis 25 catches

Darin Barton RB Notre Dame 575 rushing yards

Alec Moss LB Notre Dame Six forced fumbles

BIG GAMES

Sept. 10 Notre Dame vs. Sylmar Huge City Section-Southern Section matchup

Oct. 10 Alemany vs. Notre Dame Travis Johnson and Casey Clausen vacationed together over the summer

Oct. 30 Alemany vs. Loyola Alemany remembers last year's drubbing

Nov. 5 St. Francis at Notre Dame Will decide league title

Nov. 5 Chaminade at Crespi Both teams will have grown up by this time

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

12

Number of times Travis Johnson touched the ball defensively in '98: Five recovered fumbles, two tipped passes, three blocked punts and two blocked PATs.

COACHES' POLL

Team Pts.

1. Notre Dame 56

2. St. Francis 48

3. Chaminade 40

4. Crespi 32

The Coaches:

Notre Dame's Kevin Rooney

19th year, one Southern Section title

St. Francis' Bill Redell

Seventh year, no league titles

Chaminade's Ed Croson

Second year, no titles

Crespi's Ron Guerenger

First year

GRADING OUT

Team Overall Offense Defense Intangibles x

Notre Dame 5 4 5 5

St. Francis 4 4 3 4

Chaminade 3 3 3 3

Crespi 2 2 2 3

Key to overall grade:

5 = section championship contender

4 = league championship contender

3 = playoff contender

2 = probable sub-.500 team

Key to individual grades:

5 = superior

4 = solid

3 = adequate

2 = weak spot

x Intangibles include factors such as roster size and reserve depth, player experience, coaching, tradition, administrative support, community support, team attitude and anything else we deemed relevant.

Grades based on degree of difficulty within each league and should not be used to compare teams in different leagues.

Points system: 14 for first place, 12 for second, 10 for third, 8 for fourth, 6 for fifth, 4 for sixth and 2 for seventh.

DID YOU KNOW?

Before some games, Notre Dame players have gone to online Rival Talk Web sites to chat it up with upcoming opponents

EXTREMES

BIGGEST

Travis Johnson, DL, Notre Dame

FASTEST

Eric Zdenek, WR, Chaminade

SMARTEST

tk

STRONGEST

Travis Johnson, DL, Notre Dame

BEST ARM

John Sciarra, QB, St. Francis

MOST EXCITING

Eric Zdenek, WR, Chaminade

D-I BOUND

Johnson (Notre Dame); Zdenek (Chaminade)

WACKIEST

Eddie Madrigal, OL, Chaminade

The meanest, toughest player on the team is also a cheerleader. Yes, he attends cheerleader camps and competitions.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos, 8 Boxes

Photo: (1) Chaminade's Erik Zdenek, who caught 18 passes for 368 yards last season in the shadow of Chris Canoles, is expected to be much busier in the Eagles offense in '99.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

(2) BARTON

(3) MADRIGAL

Box: (1) Top Five Returning Players (See text)

(2) Big Games (See text)

(3) Extremes (See text)

(4) Grading Out (See text)

(5) The Coaches (See text)

(6) Coaches' Poll (See text)

(7) Inside the numbers (See text)

(8) Did you know? (See text)