OTHER TEAMS BELL-JEFF.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Coach: Rolando Aguirre (fourth year)

Last year: 3-6, 0-3 Santa Fe League

Key returnees: QB Brendon Doyle, Jr.; LB Richard Smith, Sr.

Outlook: Bell-Jeff of Burbank, which has won just 15 games over the past six years, could find success with its new four-wide passing offense if the promising Doyle develops and sophomore WR Derek Liephardt works out.

Doyle passed for 996 yards and six TDs last year but completed 39.7 percent of his passes. He needs to be accurate and for his receivers to find openings.

Bell-Jeff has a difficult opener against visiting Desert of Edwards Air Force Base, which went 9-3 and returns all-state prospect WR Rudy Burgess.

CAMARILLO

Coach: George Festerling (second year)

Last year: 5-4-2, 2-2 Pacific View League

Key returnees: OL Kyle Gunther, Sr.; RB Marc Kawamoto, Sr.; QB Garrett Barlow, Sr.; DB Derek Rasp, Sr.; OL Gary Magneli, Jr.

Outlook: Barlow, who constantly was shuffled in and out the lineup last year, should improve. He passed for 1,702 yards and 14 TDs and ran for 226 yards and three TDs last year despite playing just half of each game.

The undersized Kawamoto rushed for 1,044 yards and seven TDs, and he also caught 15 passes. Gunther is among the region's top OL recruits, and the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Rasp is ready for a big season.

CAMPBELL HALL

Coach: Anthony Harris (fifth year)

Last year: 11-1-1, 4-0-1 Academy League

Key returnees: WR Justin Green, Sr.; DB Darryl Harris, Sr.; OL Jesse Goff, Sr.

Outlook: After advancing to the Division XIII semifinals - its best finish in history - Campbell Hall won't have the firepower of last year because standout QB Matt Kaplan and 1,800-yard rusher J.D. Washington have graduated.

QB Matt Phelts is an untested senior ``who has never gotten a chance,'' according to coach Harris. He has one of the area's leading returning WRs in Green, who had 70 catches and 20 TDs last year. Goff is a 320-pound blocker.

DESERT

Coach: Joel Sweitzer (second year)

Last year: 9-3, 5-1 High Desert League

Key returnees: WR Rudy Burgess, Sr.; RB Jason Napoleon, Sr.

Outlook: Burgess, a four-year starter, is one of the region's purest athletes and is on the verge of being Desert's first Division I college signee in many years. Last year, he caught 50 passes for 1,200 yards, scored 16 touchdowns and had seven interceptions. In track, he went 23 feet, 6 inches in the long jump - second in California - then ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and vertical jumped 43 inches at a recent scouting combine. He's been offered scholarships by Washington State, Washington, Arizona and Arizona State, among others.

``Rudy is a phenomenal athlete,'' Sweitzer said. ``I told him to take his time picking a college and to go on five recruiting trips.''

EAGLE ROCK

Coach: Steve Wahl (ninth year)

Last year: 3-6, 3-2 Northern League

Key returnees: QB Carlos Celis, Sr.; DB Louis Estrada, Sr.; WR Mario Munoz, Sr.; Richard Golding, OL, Sr.

Outlook: Eagle Rock has something to prove after missing the playoffs for the first time in Wahl's tenure. But the team needs more production from Celis (1,053 yards, five TDs) to make a serious run at annual league powerhouse Franklin of L.A.

``I'm looking for Carlos Celis to have a big year this year because last season he was just learning the position,'' Wahl said.

Munoz should be the prime target after catching 19 passes.

L.A. BAPTIST

Coach: Richard Fong (first year)

Last year: 5-5, 4-6 Alpha League

Key returnees: QB R.J. Robinson, Sr.; WR Tyler Weiss, Sr; PK Andrew Jones, Sr.; DB Jess Lima, Jr.; LB Alan Walker, Jr.

Outlook: Robinson should be the latest in L.A. Baptist of North Hills' line of elite QBs. A backup last season, he looked sharp when he played, completing 20 passes for 288 yards and two TDs. Second-leading receiver Weiss (25 catches, six TDs) is expected to have a big year.

``We had a good summer and did very well,'' said Fong, the team's defensive coordinator a year ago.

L.A. Baptist remains in the revamped Alpha League with Brentwood, Whittier Christian and Village Christian of Cerritos.

LA CANADA

Coach: Richard Wheeler (sixth year)

Last year: 8-4, 4-1 Rio Hondo League

Key returnees: OLs Mike Winters, Sr., Tom Johnson, Sr., Tony Maude, Sr., and Nick Sinclitico, Sr.; LB Colby Hawley, Sr.; QB Matt Stoner, Jr.

Outlook: La Canada has won 18 games over the past two years but enters the season with a lot of question marks because 25 players graduated.

``I don't think anyone on the team has played a full season of varsity football because we lost a lot of starters through our first six games last year,'' Wheeler said.

Winters (6-4, 315) was hurt in the fourth week last year but is a Division I prospect. He is among several key players up front, which is the team's strength. Stoner, who was injured in Week 2, has potential.

``Right now, we're totally untested. But if the young players mesh with the older ones, we could be very good,'' Wheeler said.

LOYOLA

Coach: Steve Grady (27th year)

Last year: 7-3-1, 1-1-1 Mission League

Key returnees: WR Quintin Daniels, Sr.; RB Bo Renaud, Sr.; Q Adam Gonzalez, Sr.; OL Mark Gray, Sr.; LB Scott Willard, Sr.; DB C.J. Wellinger, Sr.; TE Mike Horgan, Sr.

Outlook: Seven victories was an off year for one of California's elite programs - the Cubs of Los Angeles have been to the Division I final five times since 1990 - but Loyola should be among the state's strongest this season.

Daniels (32 receptions, seven TDs) also is a top DB and kick returner, and most Pacific-10 Conference universities are recruiting him. Gonzalez (1,445 yards, 11 TDs) isn't flashy but doesn't make mistakes. He should enjoy more production. Renaud (940 yards, 14 TDs) is dependable. Gray and Horgan should be heavily recruited, and Willard is a returning all-leaguer.

Loyola switches to the new Serra League, which includes longtime rival Mater Dei of Santa Ana and Santa Margarita.

MALIBU

Coach: Rich Lawson (sixth year)

Last year: 0-9, 0-3 Frontier League

Key returnees: WR Tommaso Trento, Sr.; RB Lars Edman, Sr.; DB Jeremy Kent, Sr; OL Danny Curtis, Sr.

Outlook: Malibu has won one game over the past two seasons but should be more competitive because the Sharks left the Frontier League to compete as a freelance team. They'll play mostly Division XIII opponents, starting with 165-student Ribet Academy of Los Angeles.

``At least now we can compete against schools our size,'' Lawson said. ``I don't think we're going to set the world on fire, but we're going to win a few games this year.''

Trento (6-2, 180) is the best player. He had 38 receptions for 592 yards and scored four TDs last year.

MOJAVE

Coach: Larry Satterfield (11th year)

Last year: 9-2, 6-0 High Desert League

Key returnees: RB Ronald Downing, Sr.; OLs Ryan Leonard, Sr., and Kenny Avon, Sr.

Outlook: Defending league champion Mojave could be the team to beat because of the return of Downing. The 5-8, 180-pounder rushed for 1,600 yards and scored 20 TDs last year to earn All-Southern Section honors.

``Robert is a pretty strong kid,'' Satterfield said.

Leonard (5-10, 250) and Avon (6-3, 270) both were named first-team all-league. Leonard is a three-year starter and Avon runs a 5.1 40-yard dash.

MONTCLAIR PREP

Coach: George Giannini (26th year)

Last year: 9-2-1

Key returnees: LBs Marques Franco, Jr., Robert Lewis, Sr., Coy Hopkins, Sr., and Derek Smith, Jr.; RB Dal Johnson, Sr.; DBs Mark Johnson, Sr., and Kenroy Thompson, Sr.; WR Anthony Davis, Sr.; OL Abdel Carre, Sr.

Outlook: The lineup is packed with major-college recruits, s a third consecutive trip to the section final appears likely even though Montclair Prep of Van Nuys is moving from Division XII to XI.

Dal Johnson (1,558 yards, 17 TDs) should get the ball a lot, as Montclair Prep's power-pitch offense always relies on a quick, powerful tailback and large, pulling blockers. USC-bound Lewis and 250-pound Franco are two of the region's best LBs; they're part of a defense that could include up to eight All-Southern Section selections.

Formerly a freelance school, Montclair Prep joins the revamped Olympic League. Its toughest competition should come from Paraclete of Lancaster, which has won five consecutive section titles - the past two over the Mounties.

OAK PARK

Coach: Dick Billingsley (13th year)

Last year: 7-3-1, 2-1-1 Tri-Valley League

Key returnees: LB Nick Ply, Sr.; OLs Brandon Manoff, Sr., and Jason Lebowitz, Sr.; TE Kevin Walkow, Sr.; DB Mo Williams, Sr.

Outlook: The good news is powerful St. Bonaventure of Ventura has moved out of the league. The bad news is up-and-coming Oaks Christian has moved in. For Oak Park to keep pace, either senior Pete Burns or junior Nolan McNair must assert himself at QB. McNair is the younger brother of Monte McNair, one of Oak Park's all-time best players.

Whoever earns the starting QB job will have good receivers, as TE Kevin Walkow and WRs Mike Wildt and Gavin Ketchum are among the team's standouts.

Defensively, LB Ply (6-3, 210) is one of the league's top hitters, and DB Williams is a returning starter. Senior DB Danny Martinez, a transfer from Antelope Valley, could make an impact.

OAKS CHRISTIAN

Coach: Bill Redell (third year)

Last year: 11-1-1

Key returnees: DL Kyle McClure, Sr.; RB Aaron Ware, So.; DB Adam Richter, Sr.; DB Johnny Giangregorio, DB, Jr.; QB Joey Halzle, Jr.; Kyle Salter, WR, Sr.

Outlook: Oaks Christian of Westlake Village should be one of the region's premier teams, regardless of size, as the Lions have their first senior class after advancing to the Division XIII semifinals in their first varsity season last year. Kyle McClure, a 6-7 DL, has committed to Cal, and RB Aaron Ware (1,613 yards, 19 TDs) is an all-state prospect despite being a sophomore. Ware's brother, Matt, is a former All-America at Loyola who now is a starting DB at UCLA.

``The key to our season will be our line because we average only about 215 pounds,'' Redell said. ``They're not huge, but our skill players are very good.''

Oaks Christian joins the Tri-Valley League and moves up to Division XI.

PARACLETE

Coach: Jeff Cortez (third year)

Last year: 12-0, 3-0 Alpha League

Key returnees: LB Andy Watts, Sr.; LB/TE Brian Wilson, Jr.; LB Keith Lambert, Sr.

Outlook: Paraclete of Lancaster, which moves from Division XII to Division XI, has won five consecutive section titles and 50 of its past 56 games. Many of last year's key starters, including the region's all-time leading rusher Curtis Brown (Brigham Young University), have graduated. But Paraclete has a group of tough defensive players in Lambert, Wilson and Watts, and the Spirits should contend for another title if promising RB Jarod Nelson lives up to his billing. Lambert (6-1, 205) earned All-Southern Section honors last year, and Watts (6-4, 195) had an excellent summer and is ready for a breakout season.

A question mark is the OL. Three-year starter Daniel Arroyo (5-11, 245) is the only returnee.

Paraclete joins the Olympic League with rival Montclair Prep of Van Nuys - the Spirits have beaten Montclair Prep in the section finals the past two seasons - along with Kilpatrick of Malibu and Cerritos Valley Christian.

RIO MESA

Coach: Randy Block (second year)

Last year: 5-6, 2-2 Pacific View League

Key returnees: TE Dan Bednar, Sr.; Justin Johnson, WR, Sr.; QB Brian DiDomizio, Jr.; LB Cisco Zenedejas, Sr.; DL Steve Stroh, Jr.

Outlook: With a core of top returnees and an improved DiDomizio, Rio Mesa of Oxnard could be one of the area's most improved teams.

Bednar (6-2, 235) and Johnson (6-1, 180) co-led the team with 18 receptions, and DiDomizio had a productive summer.

``Bednar is fast with good hands, and he just likes to play football,'' Block said. ``Justin has all the tools, and with the two of them we're hoping to spread things out and throw the ball more.''

Stroh (6-4, 270) is a solid blocker who attended USC's summer camp. Junior RB Max Barroso is fast and could be a key.

ROSAMOND

Coach: Lin Parker (first year)

Last year: 3-6, 2-4 High Desert League

Key returnees: QB Travis Huntsinger, Sr.; RB Ricardo Azua, Sr.; DL Chance Tapia, Sr.; RB Marvel Strawder, Sr.

Outlook: Parker, a 35-year veteran who last coached at Highland of Palmdale, likes his team. He's especially high on Huntsinger, whom he calls the ``best quarterback I've had since Camy Smith (at Highland) seven years ago.''

Azua, a 200-pound slasher who is a returning all-leaguer, is ``a force,'' according to Parker.

Tapia (6-0, 285) is one of the league's largest returning starters, and Strawder should play a key role in Rosamond's new ``fly'' offense.

Rosamond meets five-time section champion Paraclete of Lancaster in the third week. That matchup should be a good measuring stick.

ST. GENEVIEVE

Coach: Shatony Sargeant (first year)

Last year: 4-6, 2-1 Santa Fe League

Key returnees: DB Richard Cisneros, Sr.; OL Abraham Ramirez, Sr.; RB Eygner Artiga, Sr.

Outlook: St. Genevieve of Panorama City is optimistic new coach Sargeant, a former professional football player who played four seasons for the L.A. Avengers and briefly with the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders, can help turn around the program. The Valiants also have a new defensive coordinator, Ron Upshaw, who held the same position at Pierce College.

Cisneros is an experienced defender who also caught nine passes and scored two TDs last year. Ramirez (6-5, 300), among the area's biggest blockers, was a second-team all-league selection. Artiga, a 190-pound FB, was the team's second-leading rusher with 235 yards and three TDs.

VASQUEZ

Coach: Doug Miller (third year)

Last year: 1-7, 0-6 High Desert League

Key returnees: RB Jimmy Sanderson, Sr.; TE Garrett Pointer, Sr.

Outlook: After scoring just five offensive TDs and losing by an average of more than 25 points per game last year, Vasquez is aiming for respectability. The Mustangs move to the softer Christian League, which should help.

``We just didn't have the people last year and no quarterback,'' Miller said. ``But there's a totally different attitude this year, and we've got 38 players compared to 28.''

Junior QB Kyle Jensen ``has a lot of talent,'' according to Miller.

VILLAGE CHRISTIAN

Coach: Marty Martin (second year)

Last year: 5-5, 1-3 Alpha League

Key returnees: LB Dustin Burke, Jr.; QB Kyle Perry, Sr.; DB Jason Christianson, Jr.

Outlook: Perhaps improved Village Christian of Sun Valley, which hasn't finished better than .500 in a season since 1997, can contend for the league title now that Paraclete of Lancaster has moved to the Olympic League.

``I really think we have a chance this year,'' Martin said. ``When I got here last year, I was the third coach in three years, so at least we have some continuity.''

LB Burke (5-10, 220) should be an anchor for the defense. He was the team's leading tackler and a second-team all-leaguer last year. Perry passed for 506 yards and five TDs as a part-timer, and he has a promising WR in Chris Varnick. Varnick is ``a big playmaker with good speed,'' according to Martin.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) CELIS

(2) Senior Robert Lewis returns for a final season with Montclair Prep as one of the top linebackers in the region.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer

(3) Paraclete coach Jeff Cortez faces a challenge after losing many of last year's key starters.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer