PACIFIC LEAGUE: THREE'S A CROWD IN THE PACIFIC : MUIR, ARCADIA AND C.V. EXPECT WILD RIDE.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

Look for this traditionally strong-at-the-top league to be all of that again, and don't be surprised if the race winds up in a three-way tie for the title among the past three champions.

``Our league is excellent - by no means will we have an easy time,'' said Muir coach Erik Johnson, whose senior-heavy Mustangs open the season ranked No. 9 in the L.A. area by Cal High Sports.

There won't be much that comes easy when Muir, defending champion Arcadia and 1997 champion Crescenta Valley combine for three pivotal matchups, starting Oct. 22.

``We seem to be pretty good one year and then so-so the next season,'' said Crescenta Valley coach Alan Eberhart, whose Falcons went 6-4 last year after their 10-0 regular season in '97. ``This should be an up year for us.''

Arcadia, 8-2 last year and defending champion, has the skill-position players to repeat. RB Quincy Williams and QB Mark Carroll (who can throw 70 yards in the air) enter their senior years as Division I prospects. Three-year starting TE/LB Michael O'Brien, OT Chester Wamboldt and WRs Anthony Freeman and Andy Liu are other key returnees.

The Apaches, however, must replace 14 starters and hope returning FB Brendan Bowman recovers from a knee injury.

Muir (4-5-1 last year with the league's toughest schedule) has experience, speed and its usual excellent defense, led by LB Antwan Ross, DBs Brian Knowles and Mark Russell, and linemen Tim Sylvester, Curtis Mays and Teron Brown.

``Defense will be our strength,'' Johnson said. ``It's been our focus since the first day of spring practice.''

Longtime Crescenta Valley fans won't recognize the traditionally run-oriented Falcons - not with junior QB Scott Vossmeyer passing early and often in an attack that features four wide receivers.

``We haven't had a big, strong-armed quarterback for a long time,'' Eberhart said of the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Vossmeyer. ``He fits the prototype. I'm convinced if he were a Hart quarterback he'd be able to throw for 3,000 yards.''

Vossmeyer, who has a standout target in WE Steve Carballo, will be protected by the league's biggest line, which includes OTs Donald Dorroh (6-6, 313) and Ryan Morris (6-5, 307).

Pasadena and Glendale will fight for fourth place. Coach Pete Smolin's Dynamiters will attempt to post Glendale's first winning season since 1992 and feature an exceptional player in junior RB/LB Dustin Nersesyan, a 215-pounder who runs 11.0 for 100 meters. Pasadena has more speed - new coach Frank Galvan says sophomore Daniel Nemhard is faster than brother Robert, a senior and league 100 champion. But the Bulldogs have lost Division I LB prospect Del Townes for the season after knee surgery.

Hoover has ability, with Manvel Meymarian leading a solid line, and a promising TE in converted DL Artin Fiterz (6-2, 250), but depth will again be a problem for coach Mark Bitetti's Tornadoes, who could suit as few as 23 players.

TOP FIVE RETURNING PLAYERS

Jonathan Clinkscales OT Muir 6-3, 265, 3.57 GPA, Div.I-bound

Manvel Meymarian OG Hoover 6-3, 265, Sr., HM all-league in '98

Dustin Nersesyan RB/LB Glendale Standout Jr. strong and fast

Scott Vossmeyer QB Crescenta Valley Best passer in CV history?

Quincy Williams RB Arcadia Game-breaker set for Sr. year

BIG GAMES

Oct. 22 Muir at Crescenta Valley First of three league showdowns

Oct. 29 Arcadia at Muir Outstanding talent, outstanding matchup

Nov. 12 Arcadia at Crescenta Valley Could determine league title

Nov. 12 Hoover at Glendale 75th meeting in oldest area rivalry

Nov. 12 Pasadena at Muir Turkey Tussle always a big game

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

70

The percentage Crescenta Valley coach Alan Eberhart predicts his formerly run-oriented Falcons will pass this season.

COACHES' POLL

Team Pts.

1. Arcadia 66

2. Muir 56

3. Crescenta Valley 56

4. Pasadena 38

5. Glendale 33

6. Hoover 21

The Coaches

Arcadia's Jon Dimalante

Fifth season, one league title

Muir's Erik Johnson

Fourth season, one title

Crescenta Valley's Alan Eberhart

Seventh season, one title

Pasadena's Frank Galvan

First season

Glendale's Pete Smolin

Third season, no titles

Hoover's Mark Bitetti

Second season, no titles

GRADING OUT

Team Overall Offense Defense Intangibles x

Muir 4 4 5 5

Cres.Valley 4 5 4 5

Arcadia 4 5 5 4

Pasadena 3 4 4 4

Glendale 3 4 4 4

Hoover 2 3 3 2

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.

EXTREMES

BIGGEST

Rich Boatwright, OL, Pasadena

FASTEST

Dustin Nersesyan, RB, Glendale

STRONGEST

Teron Brown, FB/DL, Muir

SMARTEST

Mike Puangmalai, DE/RB, Crescenta Valley

BEST ARM

Mark Carroll, QB, Arcadia

MOST EXCITING

Quincy Williams, RB, Arcadia

D-I BOUND

Brian Knowles, CB, Muir

WACKIEST

Clayton Ketchum, Crescenta Valley

``His job is to run down the hashmark on kickoff teams, and he will never get off that hashmark,'' coach Alan Eberhart said of the Falcons' returning special teams player of the year, who again is expected to be involved in his team's biggest collisions. ``He's a big boy who runs well and loves to hit.''

DID YOU KNOW?

Clay Matthews, who played 19 seasons in the NFL with Cleveland and Atlanta, played high school football at Arcadia from 1971-73.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos, 9 Boxes

Photo: (1) Muir is ranked No. 9 in L.A. by Cal Hi Sports, thanks in part to defensive lineman Teron Brown.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(2) VOSSMEYER

(3) KNOWLES

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)

(9) TEAM LOGS