PALMDALE HOPES FOR A TURNAROUND FALCONS HAVE TALENT BUT NOT TRACK RECORD.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer PALMDALE High enjoyed a terrific summer, winning four passing-league competitions. But don't blame the Falcons for not making a big deal about it. Last year, they were favored to win the Golden League before stumbling to a 2-8 record, so they're cautiously optimistic. But things should be different. Terry Furlow is a key after passing for 946 yards and five TDs in an injury-plagued junior season. He has a gifted WR in Tyrone Culver Tyrone Culver (born July 6, 1983 in Palmdale, California) is a professional American football player who is currently on the Injured Reserve list for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. , who caught just 11 passes last year, when his main responsibility was DB. Also a top baseball player, Culver is one of the Golden League's premier athletes, and he should enjoy a breakout season. Derek Hagen, a RB/WR, emerged during the summer. ``Right now we're looking very good,'' assistant coach John Prenice said. ``Our passing completion ratio during the summer was very, very high.'' Tight end transfer Ryan Haynes, Vasquez's leading receiver with 14 catches last season, is an impact player. Defensive back Bobby Bynum, K Matt Valentino and LB Donald Powers also should help. HIGHLAND (8-4), coming off its best season since 1996, has a lot of new faces. Kicker Jose Duarte May refer to:
The Antelope Valley , have kicked more field goals in one year. ``I really think this is going to be my best season,'' Duarte said. ``I think having someone who can kick field goals is a good weapon, and I want to get out there and show what I can do.'' Highland should thrive with a hard-hitting defense, led by LB Greg Root, DB Marcus Demps Marcus Demps (born August 19, 1983 in Minot, North Dakota) is an African American and Korean football safety most recently for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He attended San Diego State University. He is the younger brother of New York Giants safety Will Demps. and DLs Sean Struhl and Jacob Buckholter. Root, a 6-2, 245-pounder, is also a top track and field shotputter. Coach Lin Parker is hoping Root can step in for departed league MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. Paul Soto, now at Oregon. Demps, brother of former Highland standout Will Demps William Henry Demps, Jr. (born November 7 1979) is an American football player who is currently a member of the Houston Texans in the National Football League. He plays the free safety position and wears the number 47. (San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. State), is among the fastest players in the league. Struhl stood out in summer passing league, and Buckholter was named All-Golden as a sophomore last season. ANTELOPE VALLEY (4-7) has skill-position speed and plenty of muscle up front, a formula that's usually successful in the grind-it-out Golden League. The Antelopes need a big performance from option quarterback Demetre Booker, an athletic three-year starter who led the team in rushing (789 yards, five TDs) and passing (578 yards, seven TDs). ``As a team we're going to be as good as Demetre Booker,'' offensive coordinator An offensive coordinator typically refers to the coach on a football team in the National Football League or College football who is in charge of the offense. This position aids the head coach by designing and scripting plays, delegating work to offensive position coaches during Brandon Newcomb said. ``We're hanging our hat on Demetre.'' Jon King Jon King is the name of:
Raymond Allston and Jerome Mitchell are the top RBs. Allston (5-10, 185) ran a wind-aided 4.27 40-yard dash at the recent High Desert combine, and he's a dangerous punt returner Punt returner (PR) is a position on special teams in American football. Description The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position (or a touchdown if possible) by returning it. . Mitchell (5-8, 160) is newcomer who made a JV splash last year. Sean Wallace is a 245-pound sophomore fullback. The mood at LITTLEROCK (6-5) is somber to say the least. Its top two returning players, LB Marcus Raines and QB Richard Newton Richard Newton (1777 – 1798) was an English caricaturist. Short lived but brilliant British Caricaturist. He published his first caricature at 13. Pioneer of the strip form of cartoon. , are both incarcerated incarcerated /in·car·cer·at·ed/ (in-kahr´ser-at?ed) imprisoned; constricted; subjected to incarceration. in·car·cer·at·ed adj. Confined or trapped, as a hernia. on murder charges after allegedly beating to death a fellow teen-ager at a party in May. Raines was a first-team All-Daily News selection after leading the region with 190 tackles last year. Newton, a two-year starter, had led the Lobos to consecutive playoff appearances. ``It happened right in the middle of spring practice, and in terms of football it was like having a death in our family,'' coach Jim Bauer said. ``We went through all the stages of denial and anger, then after two or three days we said, `Hey, those guys are gone but we still have to play 10 football games.' So we rolled up our sleeves and I think the whole thing kind of brought our kids together.'' Running back John Ford is the X factor. Littlerock has continually churned out quality running backs since the program was founded in 1989, but Ford might have the most raw talent. The 6-1, 195-pound junior is blazing fast - Bauer said he runs a 4.3 40-yard dash - and he benches 305 pounds. ``John Ford's a legitimate D-I prospect,'' Bauer said. ``He's got all the tools and all the potential in the world.'' Ford rushed for 270 yards (6.8 avg.) and two TDs as a backup last season. Maurice Johnson, an all-league DB, is the top defensive player. Other top defenders are LB Colt Hunter and DL Ricardo De La Rosa De La Rosa is a surname in the Spanish language meaning of the Rose
LANCASTER (4-7) returns most of its best players, notably RB/DB Tony Ortiz Tony Ortiz is a sports reporter for WXYT radio in Detroit, MI. In 1986, Ortiz began his radio career as an intern at WXYT. After gaining a paid position with the station, he worked as a producer for Michigan State basketball and football. , so new coach Troy Jackson might orchestrate a turnaround. Ortiz (5-8, 175) rushed for 1,179 yards, scored nine TDs and came through with some big plays on defense last year. Quarterback Josh Pratt (6-1, 180) threw for only 326 yards and two TDs, but his leading receiver, Dustin Stowe, returns, and Jackson plans to pass more often. Junior DL Drew Adams (6-3, 215) started five games last year before breaking his collarbone col·lar·bone n. See clavicle. . Jesse Gonzalez (5-9, 220) should help. QUARTZ HILL (3-10) should continue to improve under second-year coach Pat Degnan. Running back Derrick Teal (5-7, 190) and OL Joey Doherty (6-0, 245) are the top returnees. Teal (733 yards, 10 TDs) added muscle during the offseason and also increased his speed. CAPTION(S): 3 photos, 8 boxes Photo: (1) John Ford is the fastest player in the Golden League. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer (2) BOOKER (3) DE LA ROSA Box: (1) Top Five Returning Players (2) Big Games (3) Inside the Numbers (4) Extremes (5) Grading Out (6) Coaches (7) Did you Know? (8) 1999 Standings |
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