PARITY'S APPARENT THIS YEAR.

Byline: Gary Washburn

A year more interesting than most because there are so many unanswered questions.

Who's No. 1? is the first to come to mind. It certainly isn't Sylmar.

Don't be so cynical. The preseason No. 1 pick is based merely on how a team looks on paper. This Sylmar team - with or without Jeff Engilman - had some real strengths. It still does, although it showed none of those against Taft.

Its 30-6 loss opened up an opportunity for several area teams to snatch the label as the area's best team.

But which one?

In years past, opinions varied on the area's best team, but you could always name at least one team. It was the one with the Division I prospect, the top notch running back, the big, strong quarterback or the unstoppable offense.

This year, I'm stumped. Westlake is our No. 1 team this week. My reservations about a Marmonte League team being our best are numerous.

Nothing against Westlake. It is perennially one of the best teams in the area each year. But never the best. Put it on the field with Newbury Park and who would win? It's a toss-up. Put them at College of the Canyons against Hart next week and you'd take Hart and the points.

Can Jim Benkert's team stand up to the pressure of being No. 1? There's no Billy Miller or Jamal Harris. The chances are shaky.

However, the ground is no more solid for some other teams. For the first time in recent memory, the San Fernando Valley lacks a true football superstar. Durell Price, Ted Iacenda and Jermaine Lewis were the standouts last year. Miller, Jerry Brown and Chris Sailer were the stars of '94. We can keep reaching back for more in previous years.

This year, no standout. The closest is North Hollywood's Dante Clay, a fine runner, but until he leads his team deep into the playoffs, it's difficult to label him a true star. But he's close.

Otherwise, the market is thin. The area is filled with unproven youngsters waiting for the opportunity to help their teams win.

That's what makes this year so interesting. No dominator, and more opportunity for new kids and new teams to emerge.

LaRon Buckner at Chatsworth, Steve Hoo at Chaminade, Devon Reese from Littlerock, Damon Coleman at Taft are all potential superstars just waiting for their moment to prove it. Having no truly powerful teams allows them this chance.

Although 65 miles from where a majority of our ranked teams congregate, either Antelope Valley or Quartz Hill could also be the best team.

Antelope Valley's high ranking is understandable, but don't underestimate Quartz Hill. If football games were won on toughness, the Rebels would be undefeated. Jacob Waasdorp, who tried to show he's a Division I talent to area doubters, has one more believer after seeing him run though Kennedy. The Cougars couldn't even bring him down with leg tackles.

The great thing is that each of these teams has an opportunity to rise above the others. Antelope Valley and Quartz Hill meet on Nov. 15 to end the regular season. Hart plays Westlake, Loyola and then Saugus to determine the Foothill League champion.

At Thousand Oaks, the Lancers are strangely ranked No. 1 in Division III and unranked by the Daily News. It's the same team, correct? Somebody's wrong and the Lancers have games against Hart (tonight), Newbury Park and Westlake in which to prove the Daily News wrong.

Also awaiting are Notre Dame, Newbury Park, Taft, Kennedy and a host of other unranked squads.

The uncertainty has to excite you. Your traditionally powerful team doesn't appear as strong. A usual league also-ran romped in an impressive opener. That's what football and sports in general is all about, the ability to make the unlikely a reality.

The 55 area teams, even those with a loss on their record, are counting the minutes until opening kickoff. And those budding stars, never exposed to publicity or victory, are ready to burst on the scene.

The beauty of this football season is parity. Come December, we'll see new stars, big upsets and hopefully some champions.

MEMO: Gary Washburn's column appears weekly in Gameday.