TAKING A QUICK GLANCE AT WHAT LIES AHEAD THIS SEASON.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

Bound to happen this football season:

Hart High will open with a bang by upsetting St. Bonaventure of Ventura in the season opener, breaking a three-game series losing streak against the defending Southern Section Div. IV champion. The interesting thing is now St. Bonaventure is grouped with Foothill League teams in the new Northern Division, so perhaps these rivals will see each other again. If that happens, expect an exciting rematch that comes down to the wire.

Valencia High's ultra-fast Shane Vereen will score three touchdowns of 50 yards or longer in the same game -- one on rushing play, one on a pass and one on a return -- not sure if it will be a punt, kick or interception return.

Defending Div. II champion Canyon will be as strong as ever, and running back J.J. DiLuigi will have another huge season -- 43 TDs again? We shall see -- but the Cowboys will have some rough moments. After winning 22 of its past 23 nonleague games, Canyon has upgraded its schedule with the additions of annual powers St. Bonaventure and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, so it will difficult (to say the least) for the Cowboys to hold onto its No.1 ranking in California.

After getting trampled by Saugus' 300-pound offensive lineman Ramsen Golpashin, a Foothill League defender will be heard muttering the phrase: ``Did you get the license plate of that truck?''

As expected, Golden Valley will have its ups and downs, but the Grizzlies won't quit on new coach Steve Pinkston, an organized taskmaster who will provide much needed discipline to the struggling third-year program. At least the playing field will be leveled this year because Golden Valley has seniors for the first time, and the team conceivably could win four of five nonleague games. The Foothill League will much tougher, obviously, and if nothing else Golden Valley will build toward the future.

Those who work the barbecue pit at Canyon will go above and beyond the call of duty as far as halftime food goes. As for the rest, the Marmonte League will have us beat in the food department once again.

West Ranch sophomore quarterback Chad Kreuter, son of USC baseball coach and former Los Angeles Dodger Cade Kreuter, will prove he's more than just a baseball player. With help from talented running backs Joe Spell and Tyler O'Brien, West Ranch will be tougher than expected considering the freelance program features only juniors, sophomores and freshmen. In fact, West Ranch will win its first two games with upset road victories at Mojave and Pasadena.

Hart junior tailback Delano Howell will be the league's brightest new star, shaking off an injury-plagued first season by rushing for more than 1,500 yards and about 25 touchdowns.

With all the running and jumping they do, the league's cheerleaders will cope with nearly as many little aches and pains as the football players.

Keith Klemens will restore pride in Valencia's linebacking unit, which wasn't the same last year without graduated stars Anthony DeFilippo and Torrey O'Brien. The Vikings also will receive a big boost from receiver Sean Mulligan, who's primed for a breakout senior season. Mulligan is a younger brother of Casey Mulligan, a former Valencia baseball standout who's playing professionally in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Canyon quarterback Ben Longshore, a senior who's a starting quarterback for the first time, will make a good enough impression to earn a major-college scholarship, following in the footsteps of brothers Nate (Cal) and Nick (BYU).

And finally, anonymous message-board posters Hart Dad and oldschool26 will once again provide some of the Foothill League's most insightful observations.

Gerry Gittelson's column appears in the Daily News three times a week.

gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com

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