Avocado Football Preview : Several Teams in Balanced League Appear Capable of Title Contention

The Avocado League lost its bully when defending section 2-A champion Rancho Buena Vista moved up to the Palomar League, but it still has a number of talented teams. And most coaches say that the loss of RBV will be a gain.

Last year, RBV outscored league opponents, 279-111.

“I don’t think Rancho belonged in our league to begin with,” Ramona Coach Mel Galli said. “I think it’s great that they’re gone. I always thought it would be more fun for them if they were in another league.”

And obviously more fun for the other Avocado teams.

“I think (RBV’s departure) will balance it out a little bit more,” San Marcos Coach Ken Broach said. “It should bring more parity.”

RBV’s dominance notwithstanding, it would be hard for the Avocado to achieve more parity than last year, when six of its eight teams finished the season over .500 and four reached the 2-A semifinals.

It appears this year could be much of the same. Oceanside, El Camino, San Pasqual and Ramona should all be in the hunt for the 2-A title.

THE RACE Top contenders: Oceanside (9-4) and El Camino (8-3).

Surprise potential: Ramona (6-4), Carlsbad (6-3-1) and San Pasqual (6-4).

Hoping for improvement: Escondido (0-9), and San Marcos (2-7).

Game of the year: El Camino at Oceanside, Sept. 29, the league opener. The two league favorites have split the past four meetings, with El Camino winning last year, 24-14.

THE PLAYERS The man: Oceanside’s Sale Asaia (6-7, 270) seems a cross between Anthony Munoz and Tony Mandarich. With the probable ineligibility of quarterback Jerry Garrett and the possible ineligibility of halfback Terry Vaughn, Asaia is important to Oceanside’s title hopes.

First-year Coach John Carroll will play Asaia where he can do the most damage--at defensive end and offensive tackle.

“He’s quick, agile, runs well, is smart and is a great leader,” Carroll said.

Oceanside opponents will not be able to key entirely on Asaia either; Pulu Poumele (6-4, 245) will play opposite him at the other defensive end and offensive tackle spots.

Who will fill Andy Loveland’s shoes? The first team all-league and second-team all-CIF quarterback led San Pasqual to San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium for the section final two consecutive years but has moved on to Colorado State.

John Ramirez, who played some last year, will be asked to replace Loveland but will not be given the same responsibilities.

“Andy ran and threw the ball better than anybody,” San Pasqual Coach Mike Dolan said. “This year, though, we will probably run the ball about 75% of the time. John will have to be a great ball-handler and decision-maker for us.”

Junior fullback Cullen Owen, the MVP of San Pasqual’s junior varsity last year, will be asked to carry much of the running burden.

Others to watch on offense: If eligible, Vaughn could be the most exciting newcomer. Vaughn has moved back to the district after a year in South Carolina. CIF Commissioner Kendall Webb said he will rule on Vaughn’s eligibility within a week.

“He’s the best ballplayer I’ve ever coached,” Carroll said. “The guy can cut at full speed laterally.”

El Camino scatback Brian Madlangbayan is only a junior but already one of the more feared backs in the league. Dolan describes him as a “water bug.”

“We just couldn’t catch him last year,” Dolan said.

Oceanside fullback Butkus Tuitasi will also be someone to watch, especially if Vaughn is ruled ineligible.

San Pasqual’s all-league tackle Lee Johnston (6-1, 262), a two-year starter, is expected to give Owen some large holes to run through.

Carlsbad’s Jesse Medina (6-2, 190) who started the last half of the 1988 season as a junior, should be one of the finer quarterbacks. Carlsbad Coach Rick Brown said of Medina, who threw for 205 yards in his first game: “He throws a very good football, runs well and is a good leader.”

Others to watch on defense: El Camino defensive back Rick Spears may be the best all-around player in the league. Coach Herb Meyer said Spears (6-1, 180) could wind up playing about anywhere this year.

“He’ll play wherever he can do the most damage to whomever we’re playing,” Meyer said.

Although Spears was a first-team all-league outside linebacker in ‘88, Meyer said he would start the season at strong safety.

“He was too quick and too strong for most people we play.”

Spears will be joined by two other returning all-league players in defensive back Jerry Avery and nose tackle Peau Atoe (6-0, 225).

Of Atoe, Meyer said: “We expect him to plug up the holes in the middle and make guys double-team him. We didn’t play anybody last year who could handle him one-on-one.”

THE INTANGIBLES The Garrett factor: Just how much will Oceanside miss quarterback Jerry Garrett, and will he really be gone? Carroll isn’t talking about the player whom most league coaches said could have been the dominant player in the league this year. Carroll said Garrett is not practicing with the team, but would not elaborate.

Kendall Webb said Garrett would be eligible if he passed a summer school course. But Webb said Thursday he has not heard from Garrett.

Replacing Garrett in Carroll’s new “run-and-shoot” offense would be junior Saul Gutierrez.

Where’s the beef? According to the league’s coaches, most of it’s on Ramona’s offensive and defensive lines. “Their smallest guy is 6-4, 220,” Dolan said. “I think their line is bigger than everybody in the county, including the Chargers. I think they got them right off the farm. I hope they send them back.”

Ramona Coach Mel Galli’s line measurements read: tackle Adam Klukoski (6-6, 270); guard Jason Emerich (6-6, 270); center Mike Murray (6-1, 245); guard Bobby Ballantine (5-11, 195); tackle Brandon Dipietro (6-1, 225) and tight end Roger Simpson (6-1, 205).

“I’ve never had this many big guys in all my coaching career added up,” Galli said.

The beef brothers’ major shortcoming is lack of experience--only Dipietro is a returning starter.

And you thought Doug Flutie was too small to play quarterback: Joe Malek, who stands 5-4, will be the starting quarterback for El Camino. In what has to be the biggest understatement of the preseason, Meyer said, “His size limits his ability to see things.”

Still, Meyer said he is confident Malek can do the job.

“I can’t ever remember coaching any quarterback under 5-7, but he’s a good athlete, and he had a great summer passing the ball. But we’re going to have to get him in a position to throw the ball.”

San Marcos junior quarterback Lance Gallegos (5-6, 150) is not exactly a tree either.

“He has good speed and a good athletic sense,” San Marcos Coach Ken Broach said. “He seems to make things happen.”

SATURDAY: The Grossmont leagues.