Barons show balance in 2000

Mike Sciacca, Independent

More than anything else, Fountain Valley High football coach Eric

Johnson has emerged from summer ball mildly surprised.

As the second year coach peered into the possibilities for his team

during the 2000 prep football season, Johnson touted his defense as the

strength of the squad. He had several all-league performers returning and

other talent rising to fill the vacancies. He also saw potential in the

offense, but still, he figured, it had to find its legs.

The offense has, and it’s off and running.

“Yeah, what I originally thought was that our defense would be our

strong point this year, but our offense has really been coming along,”

Johnson said. “Their play has been a nice surprise, and I think a lot of

that progress is due to our offensive line. We’ve had good competition in

our practices.”

The 1999 season was Johnson’s first at the school, and Fountain Valley

finished 6-5 overall, finished in a three-way tie for second place in the

Sunset League, and then took eventual CIF Division I co-champion Long

Beach Poly to the final gun in a first round playoff loss.

Johnson has a solid nucleus back from that bunch, and if his

enthusiasm for his second go-round is to serve as any indication, the

Barons could expect for another strong showing as they look to give the

school its sixth consecutive winning season.

“I think we have a really solid team,” he said. “I could mention a lot

of guys as being a prime-time player, because we have a lot of talented

kids. There’s Pat Banford, a receiver who has speed and could be a deep

threat, and Eric Young, an outside linebacker who is great as a pass

rusher. Plus, we have a real good crop of juniors who figure to have a

big say this season.”

Fountain Valley’s offensive punch includes the return of junior

quarterback Casey Clark and a host of capable running backs that gives

the Barons an edge in the backfield.

Clark earned second team All-Sunset League status as a sophomore, and

is, says Johnson, a former Mater Dei assistant, “one of the toughest

quarterbacks I’ve ever been around. He goes right at the defense, and

isn’t afraid to take a hit.”

In addition, Clark also is a solid free safety and punter.

He started at all three positions last year.

The Barons backfield features the quickness of Channing Jung, which is

complimented by fullbacks Thomas Salue and Robert Chavez, and running

back Mike Kotler.

The holes up front will be provided by a strong offensive line

anchored by Greg Geil, Edward Fane (a transfer from Mater Dei), and

Travis “Taco” Kohl.

“We have a great offensive line, and a very strong one, at that,”

Johnson said. “Not only that, but a few of these guys are quick on their

feet.”

Not only that, but Clark’s receiving corps will include the team’s top

receiver from a year ago, Manuel Diaz, Chad Triplett, and a pair of tight

ends in Bernard Fano and Joey Flores.

Fano also stars at defensive end. Last year, he earned first team

All-Sunset League laurels by recording a team-best 11 sacks, a team-high

10 hurries, had 49 solo and nine assisted tackles, and caused two

fumbles.

Flores (6-3, 180) is part of an impressive junior group that also

includes cornerback Brian Daguio (5-8, 165), center/guard Julio Vega

(6-0, 265), and starting center Colby Dobson (6-1, 265).

What should be a strong defensive unit consists of Fano, Chavez,

Kotler, Triplett, Fane, Salue, Flores, and Daguio.

Last year, the Fountain Valley defense held four opponents to seven

points or less, including one shutout.

The highlight of a five-game nonleague schedule, which begins Friday

at Dana Hills, is a Sept. 16 game against defending L.A. City Section 4-A

Division champion Carson at Orange Coast College. Another potential key

game comes the following week at La Mirada.

The Sunset League race, Johnson says, should be a good one; but, he

figures one team stands out right now: “Edison looks like the team,”

Johnson said when asked to name a preseason league favorite. “(Darryl)

Poston’s a tough player. That game’s always the highlight of our

schedule.”

It’s still early, but mark your calendar now: the Barons (who own a

five-game win streak in the storied series) and Chargers square off Nov.

3 at Orange Coast College.