Coaches Expect Bay, Ocean League Grid Races to Go Down to the Wire

Coach knows best.

With teams preparing for the start of Bay League and Ocean League football action on Friday, it seemed like an appropriate time to ask coaches from each of the eight-team leagues to handicap the races.

What did the experts agree on? They expect close battles for championships in both leagues.

The consensus in the Bay League, which posted a 15-7 combined record in non-league play, is that six teams are capable of earning CIF playoff spots. That group is made up of Leuzinger (3-0), Beverly Hills (3-0), Palos Verdes (3-0), Hawthorne (2-1), Rolling Hills (2-1) and Santa Monica (1-1).

As for the favorite, here’s what some of the coaches had to say:

Bill Stansbury, Beverly Hills--”I’ve been here since 1972, and this looks like the toughest league from top to bottom that we’ve had. Santa Monica and Hawthorne are the favorites, but look out for Leuzinger. Leuzinger appears to be playing best right now. Their depth may be a real factor.”

Goy Casillas, Hawthorne--”It’s going to be a real dogfight. I picked Santa Monica because they have a big offensive line and always have good athletes. But Leuzinger and Beverly Hills look good. Every week you’re going to have to be on your toes or you’re going to get knocked off. If you lose one or two, I think you’re still going to have a chance for the league championship.”

Bill Judy, Palos Verdes--”From the looks of things, it could be Leuzinger. I’d have to look at Leuzinger and Santa Monica as the co-favorites. And I think Hawthorne could beat either of them on a given day if (quarterback Curtis) Conway gets loose. If you make the playoffs from this league, you’ve really done something.”

Gary Kimbrell, Rolling Hills--”The league looks every bit as tough as I anticipated, maybe tougher. I’d have to put Leuzinger at the top. I picked them third at the beginning (of the season), but deep down I felt like they would be up there. They have good kids and I don’t think they rely solely on one individual.”

The Ocean League hasn’t enjoyed the success of the Bay League in early games. The eight teams have a combined record of 6-17 and three teams--Mira Costa (0-3), Redondo (0-3) and Morningside (0-2)--have yet to win, although Morningside is considered a strong club based on close losses to Hawthorne, 14-0, and Leuzinger, 17-12.

Nonetheless, look for the Ocean League to provide one of the South Bay’s most competitive races. The coaches say it’s wide open.

North Torrance (1-2), Morningside (0-2), West Torrance (1-2) and South Torrance (1-2) were the schools mentioned most as favorites.

In more detail, here’s what some of the coaches think:

John Black, West Torrance--”The league is going to be a tossup. It’s a battle all the way down. I’d say right now that North has the most talent. We picked North and Morningside 1-2. After that, it’s just a run with South and us and other schools.”

Don Bohannon, North Torrance--”If you look at the league’s record, it’s not all that great. I think overall the league is down, but there are some good teams. By no means is this going to be easy. Culver City has the best record, but they just got killed (48-0 to Los Alamitos). I see it as a mess. You won’t know for a couple of weeks who will step up and take charge of this thing.”

Ron Tatum, Morningside--”It seems like there’s a lot of parity in the league. There are at least three or four teams that could win the championship. I’d rate the favorites as North, South, West and Morningside.”

Joe Austin, South Torrance--”I think it’s an even league. It’s up for grabs. I’m worried about Morningside. They play everybody tough. North is coming back, and West looks like they may be back. We open with Redondo, and they look tough.”

Bishop Montgomery (3-0), which is off to one of its best starts in recent years, set a school record last week in a 31-14 win over South Torrance when three players rushed for more than 100 yards.

Lee Geans, starting his first game at fullback, rushed for 161 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries; quarterback Scott Altenberg rushed for 126 yards and two TDs on 12 carries and tailback Richard Jones had 123 yards and one TD on 13 carries.

In all, the Knights rushed for 410 yards on 43 carries, a 9.5-yard average and nearly a first down per carry. They play host to Pius X of Downey at 7:30 Friday night.

Miraleste might have the most one-dimensional offense among football teams in the South Bay.

The Marauders (2-0), ranked No. 10 in the CIF Division IX poll, have gained 568 yards rushing and only 58 passing. Running back Ruben Pulido, playing his first game, gained 109 yards and scored two touchdowns on 16 carries Saturday to lead Miraleste over Maranatha, 34-14.

After playing two small schools, Miraleste takes a step up in competition Friday night when it visits St. Bernard (1-2) for a non-league game.

Here’s a strange one: Leuzinger, which was ranked No. 7 in last week’s CIF Division II football poll, dropped out of the top 10 despite improving to 3-0 with a 17-12 victory over Morningside.

Apparently most sportswriters don’t believe the Olympians have played enough tough opponents, because there are seven teams in the top 10 with losses.

Leuzinger’s Bay League opener isn’t likely to impress anyone, either. The Olympians face 0-2 Inglewood.

Banning (2-1) and Carson (2-1) will open play in the L.A. City Section’s Conference 2 on Friday night with games against area teams.

Banning, coming off an impressive 41-21 victory over Muir, visits Gardena (1-2), which has been shut out in its last two outings. Carson, which barely got past Lynwood, 17-15, last week, meets San Pedro (2-1) at Harbor College.

Both games are set for 8 p.m. kickoffs.

PREP NOTES--Mira Costa, ranked No. 1 in the CIF 4-A girls volleyball coaches poll, will compete in the prestigious San Marcos High Tournament of Champions in Santa Barbara on Saturday. Among the teams entered is defending state Division I champion Irvine, which won the Orange County Tournament last week.