JUNIOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIMER : The Best and Brightest That ’90 Has to Offer

There is no place for the armchair quarterback in junior college football. While college and pro football games will invade living rooms electronically throughout the fall, Valley-area junior colleges will play in front of gatherings that could fit in a living room.

The only way to see these teams--and with three in the state Top 20 and some lively rivalries, they are worth seeing--is to head out to their games.

So, consider this a “bleacher-seat” quarterback’s guide to the best, biggest and brightest of the upcoming junior college season.

BEST THREE PLAYERS

1. Freddie Bradley, Moorpark--The most feared Freddy this side of Elm Street, Bradley ranks as one of the best in the country. A second-team All-American tailback who led the nation in scoring, Bradley is the team’s fastest player.

2. Sam Edwards, Valley--After being suspended from the University of Arizona for disciplinary reasons in the spring of 1989, Edwards earned honors as the Western State Conference Southern Division Defensive Player of the Year last season. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound defensive back led WSC players with eight interceptions during the regular season and is considered a Division I prospect.

3. Trendell Williams, Valley--The quarterback’s statistics (66 of 140 for 1,107 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season) were far from dazzling, and his team failed to win the division title, yet Williams was named the Southern Division’s Offensive Player of the Year last season. Williams, a fleet and mobile quarterback, will operate behind an experienced and talented offensive line.

Other standouts--Lamark Allen, Valley defensive back; Wes Bender, Glendale fullback; Carl Brewer, Ventura offensive lineman; Marcus Bridges, Valley wide receiver; Shannon Culver, Pierce wide receiver; Tony Esposito, Valley punter; Keith Franklin, Glendale defensive back; Jamie Grossman, Pierce quarterback; Chris Thomas, Ventura wide receiver; David Walker, Pierce defensive lineman.

TOP NEWCOMERS

1. Johnel Turner, Moorpark--A quarterback at Oxnard High, Turner will play running back. Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner says that when Bradley and Turner are in the backfield, “people are going to wonder which one is Bradley.” Linebacker Bryant Taylor, Turner’s Oxnard teammate and fellow Moorpark recruit, would be No. 1A on this list but he is not playing yet because of high blood pressure.

2. John Johnson, Antelope Valley--An All-Golden League receiver and defensive back at Palmdale High, Johnson signed a letter of intent with Washington State but failed to meet NCAA Proposition 48 requirements. Johnson (6-2, 190 pounds) had 16 receptions for 388 yards (24.3 average) and four touchdowns as a senior at Palmdale.

3. Jamal Anderson, Moorpark--A Times All-Valley selection at linebacker, Anderson will play fullback. Anderson rushed for a school-record 1,153 yards and averaged 6.9 yards last season at El Camino Real High.

4. LaShante Parker, Pierce--As a Palmdale High senior, Parker, a tailback, gained 1,077 yards in 201 carries (5.36 average) and scored 12 touchdowns to earn All-Golden League honors. He should add much-needed depth to Pierce’s running game.

BEST DEFENSE

Moorpark shut out five opponents last season, and if the talent is down this season, the system remains. Several defensive backs returned from a defense that allowed only 82 points in the regular season and ranked sixth nationally in yardage allowed.

BEST OFFENSE

Moorpark is deep at running back and has capable quarterbacks in Del Marine and Kris Dutra and talented receivers in wideouts Peter Marine and Matt Young and tight end Tremmel Hamm. An inexperienced line will have to develop.

BEST NAMES

Cash Achziger, Antelope Valley running back; Marco Arcipreste, Glendale quarterback; Anania Hufanga, Pierce linebacker; Curlee Kirkpatrick, Glendale running back; Collis Seale-McConnie, Ventura running back; Antone Wuester, Antelope Valley running back.

HOW AREA TEAMS RANK

1. Moorpark (9-2 last season); 2. Glendale (5-4-1); 3. Valley (5-5-1); 4. Ventura (7-4); 5. Antelope Valley (3-6-1); 6. Pierce (4-6).

HOW WSC TEAMS RANK

1. Bakersfield (7-0-2 in conference last season); 2. Moorpark (8-1); 3. Glendale (5-3-1); 4. Valley (5-4); 5. L. A. Southwest (6-2-1); 6. Ventura (6-3); 7. Santa Barbara (5-4); 8. Pierce (3-6); 9. Santa Monica (4-5); 10. L. A. Harbor (2-7); 11. Compton (1-8); 12. West L. A (0-9).

GAMES TO WATCH

Oct. 6--Valley at Glendale, 1 p.m.--A matchup of two of the best teams from their respective WSC divisions, Valley (Southern) and Glendale (Northern).

Oct. 13-- Moorpark at Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.--Should decide the WSC overall championship.

Oct. 27--Antelope Valley at Desert, 7 p.m.--Game between defending Foothill Conference champion Desert and perennial power Antelope Valley might determine conference championship.

Nov. 10--Pierce at Valley, 7:30 p.m.--The winner owns the San Fernando Valley and the bell, the game’s trophy.

Nov. 17--Ventura at Moorpark, 7:30 p.m.--The battle of Ventura County.

RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing--Bradley, 1,266 yards in 201 carries.

Passing (yardage)--Grossman, 135 of 260 for 1,825 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Receiving (receptions)--Culver, 35 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns.

Punting--Esposito, 34 punts for 1,378 yards, a 40.5 average.

Scoring--Bradley, 23 touchdowns for 138 points.

Interceptions--Edwards, eight.

COACHES’ RECORDS

Bittner (Moorpark, 1978-current), 67-53.

Brent Carder (Antelope Valley, 1970-current), 111-86-4, 11th nationally in victories among active coaches.

John Cicuto (Glendale, 1989-current), 5-4-1.

Bob Enger (Pierce, 1988-current), 5-15.

Chuck Ferrero (Valley, 1980-current), 50-48-1.

Dick James (Ventura, 1970-1979), 58-40.

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE

James returns after several years at Stanford, and his team’s schedule virtually qualifies Ventura as an honorary member of the Pacific 10 Conference. Ventura will play three teams ranked among the top six in the state in the JC Athletic Bureau poll: No. 1 El Camino, No. 2 Bakersfield and No. 6 Moorpark. Ventura also will play No. 13 L. A. Southwest and No. 19 Glendale.

FRESHMAN SURPRISE

Brant Messer, Ventura--A transfer from Hancock College, Messer will start at right defensive tackle. His teammates call him “Hacksaw,” and he is said to bench-press 490 pounds.

SOPHOMORE SURPRISE

Peter Marine, Moorpark--The Raiders always have a balanced offense, but Marine, a wide receiver, could catch a lot of passes.

TEAM SURPRISE

Pierce--With quarterback Grossman, receiver Culver and running back Louis Vann returning, Pierce should have a potent offense. The question is how much has its defense--which gave up 30.2 points a game last season--improved. If Pierce can limit its opponents to an average of 20 to 23 points a game, the Brahmas could add two or three victories to last year’s total.

TALLEST PLAYER

David Lammano, 6-foot-9, Ventura offensive lineman.

SHORTEST PLAYER

Reggie Weber, 5-foot-5, Ventura running back.

HEAVIEST PLAYERS

Darrin Mitchell, 327, Ventura offensive lineman; Jesse Cartwright, 325, Antelope Valley offensive lineman.

LIGHTEST PLAYERS

Brandon Chretien, 140, Valley wide receiver; Chad Dobar, 140, Valley defensive back.

LARGEST AND SMALLEST LINES

Antelope Valley’s offensive line is the heaviest at 275 pounds per man; Valley’s offensive line averages 263 pounds.

Pierce averages 256 across the defensive front, Antelope Valley is a little thinner at 229 per man.

BEST PLACE TO WATCH A GAME

Moorpark has added lights, making Griffin Stadium a nice place to spend an evening.