PREP FOOTBALL ’91 : EMPIRE LEAGUE : Cypress

1990 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 3-7 1-4

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL John Selbe 15-32-3

RETURNING STARTERS OFF DEF 4 4

TOP RETURNERS OFF DEF YR Shadi Badawiya 5-11, 170 WR DB Sr. Paul Daerr, 5-9, 175 WR DB Sr. Shafee E-Amini 5-10, 190 RB DL Sr. Gabriel Garcia, 6-1, 185 QB -- Sr. Stephen Leslie 5-10, 165 RB DB Sr. Casey Nomura, 6-1, 175 RB DB Sr. Kevin Smith, 6-3, 190 OL DL Sr. John Teutimez, 5-7, 150 WR -- Sr. Ralph Williams, 6-1, 190 OL LB Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS OFF DEF YR Bryan Ashton, 6-0, 210 OL DL Sr. Josh Hollar, 6-1, 200 RB LB Jr. Aaron Martinez, 5-9, 170 RB DB Jr. Trent Senter, 6-0, 210 OL LB Jr. Josh Willard, 5-9, 150 RB DB Jr.

OUTLOOK

Most of the current seniors were in second grade when Cypress last made the playoffs. That’s an awfully long drought, but it figures to continue this season despite the efforts of Selbe, who is in his sixth season. A quick scan at the heights and weights gives one a hint why the Centurions won’t be a factor in the league race this year. Cypress simply doesn’t have enough big players to measure up against the giants from Esperanza, Loara or Los Alamitos. That doesn’t mean the Centurions don’t have good players. Garcia earned the starting quarterback spot in the spring of 1990 and threw for 1,509 yards, completing better than 50% of his passes in the fall. Teutimez will replace the graduated Youssef Semaan as Garcia’s favorite target. Smith is the Centurions’ only returning all-league player, but he’s a good one.