SERVITE

1996 RECORD: 11-2 overall, 5-0 in league

COACH: Larry Toner (56-36-1 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 5 on offense, 6 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Brad Banga, DB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Jesse Day, OL/DL, 6-2, 300, Sr.; Shane Ellis, LB, 6-1, 240, Sr.; Ian Flynn, FS, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Ryan Garko QB, 6-2, 210, Jr.; Adrian Hinkley, LB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Nick Hergenreter, OL, 6-5, 275, Sr.; Vince Reed, FB/DB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; George Sanchez, RB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Josh Thrasher, C, 6-1, 240, Sr.; Keith Wingett, DL, 6-1, 245, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Greg Askew, WR, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Chad Bystedt, TE, 6-1, 185, So.; Matt DeLellis, WR, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Steve Grande, DL, 6-0, 225, Jr.; Tyrone Gribben, RB, 5-10, 205, Jr.; Jacob Moreno, LB, 5-10, 205, Jr.; Justin Veyna, DB/SE, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Doug Warren, FS, 5-10, 170, Sr.

OUTLOOK

No surprise here. Servite, second in Division V preseason polls, has not lost a league game since in three years and is expected to battle Tustin again for the league title, although it won’t waltz through the league schedule this season. Garko, who started at wide receiver in 1996, is being asked to fill a big pair of shoes. Greg Cicero passed for 3,078 yards and 30 touchdowns last year. What made that even more remarkable was that Cicero, now at Texas, played the final eight games of his senior year with a bad hand. Vince Reed was slowed by a separated shoulder midway through last season and he had to quit playing in the defensive secondary, which hurt Servite in the playoffs. The offensive line has size and experience in Day, Jumpe and Hergenreter. On defense, the Friars have two strong linebackers in Hinkley and Ellis.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 12 vs. Esperanza at Cal State Fullerton; 19 at Irvine; 26 vs. Santa Margarita at Cal State Fullerton.

Oct. 3 vs. Fountain Valley at Cal State Fullerton; 10 vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium; 16 at Westminster; 25 vs. Santa Ana at Cal State Fullerton.

Nov. 1 vs. Saddleback at Santa Ana Stadium; 7 vs. Tustin at Cal State Fullerton; 14 vs. Ocean View at Cal State Fullerton.