PREP FOOTBALL ’95 / VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE : Mid-Valley League : CITY SECTION

FACTS AND FIGURES: Monroe had the fourth-best offense among area City teams last season, averaging 300 yards. . . . North Hollywood junior running back Dante Clay, who averaged 7.1 yards a carry and scored 10 touchdowns last season, is the second-best runner in the league behind Price. . . . Grant last season passed for only 250 yards, the lowest total in the region. But senior Rigo Sanchez (6-1, 175), ineligible a year ago, could be the answer to the Lancers’ passing problems.

LAST YEAR: Monroe, which hadn’t been in the playoffs since the mid-1980s, was the only team from the league to earn a playoff berth. In the playoffs, the Vikings defeated Gardena, 35-6, before falling to Birmingham, 20-12. . . . Poly’s bright spot was back-to-back league victories over Grant and Monroe.

KEY RETURNERS: Grant: Oscar Gutierrez, linebacker/tight end; Lalo Torres, running back; Luis Webb, running back. Monroe: Aaron Arnold, quarterback; Kenyatta Burris, receiver/defensive back. Poly: Leaford Hackett, wide receiver.

OUTLOOK: Grant’s two-victory season doesn’t sit well with Coach Bill Foster, who said the Lancers will be more competitive. But if experience wins games, Monroe and North Hollywood--teams with plenty of experience in the skill positions--are the front-runners.

1994 IN REVIEW*--*

League Overall School W L T W L T Monroe 4 3 0 6 6 0 North Hollywood 3 4 0 3 7 0 Poly 2 5 0 2 8 0 Grant 1 6 0 2 7 1

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