PREP FOOTBALL ’99 : EMPIRE LEAGUE : EL DORADO

1998 RECORD: 6-5 overall, 3-2 in league

COACH: Rick Jones (53-55 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 4 on offense, 2 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Danny Pierro, LB/FB, 5-11, 195, Sr.; Matt McConnell, FS/TE, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Eric Rarey, 6-0, 250, OL/DL, Sr.; Nick Zehner, RB, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Macky Bluth, OL, 6-4, 285, Sr.; Brad Roberts, C, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Erik Aguilar, LB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Bryce Nebeker, WR/LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Jake Jones, TE, 6-2, 205, Jr.; Dan Hanaumi, LB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Joe Turgeon, WR/DB, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Brian Zurhellen, QB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; John Guydon, DL/OL, 6-0, 245, Jr.

OUTLOOK

With only six returning starters, the Golden Hawks have a lot of unknowns. One thing is certain, however: Jones will have this team ready to play. Since taking over the Golden Hawks 11 years ago, Jones has turned the program into a perennial league title contender. Last year, El Dorado made the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year, a streak that includes league titles in 1996 and ’97. Jones lost 18 seniors to graduation, including the league’s defensive MVP, Tim Fairfield, but got a pleasant surprise by the 70-player turnout the first day of practice. Last year, there were only 50. “We don’t have a ton of Division I guys here,” Jones said. “But we are built on getting the maximum out of what we have.”

SCHEDULE

Sept. 10 vs. Canyon at Valencia HS; Sept. 17 at La Habra; Sept. 24 at Valencia; Sept. 30 at El Modena.

Oct. 8 vs. El Toro at Valencia HS; Oct. 15 vs. Katella at Glover Stadium; Oct. 22 vs. Kennedy at Valencia HS; Oct. 30 vs. Loara at Glover Stadium.

Nov. 5 vs. Cypress at Western HS; Nov. 12 vs. Century at Valencia HS.