San Diego U-T Preps

BONITA VISTA

Last year: 5-6

Coach: Chris Thompson, 3rd year

Division: III

Key players: Anthony Posada (QB), Chris Boguille (RB), Gabe Melhorn (OL-DL), Ethan Williams (WR-CB), Atoa Fox (DB), Daniel Kemp (DL), Quentin Harrison (WR-FS), Luis Pena (LB), Aaron Diehl (LB), Greg Bell (RB).

Scouting report: Thompson added three more wins and a playoff berth last year and has 18 lettermen plus some key newcomers. Not only is two-year starter Posada back at quarterback, where he completed almost 60 percent of his passes for 1,349 yards and 11 TDs, but leading rusher Boguille (526 yards) will team with Bell to form a first-rate backfield. Leading receiver Williams averaged better than 15 yards a catch. Up front, all-leaguers Melhorn (6-3, 205) and Kemp (6-0, 215) anchor the two lines, where five big veterans will be joined by the likes of sophomore Diego Vasquez (6-5, 275) and DE Diego Torrez (6-2, 220). The Barons could be a title contender in Division III.

CHULA VISTA

Last year: 2-8

Coach: Daryl Butterfield, 1st year

Division: III

Key players: Joseph Espinoza (OL-DL), Jesus Araujo (OL-DL), Sergio Figueroa (RB-LB), Emiliano Orozco (QB-DB), Yuske Titmus (OL-LB), Gabriel Munoz (RB-LB), Joseph Arce (TE-DL), Gabriel McPherren (RB-LB), Jonathan Zamudio (TE-DL), Adrian Corona (RB-DB).

Scouting report: Butterfield will take over a program that sagged to 2-8 last season. Only six starters return, led by all-league lineman Araujo, a 5-11, 258-pounder who starts both ways. Orozco is a quality defensive back, but he comes into the season as the team’s quarterback with junior Paul Escobar right behind. A quality group of running backs is led by Munoz, Figueroa and McPherren and newcomer Corona. Jose Nava (6-1, 250) and Alfredo Contreras (6-0, 270) are expected to give the line some help. The key will be for the Spartans to get off to a good start and stay healthy.

EASTLAKE

Last year: 7-4

Coach: Lee Price, 2nd year

Division: I

Key players: Traylon Reed (RB-DB), Nathaniel Sweat (LB-RB), Estevan Marron (OL-DL), Buzz Akerlund (LB-OL), Josh Olave DB-RB), Izzack Morales (QB-DB), Greg Raby (DL-OL), Kaleb Dueitt (RB-LB), William Dunkle (OL-DL), Christian Olave (DB-WR).

Scouting report: One thing you can always count on in the Metro Conference — Eastlake will be strong in football. No reason to change that thought as seven quality starters return, led by Reed, who ran for 598 yards despite playing on a team with a 1,600-yard rusher. Morales returns at QB, but the Titans don’t throw much and that doesn’t figure to change with no shortage of good-size backups for Reed. The line will be anchored by Marron, a two-way standout at 6-2, 310 pounds, while William Dunkle, a 6-3, 305-pound sophomore, should contribute immediately. The defense figures to be well-advanced behind first team all-leaguers Sweat at linebacker and Olave at DB. Schedule is brutal.

OLYMPIAN

Last year: 4-7

Coach: Paul Van Nostrand, 3rd year

Division: I

Key players: Garry Cannon (QB), Dominic Gudino (OL), Noah Lacsina (RB-LB), Jerome Hoover (OL-DL), Israel DeLeon (DL), Brandon Ridgels (DB), Jorge Lazo (LB), Antonio Riggens (LB-TE), Paul Thompson (DB-WR), Colin Andrews (DB-WR).

Scouting report: A year of experience should work wonders for Cannon, who was good enough to earn all-league first-team honors a year ago when he passed for 872 yards and ran for another 704, accounting for 15 touchdowns. The 6-1, 185-pounder will be well-protected by the likes of Gudino (6-2, 290), Hoover (6-3, 250) and DeLeon (6-0, 260) as well as newcomer Jason Miller (6-3, 270). Lacsina rushed for 552 yards and will be the go-to back though the team is loaded with candidates there. Andrews and Thompson are a pair of 6-3 wide receivers who might even be better on the other side of the ball as safeties. Lots of help will be coming from a 9-1 junior varsity team. There are some spots where the returning vets are a bit thin, forcing players like linebackers Lacsina and Riggens to play both ways for a while.

OTAY RANCH

Last year: 6-5

Coach: Lance Christensen, 2nd year

Division: II

Key players: Sam Stephens (DB-RB), Adrian Rodriguez (WR-DB), Sergio Ayon (LB-FB), Devin Lloyd (WR-DB), Ennovy Halton (TE), Hector Gonzalez (TE-DL), Tyshawn Cook (DB), Alladin Delapa (DL), Manuel Alvarez (OL), Nico Flores (OL).

Scouting report: Lots of questions on offense and lot of beef up front for the Mustangs. Oscar Limon and Arturo Saenz split duties at QB and are still battling heading into the opener. But whoever emerges will have lots of size up front with the likes of Delapa (5-11, 255), Alvarez (6-1, 225), Flores (5-10, 233), Nestor Romero (6-1, 306), Janken Autele (6-0, 260) and Oscar Aceves (6-3 265) manning both sides of the line. Lloyd and Rodriguez are quality receivers, and look for defensive all-leaguers Stephens and Ayon to play both ways to bolster the offense. There is plenty of athleticism, and size and now the players are used to Christensen after a year of adjustment.