Bay Division Capsules

2003 record: 5-6 overall, 5-2 Bay Division

Number of returners: 16

2004 Schedule (Home game in CAPS): Sept. 10 vs. Pioneer at San Jose City College, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 17 vs. Mitty at Foothill College, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 24 at Aragon, 3:15 p.m.; Oct. 2 BURLINGAME, 3 p.m.; Oct. 8 vs. Terra Nova at Sequoia, 8 p.m.; Oct. 16 CARLMONT, 3 p.m.; Oct. 22 at Menlo School, 3 p.m.; Oct. 29 at San Mateo, 3 p.m.; Nov. 5 at Capuchino, 2:45 p.m.; Nov. 13 WOODSIDE, 2 p.m.

Outlook: The Bears were hammered by injuries last season and got off to a 1-5 start before winning their next four games and qualifying for CCS.

Although M-A was hit hard by graduation, the Bears have enough coming back in key positions that they should be in the thick of the playoff race. Quarterback Clark Hagman, who transferred from Bellarmine before last season, returns for his second year with the Bears. At 6-3, 195, Hagman is a big, strong guy who can get it done with his arm and feet.

He should have plenty of time to find targets downfield with two key returners on the offensive line. Jose Bonilla is a 6-2, 265-pound left tackle and D.J. Buniwai at 5-11, 225-pound right guard who started last season as a sophomore. Tight end Eric Peterson (6-2, 245) will also provide protection.

A trio of juniors will try to replace some of the offense the Bears lost from last season. Jeremy Jordan will try to replace Ithamar Solis while David Vallarino and Marcus Hyde will be charged with hauling Hagman's tosses.

"We're going to be balanced," said coach Greg Patner. "Whatever teams are giving us, we go after it."

M-A should go as far as its defense takes it with a number of returners on that side of the ball. Saluni Saafi (5-10, 225) and Beni Pahulu (6-2, 250) give the Bears a solid inside presence on the defensive line. Sophomore Jesse Fifta and junior Patrick Mateo will also help out on the d-line.

"Defensively we want to play sound and provide pressure," Patner said.

They will be backed by Etika Sakalia (6-0, 200) at linebacker, who will be joined by sophomore Saia Haatoa. The Bears' secondary should be a ballhawking bunch with safeties David Kalin and Michael Jorgenson returning for their senior seasons.

- Nathan Mollat

Menlo School Knights

Coach: Mark Newton

2003 record: 8-3 overall, 5-2 Ocean Division

Returning starters: 10

2004 schedule (Home game in CAPS): Sept. 11 SACRED HEART PREP at Woodside, 7 p.m.; Sept. 17 at Evergreen Valley, 7 p.m.; Sept. 24 CAPUCHINO, 3:15; Oct. 1 at Terra Nova, 7 p.m.; Oct. 8 ARAGON, 3 p.m.; Oct. 15 at San Mateo, 3 p.m.; Oct. 22 MENLO-ATHERTON, 3 p.m.; Oct. 30 BURLINGAME, 2 p.m.; Nov. 5 at Carlmont, 2:45 p.m.; Nov. 12 at Jefferson, 7 p.m.

Outlook: First-year coach Mark Newton is not entirely new to the Menlo program. He served as the Knights' frosh-soph coach the previous three seasons and has coached just about all the players on this year's varsity team.

The main problem Newton and the Knights face this season will be the jump to the Bay Division despite a third-place finish in the Ocean Division last season. Usually the top two programs in the Ocean and the bottom two in the Bay swap divisions, but there are other factors to the move, including strength of the overall football program. With only 28 players, everyone has to contribute to hang with the big boys in the Bay.

Menlo will rely on two quarterbacks to replace the graduated Arif Virani, who started the previous three seasons for the Knights. Charlie Hazlehurst and Jeff Langskob will both see significant time under center and Newton has no problem using a two-quarterback system.

When not running the offense, look for both to make impacts at the wide receiver and defensive back positions. Both players have good size - Hazlehurst 6-3, 198 pounds and Langskob 6-2, 175 - to make life difficult for opposing receivers and secondaries.

The Knights will move away from the run-and-shoot offense they've employed the last few seasons, Newton said. But don't look for Menlo to turn into a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust running team either.

"We'll have a wide-open offense," Newton said. "We run a pretty complex look. We'll look similar to last year, but we'll do things different."

- Nathan Mollat

Terra Nova Tigers

Coach: Bill Gray

2003 record: 7-5 overall, 4-3 Bay Division

Returning starters: 4

2004 schedule (Home games in CAPS): Sept. 10 at Wilcox, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 17 SERRA, 8 p.m.; Sept. 24 CARLMONT, 8 p.m.; Oct. 1 MENLO SCHOOL, 7 p.m.; Oct. 8 vs. Menlo-Atherton at Sequoia High, 8 p.m.; Oct. 15 at Aragon, 3 p.m.; Oct. 22 SAN MATEO, 7 p.m.; Oct. 29 at Capuchino, 3 p.m.; Nov. 5 BURLINGAME, 7 p.m.; Nov. 12 at Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.

Outlook: Don't let the fact that the Tigers only return four starters from last year's squad fool you.

"That's very normal for us," said coach Bill Gray. "We never have a great number of returning starters. We look at junior years as an 'apprenticeship' year (to the seniors). Our teams are usually very senior laden which leads to the consistency of won-loss records."

A larger number of juniors are asked to contribute more this season than in years past, including a handful who saw significant time as sophomores last season.

"We brought up five sophomores last season, which is rare for us," Gray said.

The Tigers go into the season with their third quarterback in as many years, with Greg Reynolds and Matt Padilla having graduated the past two years. Bryan Powers, a junior, saw some time last season but is the first junior to start at the position since Reynolds did three years ago.

Gray hopes to take pressure off Powers with a stable of running backs to replace the small, shifty Delbecio Ben. Gray is excited about Daniel Porter, a 6-2, 190-pound running back who Gray compares to Aragon's Dominic Williams.

Anthony Hale will provide senior leadership in the backfield while juniors Omar Mahasin and Mateus Porter supply depth.

When the Tigers do go to the air, one of Powers' main targets is wide receiver Andrew Kegel, who started as a sophomore last season. Joe Cadena could end up on the receiving end of a few passes as well as the 6-0, 260-pound lineman will play some tight end.

The Terra Nova defense will also be a strength with a number of outstanding players on that side of the ball. Gray pointed out the camps of Cadena and seniors Sean Marchetti (defensive end) and Marcel Thomas (inside linebacker).

Terra Nova is always a favorite for the Bay Division title, despite a relatively down season last year. While Gray talked up Aragon, Menlo-Atherton and San Mateo, rest assured the Tigers will be a major player in who wins the Bay Division title.

"We think we're pretty good. We're not sure if we're very good," Gray said.

- Nathan Mollat