A New Ballgame This Season for Campbell Hall

A new era is about to dawn for the Campbell Hall High.

After playing eight-man football from 1986-97, the Vikings will open their first season at the 11-man level at La Verne Lutheran at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Campbell Hall (6-4, 3-1 in Delphic League play last season) defeated Avalon, 52-6, in an 11-man game last year, but the rest of its games were played at the eight-man level.

“It’s really exciting for everyone on the team and for the school in general,” said Anthony Harris, Campbell Hall coach and athletic director. “The anticipation level is very high and it seems like it’s building.”

Aaron Kerr, a junior quarterback and linebacker, said he feels like his school has finally joined the big time.

“With eight-man, you felt like you were overlooked,” Kerr said. “It wasn’t like people totally ignored us, but we weren’t taken as seriously because we were eight-man.”

Harris expects the Vikings to contend for a championship in their first season in the seven-team Academy League.

The Vikings return eight starters on defense, four on offense and 22 of their 27 players have varsity experience.

Senior Sean Porter and junior Eric Bright are returning two-way starters in addition to Kerr.

Porter, a tailback and defensive back, is Harris’ brother-in-law. Bright plays guard and defensive end.

Juniors Michael Womack and Darius Ingram, members of Campbell Hall’s basketball team last season, and freshmen Matt Kaplan and J.D. Washington are notable newcomers to the program.

Womack is expected to start at fullback and play linebacker or defensive tackle. Ingram will start at tight end and linebacker.

Kaplan, a left-hander, is a quarterback. Washington, son of actor Denzel Washington, is a tailback.

“I don’t think we’re going to have to make a lot of adjustments to playing at the 11-man level,” Harris said.

“We basically used an 11-man offense last year without two linemen and the second back. The only difference is going to come with depth. Injuries are more costly at the 11-man level.”

Other teams to watch:

Bell-Jeff (2-8, 2-5 in Santa Fe League)--Seniors Richard Tobias and Alex Alvarez and junior Carlos Trujillo are the top returning players for the Guards, who are 5-25 since posting a 6-5 record in 1994.

Tobias is a running back and defensive back, Alvarez (6-4, 270 pounds) is an offensive and defensive lineman and Trujillo is a running back and linebacker.

Ed Chaidez, a senior running back and linebacker, is the team’s top newcomer.

Flintridge Prep (6-5, 3-1 in Prep League)--Senior quarterback J.P. Blecksmith and senior wide receiver Peter Twist are expected to provide much of the Rebels’ offense.

Blecksmith completed 75 of 162 passes for 1,068 yards and seven touchdowns last year and rushed for 711 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Twist had 40 receptions for 774 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior Ross Fippinger will anchor the defense for the Rebels and start at fullback.

Sophomore tailback Devin Brown is the brother of Darius Brown, former St. Francis standout, and is one of Flintridge Prep’s top newcomers.

La Canada (7-5, 2-3 in Rio Hondo League)--Seniors Rocky Paneno, Ian Spencer-Smith and Jeff Riddell will be the leaders of a defense that posted four shutouts last year.

Paneno, a defensive back, intercepted four passes last year.

Spencer-Smith is a former wide receiver who will play defensive back this year and Riddell is a linebacker.

Seniors Chris Stone, a wide receiver last year, and Nate Dane, who hasn’t played football for two years, will probably share time at quarterback.

Montclair Prep (5-2-1, freelance)--Seniors Joe Tatum and Ramon Johnson and juniors Gabby Abakasis, John Emelio and Ben Johnson are returning starters for a team that has won three Southern Section titles and posted a 74-11 record this decade.

Tatum, who packs 240 pounds on a 5-9 frame, will play fullback after starting at quarterback last year.

Ramon Johnson is battling sophomore Jason Goss for the starting quarterback position and is a starting defensive back.

Abakasis will play linebacker with Emelio (6-4, 235) and Ben Johnson (6-4, 300) playing tackle on both sides of the line.

St. Genevieve (2-8, 2-5 in Santa Fe League)--With only three returning starters from last year’s team, the Valiants could be looking at their fifth consecutive losing season.

Sophomore Ed Jaime and senior Mario Melendez will start in the defensive backfield and split time at tailback.

Junior Mike Pisano will start at quarterback.

Vasquez (2-8, 1-3 in Desert Mountain League)--The Mustangs move to the High Desert League--replacing Alpha League-bound Paraclete--after playing in the Victory League during their inaugural season in 1996 and in the Desert Mountain League last year.

Senior tailback Kenny Johnson and junior fullback Wes Anderson are Vasquez’s top returning players.

Junior Lance Little will start on the offensive line and linebacker with senior Steve Young starting at slot back and linebacker.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Schedules

All times 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.

*League games.

ANTELOPE VALLEY CHRISTIAN

Sept. 11--Shandon at Clarke Park, 3 p.m.

Sept. 19--Indian Springs, 1

Sept. 26--at Rio Hondo Prep

Oct. 3--Bye

Oct. 10--*Victor Valley Christian, 1

Oct. 17--Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian, 1

Oct. 24--*at Upland Christian, 1

Oct. 31--*Living Stream Christian, 11

Nov. 7--*Lancaster Bethel Christian, 1

Nov. 13--*Bye

Home Site: Antelope Valley Christian High

****

BELL-JEFF

Sept. 12--Desert

Sept. 19--Vasquez

Sept. 26--Campbell Hall

Oct. 3--*St. Genevieve

Oct. 10--*Daniel Murphy at Rancho Cienega Park

Oct. 17--*at Cathedral

Oct. 24--*Salesian

Oct. 31--*La Salle at Monrovia High

Nov. 7--*at Mary Star

Nov. 12--*Bosco Tech

Home Site: Burroughs High

****

BETHEL CHRISTIAN (LANCASTER)

Sept. 12--Grace Brethren, 1

Sept. 19--Santa Maria Valley Christian, 1

Sept. 26--*at Riverside Christian, 2

Oct. 3--*Riverside Christian, 1

Oct. 10--*Rio Hondo Prep, 1

Oct. 17--*Masada, 1

Oct. 24--*at Masada, 3

Oct. 30--*at Rio Hondo Prep

Nov. 7--at Antelope Valley, 1

Nov. 13--*Bye

Home Site: Lancaster Bethel Christian High

****

CAMPBELL HALL

Sept. 12--at La Verne Lutheran, 2 p.m.

Sept. 17--Rio Hondo Prep

Sept. 26--Bell-Jeff at Burroughs High

Oct. 3--Heritage Christian at Cerritos Valley Christian High, 7

Oct. 9--*Downey Calvary Chapel

Oct. 17--*St. Margaret’s at Capistrano Valley High, 7

Oct. 22--*Capistrano Valley Christian

Nov. 5--*Southern California Christian

Nov. 13--*at Ribet Academy, 1

Home Site: Birmingham High

****

FAITH BAPTIST

Sept. 4--at Nevada Spring Mountain

Sept. 11--at Maricopa

Sept. 18--Open

Sept. 26--*L.A. Lutheran, 1:30

Oct. 2--*at First Lutheran, 3

Oct. 10--*Windward, 1:30

Oct. 17--*South Bay Lutheran, 2:30

Oct. 24--*at Grace Brethren, 1

Oct. 31--*Viewpoint at Calabasas High, 7

Nov. 7--*Pilgrim, 1:30

Nov. 13--Open

Home Site: Faith Baptist High

****

FIRST LUTHERAN

Sept. 11--Pacific Christian, 3

Sept. 18--Santa Clarita Christian, 3

Sept. 25--*Pilgrim, 3

Oct. 2--*Faith Baptist, 3

Oct. 10--*at Grace Brethren, 4

Oct. 17--*L.A. Lutheran at L.A. Baptist High, 11

Oct. 24--*Viewpoint at Calabasas High, 3

Oct. 30--*Windward, 3

Nov. 6--*South Bay Lutheran, 3

Nov. 13--Bye

Home Site: First Lutheran High

****

FLINTRIDGE PREP

Sept. 12--at Cathedral, 2

Sept. 19--at Pasadena Marshall, 1:30

Sept. 26--Hamilton at Hemet High, 7

Oct. 3--Western Christian at Charter Oak High

Oct. 10--Village Christian, 7

Oct. 17--*at Brentwood, 2

Oct. 24--*Pasadena Poly, 1:30

Oct. 31--*Webb, 7

Nov. 7--*Chadwick at Duarte High, 7

Nov. 13--*Bye

Home Site: St. Francis High

****

GRACE BRETHREN

Sept. 12--at Lancaster Bethel Christian, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18--Cuyama Valley at Sykes Field

Sept. 26--*South Bay Lutheran at Hawthorne High, 1

Oct. 2--*Pilgrim at Excelsior High, 7

Oct. 10--*First Lutheran, 4

Oct. 17--*Viewpoint, 1

Oct. 24--*Faith Baptist, 1

Oct. 31--*at L.A. Lutheran, 11

Nov. 7--*at Windward, 1

Nov. 13--Bye

Home Site: Grace Brethren High

****

KILPATRICK

Sept. 11--at Silver Valley

Sept. 18--at Cerritos Valley Christian

Sept. 25--at Ontario Christian

Oct. 2--Montclair Prep, at Valley College

Oct. 9--at Oak Park

Oct. 17--*L.A. Baptist at Alemany High

Oct. 24--*at Pasadena Marshall, 2

Oct. 31--*Village Christian at Kennedy High, 7

Nov. 6--*Paraclete at Antelope Valley College

Nov. 14--*at Avalon, 2

Home Site: None

****

LA CANADA

Sept. 11--Whittier at California High, 7

Sept. 17--at Glendale

Sept. 25--Burroughs

Oct. 2--Crescenta Valley

Oct. 8--Hoover, 7

Oct. 15--*Blair at La Canada High, 7

Oct. 23--*San Marino

Oct. 30--*at Monrovia

Nov. 6--*South Pasadena

Nov. 13--*at Temple City

Home Site: La Canada High

****

L.A. LUTHERAN

Sept. 12--Liberty Christian, 11

Sept. 18--Open

Sept. 26--*at Faith Baptist, 1:30

Oct. 3--*Windward, 11

Oct. 10--*South Bay Lutheran at Hawthorne High, 1

Oct. 17--*First Lutheran, 11

Oct. 23--*Pilgrim at Excelsior High, 7

Oct. 31--*Grace Brethren, 11

Nov. 7--*Viewpoint at Calabasas High, 7

Nov. 13--Open

Home Site: L.A. Baptist High

****

MONTCLAIR PREP

Sept. 12--Whittier Christian at Whittier College

Sept. 18--Diamond Ranch

Sept. 25--at Van Nuys

Oct. 2--Kilpatrick

Oct. 10--at Warner Springs, 2:30

Oct. 16--Bye

Oct. 23--Paraclete

Oct. 30--Santa Ana Calvary Chapel

Nov. 7--at Avalon, 1

Nov. 13--Long Beach Cabrillo

Home Site: Valley College

****

ST. GENEVIEVE

Sept. 12--L.A. Baptist at Alemany High

Sept. 19--at Malibu, 11

Sept. 25--Santa Clara at Channel Islands High

Oct. 3--*Bell-Jeff at Burroughs High

Oct. 10--*La Salle

Oct. 17--*Mary Star

Oct. 24--*Bosco Tech at Pius X-St. Matthias High

Oct. 31--*Daniel Murphy

Nov. 7--*Cathedral

Nov. 14--*Salesian at Pius X-St. Matthias High

Home Site: Birmingham High

****

SANTA CLARITA CHRISTIAN

Sept. 18--at First Lutheran, 3

Sept. 26--at Pacific Christian JV, 3

Oct. 3--at Grace Brethren JV, 1

Oct. 10--at Faith Baptist JV, 11

Oct. 16--at California Lutheran, 3:30

Oct. 23--at Frazier Mountain, 5

Oct. 31--at Grace Brethren JV, 1

Nov. 7--*at Viewpoint JV, 11

Home Site: None

****

VASQUEZ

Sept. 11--Lucerne Valley

Sept. 19--Bell-Jeff at Burbank Burroughs High

Sept. 26--at Mammoth, 2:30

Oct. 3--at Pasadena Marshall, 1:30

Oct. 10--Trona at Palmdale High

Oct. 16--*at Mojave

Oct. 23--*Desert at Quartz Hill High

Oct. 30--*at Rosamond

Nov. 6--*Bishop at Quartz Hill High

Nov. 13--*at Kern Valley

Home Site: Quartz Hill High/Palmdale High

****

VIEWPOINT

Sept. 12--West Coast Christian at First Lutheran High, 1 p.m.

Sept. 19--*South Bay Lutheran, 7

Sept. 26--*at Windward, 1

Oct. 2--Open

Oct. 9--*Pilgrim at Excelsior High, 7

Oct. 17--*at Grace Brethren, 1

Oct. 24--*First Lutheran, 3

Oct. 31--*Faith Baptist, 7

Nov. 7--*L.A. Lutheran, 7

Nov. 13--Open

Home Site: Calabasas High

****

VILLAGE CHRISTIAN

Sept. 12--Santa Paula, 7

Sept. 19--Fillmore, 7

Sept. 26--Big Bear, 7

Oct. 2--at Frazier Mountain

Oct. 10--Flintridge Prep at St. Francis High, 7

Oct. 17--at Pasadena Poly, 3:30

Oct. 23--*L.A. Baptist at Alemany High

Oct. 31--*Kilpatrick, 7

Nov. 7--*at Pasadena Marshall, 1:30

Nov. 13--*Paraclete, 7

Home Site: Kennedy High

****

WESTMARK

Sept. 12--Bye

Sept. 19--Pacific Christian, 11

Sept. 25--at Victor Valley Christian, 7

Oct. 3--*Norwalk West Coast Christian at Whittier Christian High, 1

Oct. 10--*Palm Valley, 1

Oct. 17--*Tujunga Trinity Christian at First Lutheran High, 1

Oct. 24--*Norwalk West Coast Christian, 1

Oct. 30--*at Palm Valley, 1

Nov. 7--*Tujunga Trinity Christian, 1

Nov. 13--Bye

Home Site: Grant High