CHANNEL LEAGUE
Buena COACH: Rick Scott, 5th season LAST SEASON: 8-3; tied for 1st in league, 6-1 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior tailback George Keiaho (5-foot-10, 200 pounds), the first California freshman to rush for more than 1,000 yards (1,134), rushed for 1,443 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and was named Cal-Hi state sophomore player of the year. A formidable offensive line includes junior tackle Brian Williams (6-4, 245), a returning starter; senior center Scott Probasco (6-2, 218), a reserve last season; and senior tight end Gary Lipp (6-1, 210), an exceptional blocker who became a starter late last season. Senior quarterback Aaron Triana (6-0, 185), a varsity shortstop, threw for 428 yards in the final three games last season after starter Matt Ertman broke his collarbone. Junior wide receivers Reggy Richins (5-10, 157) and John Ikenouye (5-10, 160) move up from the sophomore team. Defense strength lies with linebackers Robert Simpson (6-0, 185) and Jeremy Addison (6-1, 190), both seniors, and junior Brett Phillips (6-2, 210). Simpson was a second-team all-league selection, and Addison was honorable mention. Senior defensive back Brian Deppen (5-11, 155), a reserve last season, is recovering from an off-season motorcycle accident that left both arms in casts. Senior Travis Newbold (5-11, 190), a returning starter, might move from nose guard to defensive end. All-Ventura County kicker Troy Scott--"no relation to me except when he makes the long ones," his coach quipped--enters his senior year with a streak of 27 consecutive PATs. OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs are long on talent--"the best I've had since I've been here," Scott said--but short on experience. "We have so many juniors, I could talk about them forever," Scott said. "I just don't know which one is going to start where. It's going to depend on how quickly they mature." Keiaho will be one of the area's most exciting players to watch for the next two seasons, but Buena might slip a notch with the loss of several key players.
