'Top 10 ·teams 1. PRINCETON - The Division I state runner-up last season, Princeton is vying for its third trip to the state championship game in four years. And area coaches say they at least have enough talent to win th. e 1991 city championship, if not earn a return trip to Canton. Coach Pat Mancuso's team, which returns eight starters on defense and a of talented position players on offense, was a near unanimous choice for the top spot in The Post's preseason city coaches poll after finishing 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the Greater Miami Conference. Senior quarterback Lamont Houston (5-foot-11, 180 pounds)· returns to direct the Vikings' offense, while senior running back James Olverson (6-0, 180)- the team's leading rusher last year with 960 yards on 142 carries and 12 touchdowns - also is back. Tackle Delrico Simons (6-3, 21 0), considered a Division I college prospect, will anchor the offensive line. Five of Princeton's returning defensive players are college prospects, according to recruiting experts, including tackle Corey Glass (6-1 , 195), linebacker Josh Johnson (6-1, 195) and defensive backs Rashawn Hutchins (5-10, 185), Shondale Wolfork (6-0, 160) and Sam Young (6-0, 180). Under Mancuso, who is in his 32nd season at P.rinceton, the Vikings have won seven or more games every season s1nce 1974 and all but two Greater Miami Conference titles since t967. 2. MOELLER -The Crusaders' coaching staff is talking about how
man~ starters they have to replace, but area coaches evidently aren't conv•nced. Moeller, the defending city champion, won its 20th Greater Cincinnati League championship last season and qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The Crusaders, 9-2 in 1990 and 4-0 in the GCL, return two starters on offense and one on defense. But there's plenty of talent in waiting, including a pair of strong-armed quarterbacks in seniors Shawn Brennan (6-3, 176), a transfer from St. ?<avier, and John Harpring (6-2, 1~0), who played at Marist High School 1n Atlanta last season. The open1n9-game starter, which has yet to be determined, will have a solid target 1n senior tight end Max Langenkamp (6-5, 245), whose. older broth~r. Steve, is a freshman at the University of Kentucky. Offens1ve guard Enc Wendt (6-5, 275), a preseason All-America pick by "Super Prep" magazine, will do the blocking. On defense, the Crusaders return two talented linebackers in senior Jon Morgan (6-3, 195) and Scott Ostholthoff (6-3, 210). In 10 seasons, coach Steve Klonne has won 85 percent of his games (89-16).
3. ELDER -After winning consecutive city championships in 1988
and 1989, the Panthers fell to 6-4 last season - 2-2 in the Greater Cincinnati Le~gue -and had to settle for a No. 9 ranking in the final city poll. But, behind the arm of senior quarterback Tim Austing (6-1, 190), the Panthers hope to return to the form that enabled them to record the school's first perfect regular season in 35 years in 1989. Though the Panthers figure to have a. potent passing attack, few teams will probably challenge the Elder secondary with senior Dave Becker (6-1, 21 0) back at strong safety. Coach Tom Grippa, who is 33-10 in four seasons, is co~cerned about his team's speed and depth. But, with. six players we1ghmg more than 225 pounds, Elder hopes to control the line of scrimmage.
4. ST. XAVIER- The Bombers are looking for consistency after a strange season a year ago. Coach Steve Rasso's team appeared to be a contender for the city championship after reeling off five straight victories to open the 1990 season. But, three weeks and three losses later, the Bombers weren't even ranked in the weekly coaches poll. ~hen, St. Xavier rallied to beat LaSalle and playoff-bound Middletown the final t:-v~ weeks to go 7-3, tying Elder for second place in the GCL at 2-2, and f1n1sh at No. 5. Gone are 1,000-yard rusher Brian Fitzgerald and starting quarterback Shawn Brennan, who transferred to Moeller. Le~din_g t_he way on offense is senior tight end Chip Hendon (6-2, 220), wh1le .JUnior qua~terba.ck Jamie Doxsey (5-1 0, 160) has some varsity exper.•ence. Sen1or M1lan Barnes (5-9, 170) returns in the defensive backfield, but St. Xavier will be inexperienced in the defensive front. 5. WESTERN HILLS -
Picked to finish fourth in last year's preseason poll, the Mustangs struggled early under first-year coach Ed ~ oungs. ":"Jes~ern Hills, considered a. viable contender for the 1990 city . t1tle, los~ 1ts f1rst two. games to Ham1lton and St. Xavier. But, a victory over neighborhood nval Elder keyed a strong finish, as the Mustangs won seven of their final eight games to finish 7-3 and win the Metro County Conference with a 5-0 record. Led by versatile senior quarterback Robert Shurelds (6-2, 170) -who will also play safety -and junior running back Larry Byndon (5-9, 175), Western Hills should have a powerful offense. The Mustangs' defense will miss linebacker Thomas Sewell.and front line a.nd line~ackers lost to graduation. But the return of def~ns1ve backs Dam1on Da1ley (5-9, 150), Jamie Taylor (5-8, 150) and Chns Coston (6-0, 165) should make Western Hills a hard team to throw against.
6. LA SALLE -Senior tailback Ty Douthard, a preseason All-America pick by "Super Prep" magazine, hopes to lead the third straight winning season under coach Jim Louder, iiiii~r:.:.::...;,iil 17-13 in three seasons. Douthard (6-2, 200) rushed for 949 yards on 200 carries and 15 touchdowns last season as LaSalle finished 7-3 overall and 2-2 in the GCL for the second consecutive season. The Lancers, despite only having 14 seniors on their roster, do have strength at linebacker and the defensive line. Linebacker Bart Conley (6-4, 200) defensive tackle Kurt Supe (6-4, 21 0) and defensive back Brady Gick (6-0, 180) are back to anchor the defense. The Lancers, too, hardly face an easy schedule as a . mel'!lb~r of the revamP,ed Greater Catholic League. J1m Louder The1r Inaugural league schedule features games against divisional schools, Elder, Moeller and St. Xavier, as well as a showdown with ~· ·-..2 9- 9( defending Division Ill champion Hamilton Badin.
7_.
F~IRFIELD.- After opening the 1990 season with consecutive
v1ctone~ ov~r Xen1a and Berwick (Pa.) To~ay'.s nat1.onal prep poll at the time -
- the top-ranked team in USA Fairfield managed just two wins 1n :ts .fmal e1ght games to fall to 4-6 overall and just 1-6 in the Greater M1am1 Conference. And having to replace the backfield of fullback Kadal~ Passmore (1, 108 yards rushing), tailback Carlos Smith (now at Georg1a Tech) and quarterback Spence Gunnell (505 passing yards, five TDs) could make 1991 just as difficult. The Indians will look to build their offense around senior running back Donovan Millson (5-9, 160). Center Butch Botts (6-2, 210) and guard Chip Mullen (6-1, 205) are back to anchor the .of~ensive .line. Defensively, coach Ben Hubbard lost 75 perc~nt of h!s llnebac_kmg corps to graduation, but has a talented pair to step 1n- M1ke H_awk1ns (6-1 •. 190) a.t inside backer and Kevin York (5-11, 185) on the outs1de. In add1t1on to 1ts GMC schedule, Fairfield will face Talawanda (8-2 last season), Withrow (7-3) and Mt. Healthy (7-3) in non-conference games. ·
8. MIDDLETOWN - Though ineligible for the state playoffs until
1993, the ~iddies and !irst~year coach Joe Tresey hope to successfully defend the1r Greater M1am1 Conference championship. In 1990, Middletown made more news off the field than on as the school violated a state rule by using an academically ineli!;Jible player in the second regular-season g~rrye and fai_led to report 1t to the Ohio High School Athletic Assoc1at1on. The_M•?dies, h~"":ever, still made the playoffs because of an OHSAA rule. M1dd1etown fm1shed 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the GMC claiming it~ second s~raight league title by tying Princeton. Tresey, wh~ replaces J1m Place, 1sn't without talent. The Middies' defense returns ~efensiv~ backs Tony Everhart (6-0, 170), who led the city with nine 1ntercept1ons last season, and Daniel Colson (6-0 180) as well as linebackers. John Duncan (6-3, 195) and Jon Ket;on (6~2. 225). On offe~se, tailback Darrell Montaie (5-10, 170) will lead the Middies' rush1ng attack. He scored nine touchdowns and rushed for almost 500 yards last season. ~·LAKOTA-:- A~ter finishing just 1-9 three years ago, going winless
·~ the Greater M1am1 Confe~ence, Lakota has turned its program into a c1tv power and a contender 1n the GMC. The Thunderbirds have finished 8-2 the last two seasons. But this year's team has a new look. Gone is the man responsible for the turnaround, coach John Sabatalo, and four playe_rs who moved on to Big Ten College programs - including two-t1me, 1,000-yard rusher Brian King and all-city offensive lineman Sco_tt Stratton. Both are playing at Penn State this fall. Ken Smith, an ass1stant under Sabatalo the past two seasons, is the man who will atte~pt to keep Lakota strong. Senior quarterback Dave Wheeler (5-7, 170), who completed 43 of 80 passes for 634 yards and eight TDs, is bac.k to lead the off_ense. His main target will be senior tight end Keith Sm1th (6-4';- 215~. Tailback Kyle Jordan (6-3, 170) will take over for King. The lone return1ng offensive lineman is senior Paul Cromer (6-3, 220).
10. OAK HILLS - The arm of senior quarterback Rob Jones produced one of Greater Cincinnati's most potent offenses last season averaging 365 yards per game. Jones (6-2, 200), playing in his first varsity season in 1990 after recovering from major 'I' t. i.. knee surgery, was the area's second-leading passer. ~·,;··' . · . . . ,__,.:;.-._ • He completed 104 of 193 passes for 1,800 yards and · . .....J ""-:' 20 t~uchdowns. He threw just five interceptions '.. -. C?n~ 1n the last six games as the Highlanders f1n1shed 5-5 overall and 3-2 in the Metro County . ~ Conference. ~e'll .be without receivers Dave William""'. son and Kevm Gnbbons, who combined to catch 62 • "\ , passes a ye~r ago. The offensive backfield of junior { ,1 Shad Wettench (6-0, 185) and senior Eric Kleiner (5-10, 180) should give Oak Hills a balanced attack. · B~b Klotz Coach Bob Klotz, whose team ·gave up more than 20 pomts per game last season, said the defense returns four starters defensive tackle Chris Collins (6-3, 23) and linebackers Tony DiTomaso (6-1, 195), Jeremy Marx (5-10, 180) and Jamie Seiler (5-11, 185).