Senior High School staff for 10 years. He became the head coach last season and guided his team through a near-perfect season and a spectacular overtime win over Stockton Stagg for the AAA title. Dewey Guerra had been the head man up until last fall, and from 1967-1976, the Lancers posted a 90-11-1 record with nine league championships in 10 years. "This season we have perhaps the finest backfield in the state with Reggie Young, Chris Whetstone, Shawn Brady and Gary Teague," insists the Lancers' second-year coach. "All four have great speed and lots of experience.' Young, at 6-1, 195, a bona fide AllAmerican candidate, will be one of California's top recruits. He has speed (4.6), power, experience (three-year starter) and the proper attitude to make him the No. I running back in Northern California. Quarterback Teague stands 6-0, weighs 170, and has been running the wishbone for four years. He's a superb option man according to several opposing coaches. Halfback Whetstone (6-3, 195) has both speed (4.7) and power, "along with unlimited potential," according to his coach. Brady, the Lancers' fullback, at 61, 195, is one of the best in the league. In the past 10 years, Rancho Cordova has produced nine professional baseball players, most playing football with equal ability. Last season the Lancers saw football stars Brian Bailey sign with California, Dave Barber with Washington State and Ernie Taylor with Oregon. This season watch for that number to double. Or triple.
11. Louisville Trinity KENTUCKY The cover of this year's press guide at Trinity High School in Louisville tells it all: Trinity Shamrocks Football, 1977-78, "One of America's Greatest High Schools." So much for pride and enthusiasm. The 'Rocks have plenty of both. Trinity lost eight regulars off the defensive unit from last year's undefeated (14-0) championship club - a defensive unit which gave up a total of 52 points in 14 games. But 28 players from head coach Dave Moore's roster are back in force to defend the title, and two of the 28 are topnotch defenders from the best defense in all of Kentucky. Defensive tackle Joe Plomin (6-5, 215) earned a starting position midway through his sophomore season and proved to be a standout. Many times against veer option teams he has made the hit on the ball carrier and reached over the top to sack the QB. He runs forty yards in 5.1 seconds. Linebacker Greg Scales (5-11, 185) follows in his brother's footsteps with 4. 7 forty speed and possesses the knack of squaring PREP I SEPT.-OCT. 1977
off on the ball carrier and taking the lick to any running back. A good student, Scales blocked two punts and one PAT try last fall, scooping up one and scoring from 45 yards out during the 1976 state championship game. Offensively, the Shamrocks are loaded. Senior Jim Campbell (6-3, 200) returns to the tight end spot after starting for three years. One of the most talented athletes at Trinity, Campbell is quick (4.9) and caught 23 passes for 429 yards and an 18.6 average. He's a strong, physical blocker with sound technique who likes to catch the play action passes off the veer and counter action. Running back Mike McCarty (6-1, 188) rushed for 1016 yards on !56 carries in nine games last year for a 6.5 average. He not only has speed and power, but moves and strength to be one of the top backs in this part of the country. With blockers up front such as tackle Doug DeJarnatt (6-4, 230), McCarty can't miss. End Chris Turney (6-1, 180) has the speed to play a lot of positions, but has been a defensive end all through the program. He could play in the secondary or at wide receiver. Trinity has won the Kentucky state championship in 1968, 1972, 1973 and 1976. They have played for the Louisville city title every year but one since 1971. Coach Jim Kennedy turned the program around in three years with the first state championship coming in 1968. The Shamrocks posted a 10-1 record that year, followed by a 9-1 in 1969, 9-1 in 1970, and an off year in 1971 (3-6-1); they vaulted back on top in 1972 with the school's second state title and its first undefeated season ( 11-0). Kennedy then departed for the University of Louisville and Dave Moore, an assistant for four years, landed the head job. Moore kept the winning tradition "hot" by winning its third state championship. His squad returned to the victory throne last fall with the school's fourth Kentucky high school state title and second undefeated season for the Shamrocks. Trinity plays at the University of Louisville Fairgrounds, a stadium which has an astro-turf surface. The Shamrocks play five to six games a year there and twice last fall drew crowds of 26,000 and 30,000. "This we feel is indicative of the brand of football we play at Trinity," says Moore. "We have a great winning tradition and are extremely proud of our young players' accomplishments."
12. Cincinnati Princeton OHIO High school football premiers throughout the country on September 9 for most schools. Although many cold weather
states start the previous Friday, September 9 will mark a special day for schoolboy fans in Cincinnati. On that night, No. !-ranked Cincinnati Moeller collides with No. 12-ranked Cincinnati Princeton. That's No. I and No. 12 in the U.S.A. Nowhere else in the country do two nationally ranked high school teams meet in their opener. Since Ohio started an official state playoff for football several years ago, the winner of the Princeton-Moeller game has represented the Cincinnati region in the state playoffs. Since 1972, Princeton High School has sent 47 football players to college on full or partial scholarships after graduation. A member of the Greater Miami Conference, along with Taft, Garfield, Fairfield and Middletown, Princeton has won the league championship 12 consecutive times. Last year their only loss in a tough I0 game schedule was to cross-town rival Moeller. During 1975, the Vikings lost only twice, and one was to Moeller. Coached by Pat Mancuso, Princeton played in the state finals in 1972 and produced the Ohio AAA player of the year. Since 1960, the Vikings have won 126 games, lost 33 and tied II, playing in one of the three strongest high school football states in America. Their September 9 clash with Moeller this fall should be a classic. Coach Mancuso returns 37 youngsters from his 9-1 club which is still stinging from an early loss to top-ranked Moeller last September. The Vikings, as usual, will have exceptional size and speed on their offensive line. Center Jeff Hardin (6-3, 215) and: tackle Tony Wilhite (6-5, 215), who doubles at defensive end, are two of the best in the city, and Viking opponents will again find it difficult- if not impossible to¡ bring down halfback Allen Mitchell (6-0, 200). Only the QB slot,
St. Augustine's Darryl Maxwell goes for a big gain against South Lafourche in AAAA quarter-finals in Louisiana Superdome. (Lionel M. Cottier, Jr. photo)
which graduated seniors Robert Schrader and Sam Kinker, will cause problems on offense. Upcoming Billy Leach (6-1, 17 5) will get a shot, along with several younger Vikings from a good 6-2 JV club. Of the many teams which helped com-
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