FOOTBALL ’91 : THE HIGH SCHOOLS: SOUTHERN SECTION : FREELANCE TEAMS : Highland

COACH: Lin Parker, 1st season

LAST SEASON: First varsity season

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Bulldogs will make their varsity debut without the benefit of a single senior, but Parker is ready for the challenge. “We have 72 returning lettermen and 22 returning starters,” he said. “Not too many others can say that.” Highland, which opened its doors in 1989 with only a freshman class, has 70 juniors and two sophomores on the squad. Parker’s game plan is simple. “We don’t mind telling people, ‘You stop our run and you stop Highland,’ ” Parker said. He plans to rotate four running backs. Cleveland Williams (5-foot-11, 210 pounds), who scored 22 touchdowns on the junior varsity, and Brad Newlin (6-0, 210) are joined by Mike Borja (5-10, 185), a transfer from Colorado, and Dante Daley (5-10, 145), a transfer from Mississippi. Travis Sabadin (6-1, 170) has been the quarterback since the school opened. Mike Callahan (6-4, 275) will start at tight end and Scott Ralston (6-4, 270) at tackle. The school career sack leader at lower levels is linebacker Lucio Powell (6-0, 180) with 18. Jeff Tepper (5-10, 190) is moving from inside linebacker to strong safety.

OUTLOOK: This group went 8-2 as freshmen and 9-1 as sophomores. “We think we can be anywhere from 3-7 on the down side to 8-2 on the top side,” he said.

Littlerock

COACH: Jim Bauer, 1st season

LAST SEASON: First varsity season

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Littlerock is another 2-year-old school fielding its first varsity team. Bauer has 48 players, three of whom are sophomores who start: inside linebacker Chris Towery (5-10, 175), cornerback Orlando Corona (5-8, 145) and kicker Ventura Herrera (5-7, 150). Bauer is most pleased with his offensive line. “We think they’re good high school football players,” he said. Adam Martin (6-3, 206) and Mike Dutton (6-0, 206) are the tackles, and James Lupo (5-5, 155), Carlos Martinez (5-9, 180), James Montoya (5-11, 170) and Peter Cornoff (5-10, 175) will rotate at guard. Mitch Casey (5-10, 155) plays quarterback in the team’s option offense. Fullback John Veneman (5-10, 195) will do the bulk of the running. Casey’s receivers are David Swaner (5-10, 140), Sonny Tuft (5-11, 160), Louis Bryant (6-3, 175) and Mike Leaks (5-11, 155). Linebackers include Jesus Rodriguez (5-9, 185), Kai Hampton (5-10, 180) and Juan Estrada (6-3, 175), who will also play tight end. The nose guard will be John Dugom (5-8, 165).

OUTLOOK: Bauer said the team has three goals: Win its opener against Serrano, finish with a winning record and earn a playoff berth.