Sports
Football: Sea View League Preview
Preview: Fresh off its first league title, Dana Hills is the frontrunner to repeat.
By Martin Henderson
Taking a look at the Sea View League heading into the 2013 season.
SEA VIEW LEAGUE
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Coaches’ Predicted Order of Finish (two guaranteed playoff berths)
1. Dana Hills 4-6 overall in 2012, 3-1 in league)
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2. Capistrano Valley (8-3, 3-1)
3. Laguna Hills (6-4, 3-1)
4. San Juan Hills (7-3, 1-3)
5. Aliso Niguel (5-5, 0-4)
HOW IT SHAKES OUT: Only two playoff berths are available to the league, and that can be brutally tough; after a three-way tie for the league title last season, Dana Hills lost out on a playoff berth. With 14 starters back, the Dolphins are the favorite. Still, Laguna Hills beat Dana Hills a year ago, and the Hawks usually have a pretty good defense. You know what they say about defenses and championships? Capistrano Valley hopes to build on last season but will do so under new coach Ernie Bucher and a team rife with inexperience. Those three seem to be the class of the field, but San Juan Hills will be an interesting team to watch: Will the Stallions break through and beat a team they’re not supposed to beat? Maybe. Aliso is in the same boat as SJH, but without the experience.
Aliso Niguel Wolverines
Home site: Aliso Niguel High
Coach: Kurt Westling (fourth year, 16-15)
All games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Last season: 5-5 overall, 0-4 in league (fifth)
8/30 at Bellflower
9/6 at Long Beach Millikan
9/13 at Los Angeles Diego Rivera Learning Complex
9/20 vs. Long Beach Jordan
9/27 vs. Mission Viejo
10/4 vs. Saddleback Valley Christian
10/11 at Dana Hills*
10/18 at Laguna Hills*
10/25 vs. San Juan Hills*
11/8 vs. Capistrano Valley*
Notable: Though winless in league last year, the Wolverines lost two games by a combined nine points.
Capistrano Valley Cougars
Home site: Capistrano Valley High
Coach: Ernie Bucher (first year)
All games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Last season: 8-3 overall, 3-1 in league (tied for first)
8/30 vs. Beckman
9/6 vs. El Toro
9/13 vs. Esperanza
9/19 vs. Woodbridge at University
9/27 vs. Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor
10/4 vs. Marina at Westminster
10/18 vs. Dana Hills*
10/25 vs. Laguna Hills*
11/1 at San Juan Hills*
11/8 at Aliso Niguel*
Notable: The next victory by Capistrano Valley will be its 200th; it also has 164 losses and five ties.
Dana Hills Dolphins
Home site: Dana Hills High
Coach: Todd Rusinkovich (third year, 7-13)
All games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Last season: 4-6 overall, 3-1 in league (tied for first)
8/30 vs. Trabuco Hills
9/6 vs. Fountain Valley at Huntington Beach
9/12 vs. San Clemente
9/20 vs. Villa Park
9/27 vs. JSerra at Saddleback College
10/4 vs. Irvine
10/11 vs. Aliso Niguel*
10/18 at Capistrano Valley*
11/1 vs. Laguna Hills*
11/8 at San Juan Hills*
Notable: The Dolphins are coming off their first league title in school history.
Laguna Hills Hawks
Home site: Laguna Hills High
Coach: Bruce Ingalls (16th year, 96-65-1)
All games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Last season: 6-4 overall, 3-1 in league (tied for first)
9/6 vs. Corona del Mar
9/13 vs. Northwood
9/19 vs. Foothill at Tustin
9/27 at Irvine
10/4 vs. El Segundo
10/11 vs. San Juan Hills*
10/18 vs. Aliso Niguel*
10/25 at Capistrano Valley*
11/1 at Dana Hills*
Notable: Hawks have won a share of the championship two of the last three years.
San Juan Hills Stallions
Home site: San Juan Hills High
Coach: Aaron Flowers (third year, 7-13)
All games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Last season: 7-3 overall, 1-3 in league (fourth)
8/30 vs. Thousand Oaks
9/5 vs. Canyon at El Modena
9/12 vs. Lakewood Artesia
9/20 vs. Marina at Westminster
9/27 vs. Fullerton
10/4 at Goleta Dos Pueblos
10/11 at Laguna Hills*
10/25 at Aliso Niguel*
11/1 vs. Capistrano Valley*
11/8 vs. Dana Hills*
Notable: Stallions have 14 players returning from last season, which was the school’s best.
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