Casa Grande (Ariz.) DISPATCH Friday, September 17.

1976 - •

Couqars' Questions Answered Tonight

^ ...
By DON COX
Sport* Editor
Is there really light at the end of Casa Grande High's
football tunnel?
Or, is all the talk about improved prospects, better at-
titude more depth and young talent just that — talk?
Head coach Jim Russum, starting his second year in
charge of the school's -varsity grid fortunes, figures his
Cougars are strong enough and eager enough to prove his
preseason hopes correct.
That's why he considers tonight's campaign opener at
Cougar Stadium against nonleague Peoria (3-7 last year) so
important Kickoff against the AAA Skyline Division visitor
is 7:30 p.m. And Russum feels it's the key to 1976 prospects.
"We've got to win this thing," Russum declared, "It's the
opener and it's important, our kids have to feel what it s like
to win if we're going to get things turned around, especially
Class AAA Season Opens
..._....,„
after all the work we've been doing in practice
"If we lose, we're in trouble."
Casa Grande is coming off a 1-9 effort in 1975 - Russum's
first year on the varsity. But optimism has been the word
since the Cougars opened drills last month.
Russum and his assistants have devoted a good share of
practice time developing a positive outlook among players.
Towards that objective, they even brought in a high-
powered sports psychology expert. Dr. Fred Mills of Pacific
Institute, to run-seminars in motivation and goal setting for
Cougar athletes.
All the buildup is clearly on the line this evening.
But Casa Grande has more than deep thinking in its corner.
The high hopes are based, in part, on the potential contained
within a group of talented juniors who will see initial varsity
action against Peoria.
On a 42-man squad Russum will be dressing 27 juniors and
one sophomore who have yet to taste live lire on the varsity
i™, And
level. And «,10 o,
of those vearlinas will
those yearlings will h.
be starting
starting on either
on either
offense or defense.
The group represents the core of Russum's desired winning
attitude because it played together on last year's 6-t junior
varsity dub — best record for an underclass Couga' grid
squad in five years.
Russum is trying to keep individual double-duty down to a
minimum, with only two seniors scheduled to start both ways
- Tom Molnar and Fred Enke.
As a result, a big percentage of the inexperience will be on
defense where both tackles, one linebacker, an end and two
deep backs are untested.
But defensive coordinator Tim Tyree has confidence in the
unit. And his forward wall boasts plenty of size. In fact,
overall, Casa Grande will have a substantial weight ad-
vantage.
The tackles, Bobby Carrasco (5-11,240) and Gilbert Soto (5-
10,218) are equal to most en the AAA level. The newcomer at
one end is Doug Williams (5-11,167), with Molnar (W, 210) on
oneendisDougWilliams(5-ll,167,,withMolnar (6-4.210. or
the other side. .
Kenny Crouch is the rookie linebacker. New faces in the
secondary include comerback Vince Echeverria and strong
safety Bobby Goodwell. .
The offense has a more mature look, but even here juniors
have beat out some veterans. At one halfback spot in
Russum's pro-set attack yearling David Quintana moved
from second unit to starter following his strong performance
in last Saturday's full-dress scrimmage.
Larry Kissinger is now at center, along.with Joel Young at
wide receiver and Robert Hardy at right tackle.
Big offensive question is at quarterback where senior Pat
O'Donnell will open. He started the last half of '75, but size 15-
6. 135 is a factor. . •
Carlos Perez, up from the junior varsity, is on hand. Ana
Russum has added sophomore David Evers (6-0, 1701. Both
are inexperienced. Although Casa Grande will start with the
pro-set, Russum wants to try the Veer-option, if O'DouneU is
"Ve line he operates behind will be large with tackles
Hardy (6-1.206) and Molnar along with guards David Arenz
(6-1, 221) and Kevin Hackworth (6-1, 2S5)

Coronado Vs. Saguaro No. Offense

Casa Orende Starters

Pos
LE
Defense
Tom Molnar
NO
71
It JOel YOUftg SE
L.T LT Booby Cerrasco 51
71. Tom Molnar

Highlights Prep Grid LG MG Irving Johns 44

«0 Oavtd Arenr .
RT GlloertSoto 75
a Larry Kissinger C
Doug-Williams- U
6i Kevin Hatkworth RG
RT
RE
LB. Ktnny Crouch 74
73 Robert Hardy
0*nny Stoor TE LB Joey Leal 50
17
QB CB Frtd Enkl !3
By The Associated Press offensive strength from running back Greg 10 PalO'Domell
CB Vlnce Ech»v»rrla ti
33 FredEnke HB
Phoenix Maryvale is not looking ahead as Connor and quarterback Steve Eastman, and 14 David Quintana MB FS ArtMlrenoa 15
• Boooy Goosweii I!
the Panthers defend their No. 1 ranking in the defensive power from tackle Randy Printi. JoeEddlngs. FL SS

Associated Press Class AAA prep football poll Amphitheater hopes Herman Gutierrez can
step into the quarterback spot and work with
tonight against Glendale.
Maryvale went undefeated last season until
the final contest of the state playoffs when
Tucson Amphitheater scored in the closing
running back Randy Barkley and end Steve
Doolittle.
In other contests, second-ranked Douglas
hosts Deming, N.M., No. 3 Winslow hosts Blue
Voting Lists
seconds to capture a 23-22 victory..

GG, Florence
"Last year, we talked about the playoffs Ridge, and No. 4 Flagstaff travels to Page.
early," said coach Bob Young, "not knowing Morenci, tied with Tucson Flowing Wells
what our capabilities really were. This year, 1 for fifth spot in the rankings, meets Clifton in
think the tods feel they let something get -their annual Copper Ingot game. The series
away from them—and if we'd won it, I don't has been in effect since 1937 with Morenci Casa Grande High and Florence both received votes on this
. think they'd show the burning desire they do holding a 23-13 edge. season's opening edition of the annual Tempe Daily News
Flowing Wells travels to Flagstaff prep cross country poll, although neither school, cracked the
now."
Maryvale has 16 lettermen and nine Coconino, No. 7 Buckeye faces Bisbee. Eloy
regulars returning. They include All-State and Snowflake are tied for eighth spot this '"Florence, defending state Class B-C distance/team
lineman Jack Housley, quarterback Larry week, with Eloy facing Globe and Snowflake champion, was ranked number 20 with seven poj»6. Casa
Moreno, fullback Jay Rains, and running taking on Show Low. No. 10 Apache Junction Grande, always strong in the AAA Central Pivision, was
backs Dick Harkins and Bryan Cutting. hosts Ray. unranked but received four votes.
A number of cross-town battles are on tap
Casa Grande opens its dual season in the division this af-
Friday's Slat*
tonight. Second-ranked Scottsdale Coronado Class AAA — Chandler at Tempe; Washington at Carl - ternoon with a meet at Scottsdale High.
faces Scottsdale Saguaro, No. 6 Phoenix St. Hayden; Chaparral at Scorrsdale; Central at Brophy; Peoria Class A Tuba City was first in the poll with 108 points and
Mary's takes on Phoenix Union, No. 4
at Casa Grande; Camelback at Cortai; Marcos de Nlza at
East; Arcadia at Greenway; Brawley, Callt. at Kofa;
Hve first-place votes. Coronado was the highest-ranked
Phoenix South Mountain faces Paradise Glendale at Maryvale; McCllntock at Mesa; Apollo at Moon Central Division school with three first-place votes and fifth
valley; Sunnyslope at North; South Mountain at Paradise
Valley, and eighth-ranked Glendale Moon valley; St Mary's at Phoenix Union; Coronado at Saguaro; place.
Valley takes on Glendale Apollo. Santa Rita at Sumyslde; Mountain View at Shadow Moun- Here's the Tempe Dally News cross country poll. «Itn first place votes »r>d total
lain; Thunderolrd at Trevor Browne; Westwood at
Coronado is explosive with quarterback Alhambra; Catallna at.Palo Verde; Prescott at West; Sablno
points:
Greg Brady and running back Bob Plummer at Salpolnte; Sahuaro at Cholla; Buena at Pueblo;.Rlncon at
No. School Division Pts.
Tucson. Yuma at El Centre, Callt. Class A North 19*
while Saguaro has defensive experience, Class AA — Amphitheater at Canyon Del Oro; Deming.
T. Tuba City (5)
Class AAA South 91
topped by linebackers Dino Piazza and Dan N.M. at Douglas; Flowing Wells at Coconino; >-Dyurt at J. SunnysldeU)
Class AAA Skyline 71
Holbrook; Agua Frla at Tplleson; Marana at Gilbert; 3. Glendale 13.) .
Class AAA South 75
Hyduk. 4 Pueblo
Bourgade at Gerard. Coronado (3) Class AAA Central •J»
In southern Arizona, second-ranked Am- 5
Class A — Buckeye at-Blsbee; willow at Sa«ord; Znnl, W.utwood Class AAA Central 54
6. 34
phitheater opens the season against Class AA- N.M. at Ganatto; Tuba City at Window Roc*; Flagstaff •' Tempe Class AAA Central
7.
Page; Globe at Santa Crui.- Bagdad at Phoenix Indian; Lake South Mountain Class AAA Phoenix X
C poll leader Tucson Canyon Del Oro. Havasu at Parker; San Manuel at Ajo; Klngman at Mohave; I.
Canada Class A North N
9.
Other games among top Class AAA teams Ray at Apache Junction. 10 Winslow' Class AA North 74
Class B — Superior at Miami; Sahuarlta at Benson;
include fifth-ranked Buena of Sierra Vista at Hayden at Tombstone; Morenci at Clifton; Colonla Juarei at Following is the se«wd 10 Palo verdetCiass AAA South) 17. wen iCIissAAA
Tucson Pueblo, No. 7 Tempe Marcos DeNiza Duncan Round Valley at Williams; Chtnle-at St Johns; Central) 12; He - Norm phoonlx ICiass AAA Phoenix). Hoibrock iciasi «A
battling East Phoenix, No. 9 Tucson Sun- Payson at Alchesay; Coolidge at Florence; Camp Verde at returns after starting the second half of the North) 10. and Catallna (Class AAA South) 10. Chandler (Class AAA Central) I.
SI John's Indian; Mlngus at Wlckenturg; Marlcopa at STARTING QUARTERBACK for Casa
nyside hosting Tucson Santa Rita and 10th 1975 season.. Casa Grande will entertain He-Sunnyslope (Class AAA Skyline), Amphitheater (Class AAA South), Tucson
BaboQulv.v'. Show Low at Snowflake; Blue Ridge at Win- Grande High's varsity football season (Class AAA South) and Saouaro (Class AAA South) I. Florence (Class B Centnl)
ranked Tucson Sahuaro at Tucson Cholla. slow Peoria with a 7:30 p.m. klckoff.
Class C - Salome at ASDB; Vailey.unlon at Plma; Pa|o opener tonight at Cougar Stadium will be (SUff Photo) Others receiving votes: Monument Valley. Maryvale. Apollo Casa OrinM.
•In Class AA-C action, Canyon Del Oro, who Verde Christian at San Simon; Ft. Thomas at Southwest senior Pat O'Donnell ;above). O'Donnell Alhambra and Prescott.
stopped Eloy 14-6 last weekend, faces Class Indian; St. .David at Bowie; Tucson Christian at Grand.
Canyon.
AAA rival Amphitheater. CDO will look for
New Gate
Baseball
Results
Devils Hope To Eliminate Errors For Fans
"Globe has a tough defense, so it could be a low-scoring
ELOY — For a school so used to winning, Class A Santa commented, "I think they are just as tough as CDO. But Casa Grande High football
game. If the offense dicks, then we could put some points on
By The Associated Press some of the things we did against CDO might work against fans with reserve-seat tickets
Cruz High is sure getting the maximum out of defeat the board."
The Dust Devils dropped their varsity football season Globe." for tonight's game at Cougar
NATIONAL LIAOUI
East opener last week 14-6 to number one class AA Canyon Bel Yearling mistakes cost Santa Cruz in the opener. Stadium against Peoria will
o.a. Senfa Crui starters
W. L. Pd.
Oro, and good things started happening. "Mistakes in key situations beat us last week," Denton enter tlirou«h a new soilh gate
ilphla H 57 .607 —
rgh
Pittsburgh 14 61 .579 4 Head coach Jay Denton, for the first time since practice pointed out, "We want to change that around. It seemed that behind the press box.
69 mi No ' Offense PiIS. Defense NO.
Ticket holders will use a
New York
irk 77 .537
22
started, turned optimist He was pleased with his club s every time we had a good drive going against CDO something Chris Zapata SE LE Kenny Mills 15
Chicagoo 67 «0 .456 H
Robert Geary 75 special isle to reach their seals,
is
St. Louis 45 79 .451 22'.1 surprising opening performance. So were the sports writers would happen and we'd turn the ball' over." 75 Robert Geary LT LT
Gabby Montllo JS
al
Montreal 49 94 343 31 who vote in the Associated Press prep grid poll every week. 66 OtlsBeasley LG MG
70
then leave by the same south
Senior Frank Martinez returns at quarterback for the Mike Lowry C RT Mike Ruli
West
— Santa Cruz started the year unranked on the Class AA-C
00
Joe Esplnoin RG RE Mike Zapata S3 gate. The south gate faces the
Cincinnati
tat) •J U .642
Devils after being sidelined for CDO. He brinigs needed ex- 64 00
Mike Ruli . RT LB • Mike Lowry street on the press-box side of
Los Angi
gales 12 .562 12 list but were picked eighth in voting after test Friday. perience to the position sophomore Mike Cade handled last
70
.TE LB JoeEsplnoia '64
Houston<n 73 76 .490 »'>, 15 Kenny Mills 11 the stadium.
anclsco 61 11 .456 27'/i Tonight Santa Cruz hosts Class A Globe, u winner its first 10 Frank Ma rtlnei QB CB Frank Montllo
SanFrai Chris Zapata to Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30
San Diego
ego V II .453 21 timeout, at7:30p.m. and Denton hopes his young squad will "We've hadhim (Martinez) come up through the ranks and X Art White -HB CB
Ricky Nelson 12-
nlcky Nelson HB SS
Atlantai u 14 .432 31
keep improving.
12
FB FS Rick Guillen 11 p.m.
he just knows how to react to a given situation," Denton said, 25 Gabby Montllo
Thursday's Results "Globe is comparable to CDO in size and ability," Denton
Montreal 4, Chicago 3
Pittsburgh 7, Philadelphia 6
Atlanta 5, Houston 3
New York 4, St. Louis 1
Frosh, Junior Varsity
Cincinnati 4, LOS Angeles 2
Only-games scheduled

Cougar JV Wins 12-8;

Friday's Oamet
St. Louis Hasmussan 5-10 'it Montreal
Hannahs 0 0
Philadelphia Christenson 124 at Chicago
Bonhem I 12
Los Angeles Suttom9-9 and Lewailyn 0-0
at Atlanta Lacorte 3 9 and Morel 3 4,2. t.fi

Florence Tops Bears

Pittsburgh Medicti 611 at New York
Metlack 151. n
San Francisco Barr 13 U at Cincinnati
Bilungrtem VI *. n
Only gan.es scheduled
Saturday's Games
St. Louis at Montreal, 3 _
Pittsburgh at New York" varsity test. Coolidge is 1-1 on the season.
Casa Grande High's junior varsity football
Philadelphia al Chicago Class B Maricopa won its second straight
San Francisco at Cincinnati, n squad scored a pair of touchdowns to over-
LOI Angeles at Atlanta, n JV contest, taking Camp Verde 18-0,
San Diego et Houston, n
come an early 8-0 PepHa lead and beat the
hosts 12-8 Thursday afternoon in the 1978 Ray Crockett scored the only touchdown for
season opener. Casa Grande's frosh on a 95-yard pass in-
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East terception return in the fourth quarter.
w. L, Pet. OB Peoria jumped ahead in the opening stanza Chester Collins was the leading rusher for the
New York 19 55 .611 — when a touchdown was set up by the 60-yard little Cougars with 64 yards in 14 carries.
552 »>,,
Baltimore • K 65
503 return of a Cougar fumble.
Cleveland 72
479 20
Chandler scored a touchdown in every
Boston 70 76
67 71 462
But Johnny Skinner swept around end for 50 quarter but the second.
Detruit
Milwaukee 63 12 434 26'1 yards for a touchdown in the second period At Coolidge, David Neal scored twice for
West and Casa Grande trailed just M after the run
14 63 571 - Florence in the second quarter to pace the
Kansas City
Oakland 79 67 541 for conversion failed. Gopher victory.
Minnesota 74 503 10
a W 45» 16") Casa Grande got the winning points across He scored on runs of three and 40 yards The
California
Texas 66 M 452 17'1 in the third period when quarterback Grant defensive struggle saw Florence gain just 38
63 15 426
Chicago " "' ""' Walton raced four yards on an option play for net yards rushing. Coolidge had 58, but didn't
Thursday's Results the touchdown. complete a single pass in six attempts,
Te»as 5. Chicago <
ftCKi'on ' Milwaukee 3
The Cougars attempted to run for two extra Florence was fivtMif-flve in the air for 34
Kansas C'ty 3, California 0 points, but were stopped short, yards. Phillip Garcia completed all four of his
Mirtnnota 4. Oakland 0 attempts and Neal was good on a halfback
NFW York at Cleveland, PPd. .ra'n It was the defense that kept Casa Grande in
Ontv OB^ft scheduled the game until the offense could get moving. pass.'
The Cougar secondary picked off four of Neal gained 53 yards en 14 carries asd
Friday's Oames Peoria's seven pass attempts - giving the
Baltimore-'Palmer 31 H. »f Cleveland' David Granillo gained 43 yards on seven tries.
Thomas 3 3 n
offense good field position with each turnover. John Granillo was the top Florence defender
Chicago Goisage 9.14 el .Kansas C.»y
Leonard 151 n
Dale Garcia stole two, with Randy Allen with 23 tackles. David Granillo had 17 and
New York 'E'»! '" •' WHweu1"* and Jody Glasco picking off one each. Billy Neal 18.
Augustine 111. n Johnson blocked a Peoria punt to set up the Steve Anderson scored twice for Maricopa
Boston TlanlU II «'Detroit fldrvch 16
I, n winning touchdown. Johnson and Doyle Dixon against Camp Verde on runs of 60 and 50
'Minnesota Sfdlern Jl at California were Casa Grande's leading tacklers. yards. George Waibel connected on a 55-yard
Kimwood 6 n.-fl
Ter««'Perry.12 I4at Onklend Abbott ) 4. In other Thursday contesu the Casa scoring pass to David Peters.
Chandler Junior High. Above, a Chandler runner moves up
JUNIOR VARSITY AND FROSH football «eaion opened for Grande heavyweight frosh dropped a 22-fi Maricopa scored single touchdowns in the
Seturdey'i Oemei the middle during the frosh game at Cougar Stadium.
Baltimore •' Cleveland
Casa Grande Hl(?h Thursday. The Cougar JV club posted a (Sta ff Photo by H. Darr Bel«er) decision to the Chandler Junior High ninth- first, second and third quarters It was the
Boito" »t' Detroit 12-K victory over Peoria. while the heavyweight frosh lost to graders at Cougar Stadium, while Florence second victory for the Rams in as many starts
New Yprfc «t M'lw«ufc»«
T»«e» at Oakland - downed Coolldge 12-8 at Coolidge in a junior this season.
Chicago at Kansas c»r, "
Minnesota et California, n