A committee at De Anza searched the nation to find the right coach to lead the program in hopes that the Dons could return to the form that led them to a national championship in 1979.

They're not there yet, but under Mitchell's leadership this just could be on their way. He started at De Anza in 2000, and as he enters his fourth season at the helm, the Dons seem to be poised on the threshold of greatness.

"Last year we were one catch away from play for the conference championship," said Mitchell. "This program once won a national title, and we are trying to return to a competitive level of football. We should arrive this year."

"We expect to be competing again for the Coast Conference championship," he added.

Much of Mitchell's optimism comes from the fact that he has a talented corps of players from the 2002 squad.

"The strength of our program is 33 sophomores," he said.

Comeback starters Nick Arnold (Fremont), Delainy Durgin (Fremont), J.P. Melert (Santa Teresa), LaMar Johnson (Menlo-Atherton), Scott Mueller (Cupertino), Jared Schblaske (Cupertino) and Bryan Mitchell (Eureka) bolster Mitchell's hope for a solid year.

Arnold (6-foot-4, 320) is a returning offensive tackle who will lead the charge up front for the Dons.

"He's a great lineman," said Mitchell. "Nick is the same caliber as Adam Toeniskoetter who received a full ride to Central Florida."

Mitchell (6-foot-1, 286) is "outstanding" at offensive guard, said Mitchell, and Melert (6-foot-1, 190) is returning at quarterback for the Dons. Johnson (5-foot-6, 150) is a returning wide receiver with "great speed."

Durgin (6-foot, 185), a former Fremont quarterback, is a returning starter at cornerback on the De Anza defensive unit. Mueller (6-foot, 220) and Schblaske (6-foot, 218) are a couple of "real prospects" at linebacker, said the coach.

Sophomore tight end Sean Sosnovec (Lincoln-Portland) is a promising tight end at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, and transfer Jason Macciola (6-foot-3, 220) is a defensive end who Mitchell says is "going to be one of the outstanding players in the area."

Rounding out the corps of promising sophomores at De Anza are linebackers George Grant (Santa Teresa/5-foot-9, 175), Nehemiah Palazzo (Milpitas/6-foot-2, 225), Kyran Warren (Willow Glen/6-foot-2, 260), Greg Hanlon (Arcata/6-foot, 220), Micah Del Buono (Lawrence Academy/6-foot, 210) and Michael Marr (Fremont/6-foot, 180); wide receivers Donovan Liggins (Hanahan, S.C./6-foot-2, 175), Amir Zamanian (Monta Vista/5-foot-11, 165), Rick Turley (Eureka/6-foot, 180) and Chris McGhee (Jefferson/6-foot-1, 200); running backs Ricardo Lopez (Mountain View/5-foot-8, 160), Donyell Johnson (Fremont/5-foot-7, 195) Tim McEathron (Aloha/6-foot, 227); defensive backs Kayn Ramirez-Baker (Cupertino/6-foot, 170), Michael Bonner (Central, Alabama/5-foot-8, 160), Newstein Alvarez (Santa Clara/6-foot3, 190) and Donny Bonds (Milpitas/5-foot-9, 165); tight end Rhett Rosenbledt (Serra/6-foot-3, 240); offensive linemen Salvador Romero (Santa Clara/5-foot-11, 250), Andre Serita (Cupertino/6-foot, 285) and Matt Banbury (Fremont/6-foot-3, 320); and defensive linemen Kimjohn Villegas (Oak Grove/5-foot-11, 310), Nate Watson (Oak Grove/6-foot-2, 255), Chris Bueno (Calavatas Hill/6-foot-2, 260) and Max Wilson (Oak Grove/6-foot-1, 250).

De Anza was to open the 2003 season at home against the College of Marin last weekend and they'll hit the road this week to visit cross-county rival San Jose City College on Sept. 13, 1 p.m., on the Jaguars' Nike-turf field.


West Valley

West Valley College head coach John Vlahos shares Mitchell's optimism for many of the same reasons. The Vikings have eight comeback sophomore lettermen this fall, four of them returning all-leaguers.

Jason Campbell (Del Mar), Mike Gonzalez (Mitty), Tony Barba (Prospect) and Heath Ferreira (Valley Christian) each won all-conference honors as freshmen and they return to the field as sophomores.

Campbell (6-foot-2, 205) is back to lead the offense at quarterback for the Vikings after leading the club to a 5-5 finish last year. He was picked to the all-conference honorable mention list.

Gonzalez (6-foot, 210) was an all-conference first team linebacker last year and returns to lead the defense along with Barba (5-foot-11, 298), an all-conference second team pick.

Ferreira (5-foot-10, 227) is a talented sophomore running back who will lead the ground attack for the Vikings after winning all-conference first team plaudits a year ago.

Mike Crooks (Leigh), Matt Griffith (Branham), Justin Belligan (Wilcox) and Mike Anello (Willow Glen) are other returning starters for the Vikings.

Crooks (5-foot-11, 185) is back at wide receiver and Anello (5-foot-8, 180) returns as a running back for the Vikes. Griffith (6-foot-4, 250) returns in the defensive line and Belligan (6-foot, 217) is a returner in the defensive secondary.

An impressive crop of freshmen, led by Leigh's all-everything Chris Orozco, also gives Vlahos reason for optimism. Yitbarek Admassu (Valley Christian), Andrew Boer (Branham), Matt Blanco (Branham), Jesse Enchill (Fremont), Orin Catrett (Live Oak) and Devin Schrock (Saratoga) are other impressive recruits from local high schools.

Orozco (5-foot-11, 180) is a speedster at running back who should be an impact player right away for the Vikes. Schrock (6-foot-3, 205) is a fleet-footed wide receiver, and Admassu (5-foot-11, 175) is another top prospect at running back.

Boer (6-foot-4, 306) and Blanco (6-foot-3, 296) look strong in the offensive line for West Valley with Enchill (6-foot-3, 195) and Catrett (5-foot-10, 180) top candidates in the defensive secondary.

The Vikings were to open the season at home against American River last weekend, and they'll be on the road this week to visit the City College of San Francisco on Sept. 13, 1 p.m.

De Anza College Schedule

Sept. 5 Marin College 1 p.m.

Sept. 13 at San Jose City College 1 p.m.

Sept. 20 West Valley College 1 p.m.

Sept. 27 Foothill College 3 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Sierra College 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 at Contra Costa College 1 p.m.

Oct. 18 Gavilan College 1 p.m.

Oct. 25 at Monterey Peninsula 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 Hartnell College *7 p.m.

Nov. 15 Cabrillo College 1 p.m.

*Games to be played at the Salinas Fairgrounds


San Jose City College 2003

Sept. 6 at College of Sequoias 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 DeAnza College 7 p.m.

Sept. 20 San Francisco 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 at Chabot 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Santa Rosa 1 p.m.

Oct. 18 Diablo Valley *7 p.m.

Oct. 25 San Mateo *1 p.m.

Nov. 1 at Los Medanos *7 p.m.

Nov. 7 at Laney College *7 p.m.

Nov. 15 West Valley *1 p.m.

*Denotes a Golden Gate Conference game.


West Valley College Schedule

Sept. 5 American River College 3 p.m.

Sept. 13 at City College of
San Francisco 1 p.m.

Sept. 20 at De Anza College *1 p.m.

Sept. 26 College of Sequoias *3 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Foothill College *7 p.m.

Oct. 17 Laney College **3 p.m.

Oct. 25 at Diablo Valley College
**1 p.m.

Oct. 31 College of San Mateo
**1:30 p.m.

Nov. 7 Los Medanos College
**1:30 p.m.

Nov. 15 at San Jose City College
**1 p.m.

*Denotes a conference game.

** Denotes a division games.