That won't be easy. After all, Codera played well enough in '02 to win the most outstanding defensive back award in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. And Santos would like nothing better than to see him win it again this season.

Codera (5-foot-9, 165 pounds) and Daniel Weller (5-foot-9, 175) are both comeback all-leaguers for the Warriors and top a list of 14 returning lettermen on this year's Westmont club.

Codera, a third-year varsity starter, doubles as a wide receiver and defensive back for the Warriors. He won all-league honors for his defense last year, but he was pretty good on the offensive side of the football, too.

As a junior wide out, Codera led the division with 31 receptions for 485 yards, averaging 15.6 yards per reception. He scored four touchdowns on his way to helping Westmont to a 5-5 finish overall--2-4 in the Santa Teresa Division.

Weller won an all-league second team spot as a wide receiver for Westmont, pulling in 16 passes for 230 yards (an average of 14.4 yards per catch). He figures to see action as a receiver and a running back this year.

Last year, the two were catching their passes from the division's most outstanding offensive back, Bryen Blankenship. But with Blankenship lost to graduation, senior Mike DeNardi (6-foot-3, 185) looks to be the heir apparent for the job. DeNardi is another third-year varsity player at Westmont who has played behind Blankenship for two seasons.

Westmont features a veteran line to provide protection for the returners, including seniors Danny Garcia (6-foot-2, 190), David Lee (5-foot-11, 230) and An Pham (6-foot-3, 235), joined by juniors Ramsey Habib (6-foot, 255), Tyler Porras (6-foot-2, 295) and Charles Tinley (6-foot-1, 295). All six are expected to see action in the defensive line, too.

The Warriors will send an experienced corps of linebackers to the field in seniors Brandon Simon (5-foot-7, 210), Andrew Sharp (5-foot-10, 190), Eric Stambaugh (6-foot, 180) and Branimir Vatavuk (5-foot-11, 160). Simon, another third-year varsity player, will also be a running back for Westmont.

Newcomers coming up from the frosh-soph who Santos expects to help the varsity this fall are sophomores Chantz Staden (5-foot-9, 160), a wide receiver/defensive back, and Stefen Fowler (5-foot-5, 160), a running back/wide receiver, and junior Justin O'Conner (5-foot-10, 155), a defensive back.

Santos is looking for his solid crew of returners and good crop of newcomers to come together well enough this fall to post a winning record. The coach is looking for a 6-4 finish for the year, and he sees Leland as the team to beat in the Santa Teresa Division.

Westmont will jump right into the 2003 season this week when the Warriors host Fremont on Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m., in a nonleague game.

Westmont 2003 Football Schedule

Sept. 12 Fremont 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 19 Gunderson 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Mt. Pleasant 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Branham * 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 Overfelt * 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 Del Mar 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 25 at Prospect * 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 Leland * 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 8 at Lincoln * 1:30 p.m.

Nov.14 Andrew Hill * 7:30 p.m.

*Denotes Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division game.