"Our kids worked incredibly hard during the off season," head coach Andy Walczak praised, "which showed a lot of character.

"This is our third year with this program, and it was the first time we got a big commitment to work out during the summer."

If the change in attitude translates into victories on the football field, the Firebirds can improve upon their third-place finish of 2003. They did not win any of their four non-league contests, but posted a 3-2-1 mark within the division.

"Mountain View is the favorite and I think everyone else should be pretty even," Walczak predicted.

"Everyone" this season does not include Saratoga, the 2003 league champ; the Falcons are competing in the De Anza Division. The Mountain View Spartans, dropping down from the De Anza Division, have moved into the El Camino circuit and have been touted by opposing coaches as the team to beat.

A couple of coaches have listed Fremont as a co-favorite, but the Firebirds will have to shore up their defense this season if they want to be true title contenders. Fremont yielded more than 30 points in six of their games last season.

With junior Nathan Cathcart (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) roaming the defensive backfield and senior inside linebacker Adrian Arias (5-9, 185) plugging the middle, Walczak promises that Fremont "will be a lot better defensively."

Cathcart, a first-team all-El Camino Division defender last year as a sophomore, will be the Firebirds' "best defensive back," Walczak predicted. Arias, Fremont's leading tackler in 2003, "should do so again this year," the coach said.

But the element of the defense that has Walczak and assistant coaches Cip Sena, Tim Waldholm and Scott Gunderson most optimistic is the line.

"Our D-line is big," Walzcak said, noting that senior tackles Sean Garrett (6-foot-2, 250) and Emil Frazier (6-foot-3, 240), along with defensive end Alex Tucker (6-foot-1, 215), "will be the strength up front." All three were starters as juniors.

Tackle Ruben Chagoya (5-foot-10, 215) and outside linebacker Shawn Church (6-foot-1, 185) also are returning senior starters for the Firebirds. Walczak believes junior linebacker Joe Maes (6-foot, 215) and junior safety Juan Arce (5-foot-9, 180) both will make an impact on the defense.

Three big playmakers from Fremont's 2003 offense are gone, but Walzcak believes a two-pronged running attack will propel the Firebirds' offense this season.

First, Fremont lost all-league quarterback Mike Silva to graduation. Then explosive receiver Aaron Hickson, a first-team all-leaguer as a junior, transferred to Homestead. Running back Jay Atkins, a second-team all-leaguer last season as a sophomore, also transferred to Homestead.

"We will try to run the ball a lot," Walczak said. "With Cathcart and Church we should have two guys that can carry the ball 15 to 20 times a game."

Chagoya, a guard, and Frazier, a tackle, are "skilled, smart and strong" linemen, according to the coach, and "should be able to open up some big holes."

Walczak expects center Mark Pariaszevski (6-foot, 210), quarterback Cookie Mills (5-foot-7, 150) and tight end Harold Su (6-foot, 190), all juniors, to make large contributions to the offense in 2004.

Senior wide receiver Kevin Julian (5-foot-7, 140), a basketball player in his first season on the football team, figures to be the team's best receiver, according to Walczak. Julian will be catching passes from Mills, who will be in his first season at varsity quarterback after taking over for Silva.

"Cookie Mills has thrown the ball well all summer and will do a great job running the offense," Walczak explained.

After three home non-league games against Willow Glen (Sept. 11), Independence (Sept. 17) and Saratoga (Sept. 23), the Firebirds will play their first league game on Oct. 1 against Lynbrook at Cupertino.

Sept. 13 Willow Glen 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 19 at Independence 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 Mountain View 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 Saratoga at LG *7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 Monta Vista*7:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 at Los Altos*1:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 Homestead 3:15 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Cupertino*7:30 p.m.

Nov. 7 Santa Clara* 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 14 Lynbrook*7:30 p.m.

*Denotes Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division game.

Westmont

* Tyler Porras (6-foot-2, 245), Sr., OL/DL, all-league
* Daniel Weller (5-foot-9, 170), Sr., RB, all-league

Del Mar

* Mike Howery (6-foot, 200), Sr., OL/LB, all-league, three-year varsity starter
* Danny Hauff (5-foot-10, 170), Sr., RB/LB, second team all-league, three-year varsity starter
* Johnny Daniels (6-foot-1, 170), Sr., QB/DB, all-league

Valley Christian

* Dominique Hunsucker (5-foot-10, 180), Jr., HB, WCAL sophomore of the year
* Joseph Townsend (6-foot-4, 280), Sr., OT/DT, all-league
* Mark Pirotta (5-foot-10, 240), Sr., C/DT, all-league
* Kyle Thompson (6-foot-3, 210), Sr., DE, all-league
* J.R. Adams (6-foot, 180), Sr., HB, all-league
* Mike Gintler (5-foot-11, 180), Jr., HB, WCAL JV MVP

Los Gatos

* Erik Rollin (6-foot-5, 207), Sr., QB, third year varsity, all-league
* Mike Brienzo (6-foot, 181), Sr., WR/DB, SCVAL De Anza Division Junior of the Year
* Evan Wynne (6-foot-4, 248), Sr., OG/DT, all-league, "could be one of the best we have ever had"
* Liam Smith (6-foot-6, 240), Sr., OT/DT, three-year starter, all-league second team
* Devin Lopez (6-foot, 250), Sr., NG, "a throwback to some of the best nose guards we have had at this school"
* Vince Bellotti (6-foot-3, 190), Sr., FS, all-league second team

Branham

* T.J. DeStefano (5-foot-7, 165), Sr., QB, all-league
* Nolen Robison (5-foot-8, 160), Sr., DB/RB, all-league
* Kyle Johnson (5-foot-10, 210), Sr., DL/OL, second team all-league
* Louis Sakoda (5-foot-9, 170), Sr., PK/SE/DB, second team all-league

Mitty

* Joe Ciesinski (6-foot, 183), Sr., DB/RB, WCAL Junior of the Year
* Malcolm Odoh (6-foot, 243), Sr., DL
* Brian Dressman (6-foot, 170), Sr., QB, all-league
* Richard Ricketts (6-foot-3, 230), Sr., DL, all-league
* Kyle Hansen (6-foot-2, 225), Sr., DL/OL, all-league
* Matt Guild (5-foot-8, 165), Sr., LB, all-league

Lincoln

* Raul Figueroa (5-foot-8, 180), Sr., RB, all-league
* Chris Garcia (5-foot-8, 200), Sr., OL/DL, all-league
* Patrick Yanez (5-foot-9, 180), Sr., OLB

Saratoga

* Phil Spencer (5-foot-8, 170), Sr., RB/CB, all-league
* Adam Sato (6-foot-2, 225), Sr., TE/LB, all-league
* Brent Walter (6-foot-3, 215), Sr., DL, all-league, all-state wrestler
* T.J. Florence (5-foot-7, 175), Sr., FB/LB, all-league

Harker School

* Ben Shapiro, Sr., QB, all-league, three-year varsity starter
* Kevin Park, Sr., RB, all-league, three-year varsity starter
* Eric Gavarre, Sr., TE, all-league, three-year varsity starter

Leigh

* Kiel Trudeau (6-foot-2, 180), Sr., QB, BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division Junior of the Year, No. 2 rated passer in CCS
* Brian Wendt (6-foot-3, 215), Sr., TE/LB, all-league, led the division in tackles
* Jon Brown (5-foot-10, 210), Sr., FB, second team all-league
* Matt Hoffman (6-foot-2, 180), Sr., WR
* Mike Edwards (5-foot-9, 185), Sr., LB, second team all-league

Monta Vista

* Matt Delgado (5-foot-10, 200), Sr., NG, all-league, three-year varsity starter

Leland

* Kirk Andre (5-foot-8, 180), Sr., RB/LB, all-league
* Gabe Castaneda (6-foot-3, 305), Sr., OL/DL, all-league
* Alex Gregarick (5-foot-11, 205), Sr., OL/DL, all-league

The King's Academy

* J.T. Martin (6-foot-1, 160), Sr., WR/FS, all-league
* Ji Jo (6-foot-1, 220), Sr., FB/DT, all-league

Willow Glen

* Matt Arevalo (5-foot-10, 210), Sr., LB, all-league
* Nate Torrez (6-foot-2, 250), Sr., DL, all-league
* Eugene Martinez (5-foot-7, 175), Sr., LB/FB, second team all-league
* Tim Cremer (6-foot-2, 235), Sr., DE/TE

Homestead

* Chris Morris (6-foot, 210), Sr., RB, SCVAL De Anza Division Offensive Player of the Year
* Jay Atkins (6-foot, 190), Jr., RB, all-league, transfer from Fremont
* Aaron Hickson (6-foot-2, 195), Sr., WR, all-league, transfer from Fremont

Fremont

* Nathan Carthcart (5-foot-10, 185), Jr., RB/CB, all-league
* Adrian Adrias (5-foot-9, 185), Sr., LB, team's leading tackler

Prospect

* Garrett Karren (6-foot-2, 210), Sr., TE/DE/PK, all-league, third year varsity
* Scott Skinner (5-foot-10, 185), Sr., RB/LB, third year varsity

Pioneer

* Collin McCarthy (6-foot, 200), Sr., LB, all-league
* Andrew Schultz (5-foot-8, 170), Sr., RB/DB, all-league
* Rolando Gomez (6-foot-4, 255), Sr., TE/DE, all-league
* Steve Matos (5-foot-9, 220), Sr., OL/DL, all-league
* Shaun Souza (5-foot-8, 170), Jr., RB/DB

Bellarmine

* John Gill (6-foot-4, 290), Sr., OL/DL, second team all-league