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Esperanza (Anaheim, CA)


GENERAL
Nickname: Aztecs
Colors: Cardinal/Gold
Coach: Bill Pendleton
League: Sunset
Section: Southern
Playoff Division: Pac-5 (I)
Playoff Division Rank: #6
CA Bowl Division: South 1 (not yet official)
CA Bowl Division Rank: #8

RETURNERS
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Defensive Starters: 2
2007 JV Record: 9-0
Starting Quarterback Returning: yes
Top Running Back Returning: yes

RATINGS
2007 Final Power Rating: 48.1
2007 National Rank: #216
2007 State Rank: #18
Off-Season Rating Adjustment: +1
2008 Starting Power Rating: 49.1
2008 National Rank: #165
2008 State Rank: #21
Dynasty Rating (Average 2003-2007 Rating): 36.2
Dynasty National Rank: #249
2008 Rating vs. Dynasty Rating Comparison: better by 12.9
Dynasty Record: 44-17 [42-19 on the field] (16-9 in league)

HISTORICAL
2007 Overall Record: 10-2
2007 League Record/Finish: 4-1 (2nd)
2007 Points For Average: 25.7
2007 Points Against Average: 11.1
2007 Differential: +14.6
2007 Wins: #308 El Dorado (Placentia) (16-3), #466 Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) (28-7), #496 Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita) (28-7), #624 Lakewood (20-17), #821 Los Alamitos (30-24), #957 Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) (34-23), #1509 Fountain Valley (21-3), #2790 Jordan (Los Angeles) (42-18), #4222 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) (17-12), #5960 Marina (Huntington Beach) (58-0)
2007 Losses: #129 Servite (Anaheim) (10-7), #293 Edison (Huntington Beach) (9-7)
2007 Opponents W-L: 82-51-1
Recent League Championships: 2006
Winning Streak Entering 2008 Season: none

SCHEDULE
2008 Schedule: 9/5 vs Santiago (Corona), 9/12 at Jordan (Los Angeles), 9/19 vs Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach), 9/26 at Mount Miguel (Spring Valley), 10/10 vs Centennial (Compton), 10/16 vs Fountain Valley, 10/24 at Marina (Huntington Beach), 10/31 at Newport Harbor (Newport Beach), 11/7 vs Los Alamitos, 11/14 vs Edison (Huntington Beach)
Highest-Rated 2008 Regular Season Opponents: Santiago (Corona) (54.2), Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) (47.8), Los Alamitos (42.8)
Lowest-Rated 2008 Regular Season Opponents: Centennial (Compton) (6.6), Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) (7.2), Marina (Huntington Beach) (8)
2007 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 27.6 (36.1 overall)
2008 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 28.9
2008 vs. 2007 Schedule Strength Comparison: +1.3
2008 Projected Regular Season Record: 8-2
2008 Projected League Finish: 1st
2008 Undefeated Regular Season Probability: 7%
Opener: 9/5 vs Santiago (Corona) [projection: 21-17 loss]



Outlook: Esperanza High School had a pretty darn good team last year, taking home a share of the Sunset League title (they lost to Edison, the other 1st place team). Unfortunately for the Aztecs, most of that team is gone. All hope is not lost as QB Sean McDonald and RB Jared Moore return and are joined by a JV team that put together a terrific 9-0 record. Will those youngsters develop quickly enough to keep Espy in contention for the Sunset League title? It doesn't really look like it, but you'll probably have to really keep an eye on this team in '09.