Kimball Jaguars

Coach: Steve Anastasio

Career record: 3-17

Record at school: 3-17

Last year: Kimball (2-8, 1-6) opened with a 28-18 loss to Cosumnes Oaks, a playoff quarterfinalist last fall, but it couldn’t match that performance later in the season. It gave up 85 points to Oakdale and Manteca in its first two league games, and never recovered from those back-to-back routs.

Last league title: None

Last playoff berth: None

Coaching staff: Jojhn Diamond, Freddy James, Rob Rebeiro, KT Ransom, Hugh Adamo.

Top returners: QB Zach Johnson, DB Evan Owns, FB Alex Toledo, WR Austin Griffith, WR Dario Valadez, MLB Steven Mendoza, WR/DE Charles Walker.

Top newcomers: RB Gaige Allen (jr.), WR Damon Jackson, LB Jake Carey (jr.).

Outlook: Johnson and Owens are three-year varsity starters, playing on the school’s first-ever varsity squad two years ago. Johnson (65 of 126, 1,068 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs) took care of the ball as a junior and it’s crucial the Jaguars keep him healthy. Griffith (25 catches, 11.8-yard avg.), Valadez (20, 18.0 5) and Walker (7, 32.4, 1) give him three experienced targets, and Kimball will likely need to throw over the top of the VOL’s more physical defenses. Walker could be the VOL’s best deep threat. … Owens (663 yards, 5.4-yard avg., 4 TDs), Johnson (502 yards, 7.3-avg., 7 TDs) and Toledo (278, 4.1-avg., 1) give the Jaguars a balanced attack, but the line play will be tested in a league that loves to run the ball. … Kimball had 50 kids come out for football, after playing with 30 in 2011 and just 22 in 2010.

Key game: Week 5 (Sept. 21) vs. Manteca. This starts a staggering four-week run that includes Oakdale, Sonora and Sierra in that order, and the Jaguars need to win at least two of those to have any shot at competing in the VOL. The good news for Kimball: It could take a 2-1 record into the Manteca game.