Los Banos Tigers

Coach: Dustin Caropresso

Career record: 0-0

Record at school: 0-0

Last year: Los Banos (10-2, 6-0) dropped its opener, then won 10 in a row before its season ended with a 34-24 loss to Casa Roble in the Division 3 quarterfinals. It was a breakout year for RB James Sams (1,872 yards, 20 TDs), who had 311 yards in the playoff loss.

Last league title: 2010

Last playoff berth: 2011

Coaching staff: John Betschart (defensive coordinator), Jeremy Siemiler (offensive coordinator), Jon Painter, Anthony Santos, Mike Lemos, Mike Tate, Darin Heredia, Don Enos, Rod Hill.

Top returners: RB James Sams (5-10, 185), WR/DB Daeton West (5-11, 170), QB Chris Corpuz, WR/DB Delvonte Moore. Top newcomers: TE/OLB Alec Barcellos (soph.)

Outlook: With nine starters returning on offense – including Sams, The Bee’s 2011 Offensive Player of the Year after running for 1,872 yards and 20 TDs) – the Tigers should be able to score while their defense gains experience. Just two starters return on defense. … Corpuz completed 57 percent of his passes (83 of 145) for 1,455 yards, 20 TDs and 11 picks as a junior, and he’s got quality threats on the outside with West and Moore. West (36 catches, 16.8-yard avg.) caught six TDs, and he’ll returns kick this fall, too. … The plan is to get Sams the ball 20 to 25 times a game, running and receiving. He had 28 carries for 311 yards in last year’s finale, a quarterfinal playoff loss to Casa Roble.

Key game: Week 3 (Sept. 7) at Manteca. WAC play is still two weeks away, but this early season showdown with a VOL contender should provide a sense of how far the Tigers have come from 2011. LB believes it is a section contender this year.