Western Athletic Conference outlook, coaches’ picks, schedules

▪ CENTRAL VALLEY HAWKS

Head coach: Scott Edwards

Year/record: 2nd, 5-5

Key returners: DB/Athlete Moses Ghiorso (5-10, 170); RB/S Jamarea Lumpkin (5-10, 195); TE/DE Franky Ramirez (6-1, 240); LB Adrian Badillo (6-1, 220); OL/DL Noah Postley (5-11, 255); WR/DB Bobby Nieto (6-1, 180); OL/DE Carlos Fregoso (6-1, 200); OLB Emani Anitelea (5-11, 185).

Key newcomers: OL/DL Erik Mejia (6-1, 245); LB Angel Rico (5-9, 215); FB/LB Gabriel Quezada (6-1, 240).

Key losses: OL/DL Danny Alvarado; OL/DL Gurvak Dhami; DE Josh Beleele; OLB Anthony Harrison.

Stadium: Ceres High

Rivalry: Ceres

▪ CERES BULLDOGS

Head coach: Bret Durossette

Year/record: 10th, 34-58

Key returners: RB/DB Johnni Smith-Willis (5-8, 165); WR/DB Marcellus Boykins (6-0, 160); RB/LB Aaron Black (5-8, 170); WR/DB Seth Gibson (5-10, 150); TE/LB Conner Johnson (6-0, 195); WR/DB Austin Stiles (6-0, 180).

Key newcomers: OL/DL Arturo Barajas (5-10, 223); QB/DB Chris Lubinsky (63, 175); WR/DB Austin Crane (5-11, 155).

Key losses: QB Brad Bussard; DB Daniel Raya; LB Brent Bussard; OL/DL Adrian Torres; OL/DL Ramon Coral; OL/LB Caleb McDade; OL/DL Blake Tobler.

Stadium: Ceres High

Rivalry: Central Valley

▪ EL CAPITAN GAUCHOS

Head coach: Mike Machado

Year/record: 2nd, 0-10

Key returners: RB/DE Josh Stewart (5-11, 200); OT/DT Reno Bandoni (6-3, 275); C/DT Art Prieto (5-10 240); WR Elijah Reid (6-0, 165).

Key newcomers: G/DT Ethan Torres (5-10, 220); DT Terris Evans (5-9, 250); DE David Stewart (6-2, 230); WR Travis Minor (5-9, 150); FS/WR Da’Vonya Shepherd (5-10, 185).

Key losses: None.

Stadium: Merced College (8,000)

Rivalry: Merced, GV

▪ LIVINGSTON WOLVES

Head coach: Alex Gonzalez

Year/record: 2nd, 5-5

Key returners: RB Eddie Avila (6-2, 180); LB Justin Reimann (5-11, 205); OL/DL Jesus Ramirez (5-7, 180).

Key newcomers: QB/WR/S Grayson Austin (5-11, 175); OL/DL Jaime Aquino (5-11, 235); S Brayan Negrete (5-11, 170)

Key losses: QB CJ Avila; DL Jorge Torres; LB Jesus Sierra; RB Jose Mejia.

Stadium: Livingston Stadium (2,500)

Rivalry: Le Grand

▪ LOS BANOS TIGERS

Head coach: Dustin Caropreso

Year/record: 4th, 24-10

Key returners: QB/DB Adam Herrera (5-11, 170); WR/OLB David Walker (6-3, 200); RB/LB Daniel Fernandez (5-11, 200); TE/OLB Anthony Machado (6-1, 190); OL/DL Jacob Geist (6-1, 234); OL Evan Duran (6-0, 250); OL Andreas Hernandez (5-9, 180); DB Andrew Moore (5-11, 145); LB Mason Leal (6-0, 175).

Key newcomers: OL/DL Scott Christ (6-4, 196); LB/WR Vincent Alvarez (5-10, 145).

Key losses: LB/TE Alex Barcellos; FB Bailey Rodriguez; FS Gilbert Fuentes; MLB Logan Pimentel; CB Jordan Smith.

Stadium: Carlyle G. Loftin Stadium (3,500)

Rivalry: Dos Palos and Pacheco

▪ PACHECO PANTHERS

Head coach: David Snapp

Year/record: 5th, 21-22

Key returners: WR/DB Chris Munoz (6-0, 180); OL Thor Rodoni (6-2, 220); WR/DB Carlos Garcia (5-11, 185); RB/DB Deontae Smith (5-10, 165); DL Jesus Martinez (6-1, 200).

Key newcomers: QB Carl Schofield (5-11, 175); RB/DB TK Teneng (5-6, 175); LB/TE Cameron Castro (6-3, 235); OL/DL Nik Sabala (5-8, 250).

Key losses: LB Frank Ginda; OL/DL Josh Tui; WR/LB Maurice Harden; OL/DL Robert Ricks; QB Juwan Epperson; RB/LB Lebe Velasquez.

Stadium: Carlyle G. Loftin Stadium (3,500)

Rivalry: Los Banos

▪ PATTERSON TIGERS

Head coach: Rob Cozart

Year/record: 9th, 59-34

Key returners: RB/DB Michael Lawson; RB/DB Alec Espos; OL/DL Thomas Turner; OL/DL Damien Collins; OL/DL Antonio Villareal; RB/LB Jamal Broussard; TE/LB Nik Priester.

Key newcomers: QB Kevin Todd; WR/DB Pierre Williams; OL/LB Daniel Valverde; RB/LB Daniel Apostle; WR/DB Joe Okitukunda.

Key losses: QB Damien Paulo; WR/DB Demarrio Hammonds; LB Ruben Rosas.

Stadium: Patterson Community Stadium (2,500)

Rivalry: Escalon

COACHES’ PICKS: 1. Los Banos. 2. Patterson. 3. Central Valley. 4. El Capitan. 5. Pacheco. 6. Ceres. 7. Livingston.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Western Athletic Conference outlook, coaches’ picks, schedules."