One thing that is just about a given every year is that La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School is going to put a very formidable football team on the field. Head coach Jeff Hutzler’s squad went 8-4 a season ago, going 3-1 in Pacific League play (second to Army Navy Academy), while losing to ANA in the second round of the CIFs. Key players this fall look to be senior quarterback/defensive back Derek Hatfield (league offensive player of the year in 2007 and first-team all-league QB in 2007 and ’08); senior fullback-linebacker Montell Allen (defensive player of the year last season, first-team safety in 2006 and first-team linebacker in 2007 and ’08); junior tackle Fiaalii Togiaso (first-team all-league in 2008); senior wide receiver-linebacker Connor Gerhart; junior tight end-linebacker Mike Bailey; junior tailback-defensive back Frankie Brown; senior guard-defensive end Indi Lavarious and senior guard-defensive end Blake Mohseni. “This is the largest team in school history with 62 players out (junior varsity and varsity combined),” Hutzler noted. “So far they have been a terrific group, hard-working, with solid captain and senior leadership.” Hutzler said that as it is every year and with every team, it is the team’s goal to instill the qualities of discipline, perseverance, loyalty and teamwork in their young men and to empower them to set goals, academic and athletic, and to achieve those goals to the best of their abilities. “Along the way we will work to win the Pacific League title and to play in the ‘Q’ for the CIF championship on December 11,” Hutzler added. LJCD opens regular-season play Friday, Sept. 4 at Calvin Christian. Elsewhere, The Bishop’s School finished 7-7 a season ago, losing to Francis Parker 51-22 in the CIF Division V title game. Bishop’s is under the direction of new head coach Joel Allen in 2009. Key players this year for Bishop’s School should include Micah Seau, Joey Moreno, Alec Fisher, Austin Fisher, Alex Carrillo, AJ Chedrick, Christian Thuer and Hector Eribez. “I think we should have a strong season,” Allen commnted. “We have some key players returning and hope to get some wins early in the season. This year we will be learning more and more about who we are each week. I hope we can gain momentum by the time the league starts.”