Over the last few years, the Pacific View League title has been determined by the winner of the Rio Mesa-Camarillo clash on the final week of the regular season.

While those two perennial powers figure to be in the mix for the title again this season, teams like Oxnard and Pacifica believe they have enough talent to make a serious run.

Rio Mesa is the defending league champion and figures to be a frontrunner again in 2007.

The Spartans lost superstar running back Malachi Lewis, the school's career rushing and scoring leader, and all-league quarterback Shane Austin to graduation, but coach Bob Gregorchuk believes he has some talented players ready to fill their shoes in senior quarterback Matt DeLosSantos and senior running back/cornerback Jerrell Thomas.

Thomas, a three-year-starter at corner, has seen action at running back the past few years, but now figures to carry it the bulk of the time.

"As always, our biggest key is the offensive line," Gregorchuk said. "We only have two guys back, Jeremy Fontes and Paul Ui, and they need to step up and lead that group.

"And we need our young linemen like Shayne Kelley to step in and play well and for that group to gel."

On defense, Gregorchuk said what his team lacks in size they make up for with team speed.

While his team is the defending champion, Gregorchuk believes Oxnard is the favorite to win the league title.

Coach Mark Beckham's Yellowjackets return nine of 11 starters on defense and seven on offense.

Beckham said having so many players back is a definite plus, because their experience in the system will allow the Yellowjackets to throw in more wrinkles on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback Dasmen Stewart, who started as a sophomore, leads an explosive offensive group that includes wide receiver Jamal Smith and Derek Shutt, who will play a lot at tight end this year.

Oxnard started five sophomores on defense last year, giving it a strong base of returning talent, including everyone on the defensive line.

"Our experience and team speed should be great strengths for us," Beckham said. "We were 7-4 last year and we started seven sophomores. We hope to take it to the next level.

"On paper we look good, but you don't win games on paper.Our kids have to keep working toward improving."

Like Oxnard, Camarillo has some talented skill players returning, but the Scorpions will need first-year senior starter Marcus Sanchez to play well at quarterback.

"He had an excellent summer," head coach Dennis Riedmiller said of Sanchez. "He increased his arm strength and he knows the offense well. We are pleased with his progress."

Sanchez has plenty of talent around him, including wide receiver Anthony Pinedo and new tight end Aulama Lemalu, a transfer from Arizona.

On the defensive side, the secondary figures to be a strength, with three of four starters returning.

Middle linebacker Matt Amerault anchors the front seven, along with defensive end Armando Valenzuela.

With a challenging pre-league schedule that includes games with Ventura, Agoura, Oak Park, Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks, Riedmiller said his team should be prepared for the start of league.

Pacific head coach Donnie Rea loves the 2007 edition of the Tritons. Rea believes it's a group that works hard and has good team chemistry.

Helping that chemistry is the leadership of junior quarterback Vince Moraga, who started a sophomore in 2006.

With a year of experience under his belt, Rea plans to give more freedom to Moraga, letting him use his quick feet and strong arm to make more plays.

Rea is equally excited about his offensive line, which he said has a chance to be one of the best he's had in his coaching career.

"They finished ninth out of 30 at this year's Hogs Tournament and were fourth in the tug-of-war," Rea said of his line. "So we're excited about that group.

"The key for us is, are our we going to hit someone on defense? If we play some defense, we can be pretty good."

New Hueneme head coach Steve Ruedaflores is making a quick impact on the Vikings program.

Ruedaflores is making sure his players do things right, whether that is being on time or cleaning up the locker room.

"It's all about accountability," Ruedaflores said. "It's the little things that count. There's only one way to go at things and that's hard. We're not sticking our toe in to test the water, we are jumping in with two feet and will go as hard as we can. We are fired up over here."

Hueneme has two terrific wide receivers in Travan Nixon and Andre Austin, both Division I prospects.

They should help new quarterback P.J. Robles feel more comfortable in his new starting position.

"He runs the team right and is a good distributor of the ball," Ruedaflores said of Robles "The league is tough but our goal is to make the playoffs."

Channel Islands coach Kernon Machado said his team's fortunes will depend on how quickly its young players respond to the challenge of playing the very competitive Pacific View League.