Colton has dominated the San Andreas League since the school returned from a stint in the Citrus Belt League in 2006.

The Yellowjackets have taken the league title the past two seasons, but Coach Harold Strauss said this may be the most challenging season for his squad.

"This might be the year to catch us," Strauss said.

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Stan Lim / The Press-Enterprise

Colton football coach Harold Strauss' Yellowjackets are inexperienced, but opposing coaches still consider them the team to beat in the San Andreas League this season.

A combination of key senior graduates moving on and few seniors to replace them has left the team with a potential lack of leadership.

All three featured running backs (Nick Reyes, D. J. Stallion and Travell Washington), who accounted for 3,316 rushing yards out of the team's total of 4,060, graduated.

Daniel Sorensen and Damien Holmes, who were big pieces of last year's defensive puzzle, have moved on to college. Daniel Bernard, who was a solid lineman, is also attending college in the fall.

That leaves several big holes for Strauss to fill.

"We'll have something to prove this season," Strauss said. "There's a lot of solid teams in the SAL."

Despite the losses suffered by the Yellowjackets, many SAL coaches still said Colton is the team to beat.

"It's simple," San Bernardino Arroyo Valley coach Marcus Soward said by phone. "Colton is the team to beat this year because no one has beaten them. I think Strauss has done a great job of reloading his team over the years."

San Bernardino San Gorgonio coach Randy Stevens agreed.

"Until someone takes the title from them, I'll give Colton the nod," Stevens said by phone. "They did lose their offensive line. So it will be interesting to see what they can do."

San Bernardino coach Nick Monica attributes Colton's success to its continuity, which he said doesn't seem to have changed.

"They have a good program over there," Monica said by phone. "Coach Strauss does a great job with those kids. Those kids don't move around. They are there from their freshman year through their senior year and they spend time learning the system."

Reach John Gonzales at 951-368-9729 or jgonzales@PE.com