Three's company - New Arleta quarterback Javy Lopez (left) will depend on teammates Noel Avalos (center) and Josh Robles to help the Mustangs defend their East Valley League title.

UNTIL A BUSTED FINAL PLAY against Woodland Hills El Camino Real last December, the Mustangs were the leading stallions of Division II.

They had not lost a football game on the field since a 23-21 defeat by Grant on Nov. 9, 2007, a span of 26 games. (Arleta did forfeit its 2009 season opening victory against Los Angeles Marshall because of an ineligible player.) During that stretch the Mustangs won two consecutive East Valley League titles, and the 2008 Los Angeles City Section Division II championship.

It's even more impressive when you consider Arleta did not open its doors until the 2006-07 academic year. This fall, the team enters it fourth year of varsity football.

But that busted play, which came in a 2009 Division II playoff semifinal, has taken the "charmed" away from Mustang life.

In the game, Arleta had narrowed the Conquistador's lead to 21-20 by scoring a touchdown on the final play of regulation via a 50-yard pass from Bryan Choto to Antonio Bray. Choto, who was tackled seconds after he released the ball, injured an ankle, and was on the sideline as the Mustangs lined up for a twopoint conversion to win the game instead of kicking an extra point and forcing overtime.

Albert Sandobal replaced Choto at quarterback, but the ensuing snap was fumbled. The play never had a chance, and Arleta's season came to an abrupt, tearful end.

Fast forward to July 2010, as Coach Jeff Engilman calmly munches a hamburger before practice starts.

"To a man we would not have done anything different," said Engilman, when asked if, in hindsight, there were any second thoughts.

"It [the play] was there, the hole was there, everything was there. We just didn't execute. My defensive coordinators had walked up to me and said 'we're out of gas. We're done.'You could see on their last drive we couldn't stop them. So that was part of my decision. "Of course it would have helped to have Bryan in," Engilman continued, "but that's just the breaks of the game. Bryan...probably could have gone in to at least hand the ball off. But Albert had been in that situation. He had 'quarterbacked' all through the season because of some blowout games. So I felt comfortable with him."

One of the several questions facing Arleta, as it gets ready for the 2010 season, is whether the Mustangs can continue to be an irresistible offensive force.

With Choto at the helm, coupled with the speed-and-power running combo of Antonio Bray and Omar Sanchez-Barrera, and a nifty receiving corps led by Sandobal and Deonte Ware - all were seniors last year - the Mustangs averaged 43.5 points per contest the past 26 games.

That level of proficiency may be too much to ask of Arleta, particularly in the beginning.

The biggest cog in the machine to replace is Choto, who knew the Mustang offense thoroughly and ran it with the precision of a digital clock. Getting the first chance is Javy Lopez, a senior, who played football his first two years at Arleta but did not play last year to concentrate on baseball, and is drawing attention from both college and pro scouts as a pitcher.

"Javy Lopez has the ability at quarterback to be as good as Bryan," Engilman said. "But he lacks experience, big time experience, and he weighs 140 pounds.

"It (the inexperience) has shown in our 7-on-7s in the summer passing leagues. Our biggest thing with Javy right now is he is zeroing in primarily on one receiver, as Bryan first did with Albert. And you can't do that, not in this offense."

Lopez, 17, said he understands the shadow left by Choto, who completed 215 of 315 pass attempts for 3,684 yards and 42 touchdowns the past two seasons.

"It's gonna be big shoes to fill," Lopez said. "I've got to stay strong and do what I've got to do with this team to carry it far. ... I have a grasp of the offense, it's just little things here and there."

Engilman said the Mustangs want to run the ball more to take pressure off Lopez to perform immediately.

"In the past we've been about 55-45 on the run-pass ratio," Engilman said. "This year it may be more 70-30."

That decision was made because Engilman expects the offensive and defensive lines to be the team's strength.

Each line will be built around returning starter Noel Avalos, who was the East Valley League defensive lineman of the year and an All-City Division II first team defense selection. Avalos, 16, a senior, will play both offense and defense, and Engilman said Avalos "has a chance to be a [college] Division I player."

At 6-feet-3, Avalos has the length Division I universities like. He'll need more weight on his frame, which now carries 220 pounds.

Avalos said he has not forgotten how the 2009 season ended, and that memory is helping his focus for this season.

"The loss to El Camino, that was a heart-breaking loss, I swear," Avalos said. "You have to use that to motivate yourself and play better next year. That's a learning step."

At the same time, Avalos is eager to see what awaits the Mustangs in 2010.

"I see the team being way different this year. I think we're still looking for our identity, but after a couple of games, I'm pretty sure we'll be good," he said.

"I like that we'll run more. For me, run blocking is more fun and I like putting people on their backs. So since our quarterbacks are young, running the ball could be more effective and it will help them grow. Our offensive line is very quick. I think that's our strength, and it could be a big factor."

Another player who figures to benefit from the 'run first' philosophy is fullback Josh Robles, a senior. Last season Robles, 17, gained 316 yards and scored three touchdowns in 29 carries while backing up Bray. Robles said he is prepared for the opportunity to be a starter.

"I've never learned as much from a back as I learned from him," Robles said. "I learned how to play the defense, when to put a move on a guy and then burst out. [Antonio] is more of a speed back than I am; I like contact. But I can run the ball like him."

Still, Arleta - which must also revamp its defense, especially at linebacker - is no lock to win a third consecutive East Valley League title with teams like Poly, Verdugo Hills, and North Hollywood expected to contend.

And the nonleague schedule, which includes Cleveland, Panorama, and the season opener against Los Angeles Marshall, has its share of tests as well.

Engilman knows that better than anyone.

"What the team accomplished [the past two years] was phenomenal," Engilman said. "It's going to be a tough act to follow. I imagine there are a few teams out there licking their chops right now, saying it's their turn.

"I know we'll have to do some things differently this year than last year because we had such a veteran football team last year. But... my big thing is that I'm just going to worry about us. You can always look down the road, say this and that; well if we take care of business, we'll be okay."

Mike Terry can be contacted at