Football: Chaminade (4-0) is about to be tested

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Ed Croson won four City Section championships at Birmingham before taking over a struggling program at West Hills Chaminade. The Eagles have started 4-0, but the real season begins this week. Chaminade faces unbeaten North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, followed by games against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Mission Hills Alemany.

‘We’ll find out over the next month how far we’ve come,’ Croson said.

Croson has already worked his magic in getting two basketball players to come out and beat expectations. Starting quarterback Jake Basmagian, who is 6-foot-4 and hadn’t played football since his sophomore season, was intercepted four times in the season opener. Last week against Canyon Country Canyon, he was 10 of 14 for 296 yards and three touchdowns. Can you say candidate for most improved player?

‘Oh man, I think he’s a Division I guy,’ Croson said.

Another basketball player, senior point guard Jamal McClerkin, has emerged as a top receiver for the Eagles with his 42-inch vertical leap. He hadn’t played football since eighth grade.

So those big bucks that wooed Croson to Chaminade are paying off, though Croson said, ‘I don’t think anyone makes more money than Bill Redell.’

-- Eric Sondheimer