Prep Notes : Carson’s Vollnogle Let’s Coordinator Call Shots

After calling the plays for nearly 30 years, Carson High School football Coach Gene Vollnogle has stepped aside to let new offensive coordinator Steve Clarkson call the shots this summer in passing-league games.

Does the veteran coach mind?

Not in the least, Vollnogle says.

“I’m not on an ego trip,” he said. “I may be the head coach, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s a co-coaching situation. Head coach is a misnomer on our team. Everyone on our staff has the power to do what they want.”

Vollnogle allows all of his coaches to voice their opinions, but he says it’s unlikely that the quarterbacks will make the decisions in the future.

Quarterbacks Perry Klein and Fred Gatlin called some of the plays for Carson last Saturday in the L. A. Games, and Vollnogle wasn’t pleased with the results. The Colts advanced on total yards after tying Dorsey, 19-19, and then were upset by Taft, 13-6.

“We gave the quarterbacks a little more freedom,” he said. “We wanted to see what they can do. I doubt if it will continue. (The coaches) are going to go back to calling the plays.”

Vollnogle says he still needs to learn Clarkson’s numbering system so he can begin calling the plays in September. However, he expects Clarkson to make suggestions, especially concerning the pass offense.

“I want some help from Clarkson,” he said. “It’s his (pass) offense, and we’re going to be throwing the ball 50% of the time or more. I know he’s only going to be here for one year. I want to pick up the things that I think can improve our program. I want to pick his brain.”

Fred Petersen, the former West Torrance High football coach who now assists John Featherstone at El Camino College, has always had an eye for talented quarterbacks. He developed a number of outstanding passers at West, including all-CIF picks Todd Hons, Randy Fayette and Steve Center.

Petersen recently proved he hasn’t lost his touch. While watching Carson’s Gatlin and Klein combine for four touchdown passes in a 27-6 win over Rolling Hills two weekends ago at the L. A. Games at West, Petersen mentioned that he had seen a better quarterback the day before.

The quarterback Petersen spoke of, Rod Baltau, went on to lead Canyon High of Saugus to the L. A. Games championship and earn the tournament’s MVP award. Canyon defeated Taft, 26-19, in the finals Sunday.

The 6-2, 175-pound Baltau was hampered last season by a knuckle injury on his passing hand, but he still wound up passing for 1,095 yards and six TDs. He passed for 142 yards in Canyon’s first-round CIF playoff victory over North Torrance.

Westchester’s Zan Mason and Inglewood’s Harold Miner, the top basketball prospects in the South Bay, put on a good show Saturday in the L. A. Games at El Camino College, but let’s not forget Sam Crawford.

The Westchester point guard led the Comets to the tournament title and was named most valuable player of the games over his more-publicized teammate and Miner, whose stock continues to rise.

Crawford, a 5-9 senior with great ball-handling skills, is the glue that holds together a Westchester team blessed with four Division I prospects. Forwards Renaud Gordon (6-6) and Booker Waugh (6-5) also are getting attention from major colleges.

Ask Coach Ed Azzam, however, and he’ll tell you that Crawford is his MVP. Of course, he’s also partial to Mason, a 6-7 bruiser who can bang inside with anyone on the high school level.

In Westchester’s 57-52 win over Inglewood, Mason and Miner entertained a large crowd with several impressive moves. The 6-5 Miner had two reverse dunks and a one-handed jam off a rebound on his way to a game-high 25 points, nearly half of his team’s total.

“I’ve seen Miner play twice before,” said Azzam, “and that’s the hardest I’ve seen him work. He was tough on both ends.”

Mason scored 11 points, mostly on strong moves inside.

Mason was recently named to a list of the nation’s top 30 senior prospects, one of only three Southern California preps so honored. Miner didn’t make the list, but it’s hard to believe he doesn’t belong in that company.

South Bay schools captured both soccer championships in the L. A. Games as Palos Verdes won the boys title with a 4-3 victory over St. Francis and Hawthorne claimed the girls crown with a 1-0 triumph over Arcadia.

Kevin Burd of Mira Costa was named most valuable player in volleyball and Mario Arnold of Leuzinger was MVP in track and field.

Kevin Lilley, an all-Pioneer League forward for Morningside’s basketball team last season, has signed a letter of intent to attend Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore.

The 6-4, 205-pound Lilley helped Morningside to a 16-9 record by averaging 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game.

“Kevin is a good signee for us,” said Mt. Hood Coach Andy McClouskey.