Tiger Tricks Throw Foes for a Loop

Tom Hernandez, San Fernando High football coach, says he tries to install a new trick play each week. With opponents’ defenses sending as many as nine players to the line in an attempt to stop the Tigers’ wishbone ground attack, San Fernando needs plays that spread out the defense.

And even though San Fernando lost last week, 54-34, it left the Granada Hills defense spread-eagle.

Tight end-wide receiver Dwight McDuff tossed a pair of scoring bombs on double-pass plays to keep the Tigers within striking range. Quarterback Cruz Trevino lobbed the ball into the right flat, where McDuff caught it and threw downfield.

Surprisingly, the play failed the first time and worked twice in the fourth quarter. Keep in mind that the Highlander defense had not allowed a point in its previous three games.

McDuff also threw a scoring pass against El Camino Real on a double-reverse. He has completed three of five passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns, tying Trevino’s touchdown output.

McDuff’s two scoring completions against Granada Hills went for 59 and 81 yards, giving him more passing yardage than Trevino (79) and Highlander quarterback Bryan Martin (51) combined.

Scoring: Eight players scored for Westlake in a 56-6 victory Friday over Simi Valley. . . . Sylmar kicker Oscar Hernandez made 25 extra points in a row before missing after the final touchdown in last week’s 48-0 win over Birmingham.

Miscellany: Fillmore (8-0) is one win away from tying the school record for most wins to start a season. Last year’s team was 9-0 before losing to Carpinteria. . . .

Cross-country: The Taft boys’ team last week swept to its second West Valley League title in a row with perfect dual-meet scores against Chatsworth, El Camino Real and Reseda. The Toreadors claimed the top five places to total 15 points in each meet.

REGIONAL FOOTBALL TOP 10 Selected by sportswriters of The Times

Last Rk Wk Team League Record 1 1 Westlake Marmonte 8-0 2 2 Granada Hills West Valley 6-1 3 3 Canyon Golden 7-1 4 5 Crespi Mission 7-1 5 8 Glendale Pacific 8-0 6 7 Quartz Hill Golden 6-2 7 4 Thousand Oaks Marmonte 6-1-1 8 9 Ventura Channel 6-1-1 9 10 Sylmar East Valley 6-0 10 NR Royal Marmonte 6-1-1

NR--Not ranked.