MIDWEEK REPORT : HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL UPDATE : Sylmar Puts ‘Em Down and Out

Sylmar High’s defense puts the hurt on opponents, and not only by limiting them to an average of 119 yards and 5.9 points a game.

The hard-hitting Spartans have sidelined several players, including Reseda quarterback Jamaal Washington, who left with a bruised thigh, and Van Nuys tailback John McPherson, who turned an ankle.

“Our guys come to play,” said Coach Jeff Engilman, who guided Sylmar to City 4-A titles in 1992 and ’94. “We’re always a physical team. It takes its toll.”

Engilman would know. In practice this week, the coach had to be helped from the field after injuring his ankle while filling in as quarterback in a drill against the Spartans’ starting defense.

“I don’t move around back there like I used to,” Engilman said.

Brother Act

His kid brother Jonathan is always in the limelight as a regular on the television hit “Home Improvement.” Now Joel Weiss is a hit in his own Fall season.

In his first full year of football, the 6-foot, 165-pound senior has emerged as a big-play receiver for Agoura. Weiss has 27 catches for 640 yards and six touchdowns. He averages an area-high 23.7 yards per catch, and has at least one catch of longer than 25 yards in six consecutive games.

Weiss starts on offense, defense and special teams, standing out on a winless Agoura team. His catches have accounted for 65% of the team’s passing yards and more than 40% of its offense.

“As far as I can tell, Joel is as good or better than anyone in the league,” said Charlie Wegher, Agoura’s coach.

Weiss caught only one pass for eight yards in Agoura’s opener, then went on a tear beginning with an 80-yard scoring reception against Santa Barbara.

“Teams are beginning to double him up but he runs right by the safety,” Wegher said. “He goes after the ball aggressively.”

In a few weeks, Weiss will be done with football but he won’t stop scoring: He is a starting guard on the Agoura basketball team.

Hold the Champagne

Hold that victory parade. Bell-Jeff isn’t all that excited about its first victory, 12-0 over Pius X.

“It felt pretty good,” Coach Doug Woodlief said. “But they don’t have a real potent offense. After watching the films, we felt like we could rip them man for man.”

Bell-Jeff, which scored only eight points in losing its first six games, set several season highs for offense. Will Ruiz rushed for 79 yards, Jose Ovalle gained 77 and Mike Bodell ran for 34, representing the team’s top individual rushing performances of the season.

The Guards also limited Pius X to 67 yards, a season-low for the Bell-Jeff defense.

Then again, it should probably be noted that winless Pius X hasn’t scored all season. Next year, the parochial school’s enrollment will be girls only.

Kicking Up His Heels

After missing two games because of a hyperextended knee and painfully enduring others with an injured toe, Calabasas kicker Damon McLaren is back at full strength.

McLaren, a senior who took up football last year after starring in soccer, wowed fans at Nordhoff last Friday by drilling a 57-yard field-goal during warmups, and kicking all four of his kickoffs through the end zone.

He has not allowed returns on 18 of 26 kickoffs this season.

McLaren certainly has impressive leg strength, but he still needs to bone up a little on football’s rules.

When a poor snap resulted in Nordhoff blocking a field-goal attempt, it became apparent that McLaren didn’t know that the ball was still live.

“I just saw everybody running after it so I started running after it too,” he said.

Shortly after, McLaren made up for his gaffe with a bit of improvisational theater at the request of Calabasas coaches.

After a conversion kick, McLaren feigned as if he had been hit, drawing a penalty. “Then I threw in a little fake limp as I was running off the field,” he said.

The penalty allowed McLaren to kick off from the Nordhoff 45.

He kicked it through the uprights.

Oh yeah, that leg really hurt.

The Real Deal

Jeff Marcea, a 6-2, 235-pound senior, has bounced around at linebacker for El Camino Real, which faces undefeated Kennedy on Friday.

Macrea, a three-year starter, opened the season at outside linebacker, his natural position. But opposing teams ran away from him, prompting his switch to middle linebacker three weeks ago.

The move has paid dividends. Macrea had 14 tackles and forced a fumble in a 34-3 victory over Chatsworth.

But Marea is moving again, back to the outside where this week he faces the unenviable task of trying to contain Kennedy tailback Antwane Smith.

“This is big week for me, personally,” Macrea said. “I realize we may not win, but this is a chance for me to show what I can do at my best position.”

It’s Academic

John Victor, father of Westlake receiver Jason Victor, said he will attend Westlake’s home game Friday night against Royal and will meet Monday with school officials to discuss his son’s academic status.

John Victor resides in Gahanna, Ohio, and has frequent contact with Jason over the telephone. Jason, 18, who lives with the family of Westlake linebacker Kenny Pickard, is certain to gain a Division I scholarship if he meets NCAA academic requirements.

Jason is scheduled to take the Scholastic Assessment Test for the first time Nov. 4.

“I want to try to get to the facts about what’s going on [academically],” John Victor said. “I want to see if there is a problem, and how can we resolve it.”

Jason has had no problems on the field, making 33 receptions for 630 yards and six touchdowns.

Coach in Exile

Hoping to end a three-game slide, Robert dos Remedios of Burroughs coached from the top of the press box against Canyon.

“This way, when we run our no-huddle offense, I can call our play after I see [the defense] line up,” dos Remedios said.

The coach insists that he wasn’t asked to move upstairs to keep his emotions in check.

“I’m the calmest guy on our sidelines,” dos Remedios said. “When I was an assistant [two years ago] at Glendale College, I went nuts because I wasn’t accountable. But now I’m afraid of the 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.”

Burroughs lost to Canyon, 21-7, but for the sake of good behavior and more efficient play-calling, dos Remedios is planning to stay perched.

“I don’t like it up there, but I really feel I need to be up there,” he said. “I can’t cuss, because I’m right on top of the parents.”

Right on Line

Kennedy exploded for a region-high 625 yards, including 457 rushing, in a 55-13 victory over Chatsworth.

Coach Bob Francola has not been able to determine whether that’s a school record, but he knows he liked what he saw: Tremendous execution by linemen Clint Carmany, Ed Galvez, Nelson Maldonado, Mel Perez, David Arrita, Saul Mejia and Ray Rodriguez.

“You put plays in a playbook and you look on the field and everyone is doing exactly what they’re supposed to,” Francola said. “It doesn’t happen often and its amazing to see.”

AROUND THE LEAGUES

CITY SECTION

EAST VALLEY

If the Sylmar running game lacks its usual bite, it might be because Gerrod Taylor has an infected tooth. Taylor did not play in a 44-8 victory over Poly and might not play against North Hollywood. “His jaw was all swollen up and he couldn’t even put his helmet on,” Coach Jeff Engilman said. . . . Reseda has forced 14 turnovers its past two games. . . . The Van Nuys running game should get a boost from the return of John McPherson (sprained ankle) and Raul Torres (bruised forearm).

MID-VALLEY

Next up for Monroe are consecutive games against Van Nuys, Reseda and Sylmar. But Coach Fred Cuccia insists the Vikings will stay focused. “We’re not that good to be looking ahead,” he said. . . . North Hollywood gets second-ranked Sylmar on Friday and Coach Gary Gray isn’t thrilled. “This is the time they start peaking--they’re starting to think playoffs,” Gray said of the Spartans. . . . Poly held Sylmar to fewer than 300 yards, leaving Parrot Coach Tim Feeley optimistic. “We hit them harder than they hit us,” Feeley said. “We’re going to win three straight, you watch.” Winless Poly has Canoga Park, Grant and North Hollywood left on its schedule.

NORTH VALLEY

San Fernando tailback Keijuan Douglas continues to flourish after switching positions with quarterback Brandon Campbell three weeks ago. Douglas had 203 combined yards rushing and receiving against El Camino Real. The Tigers have won three in a row since the switch. . . . The frustration of an 0-7 record is beginning to show at Granada Hills. “The seniors feel it the most,” Coach Brad Ratcliff said. “I can see it in their eyes.” Ratcliff expects wide receiver Ernest Quinley, slowed by the flu last week, to rebound from a sub-par game. . . . The status of Taft linebacker Antwan Simpson, injured two weeks ago, is undetermined. Simpson will have an MRI this week to gauge the severity of his leg injury. Sophomore Tyler Brennan has played well in Simpson’s place.

WEST VALLEY

Birmingham was locked in a scoreless tie against winless Granada Hills at halftime, but sophomore Emmanuel Evans rushed for 183 of his 221 yards in the second half to pace the Braves to a 25-12 victory. “For one half we couldn’t do anything right on offense, then all of a sudden we couldn’t do anything wrong,” Coach Dave Lertzman said. . . . Look for Cleveland to make a run--literally--at the 4-A playoffs the final three games. The Cavaliers, who are among the best City Section passing teams in the region, had success with the option against Taft. Cleveland will have Junior Brignac at quarterback against Granada Hills even though Jared Mills is fully recovered from a bruised sternum. . . . Travis Winn, the quarterback who led Chatsworth’s frosh-soph team to a 10-0 record last season, made his varsity debut against Kennedy, completing six of 11 passes for 47 yards with two interceptions.

NORTHWESTERN

Ethan Slimak passed for a season-high 201 yards as Verdugo Hills took advantage of an eight-man front put up by Marshall to stop running back Sean Standley. Lineman Joe Delaney, who suffered injured knee ligaments two weeks ago, is out for the season.

SOUTHERN SECTION

DEL REY

Crespi running back Jamian Barbour changed clothes faster than Clark Kent midway through the fourth quarter of a victory over St. Paul. With Crespi clinging to a four-point lead, Barbour was sent to the sidelines because his jersey was torn. “The ref told me I had to get it taken care of,” Barbour said. “But we couldn’t find a jersey with an eligible number.” Linebacker Andy Simitzi, serving a one-game suspension after being ejected against St. John Bosco, provided one. Simitzi literally gave Barbour the jersey off his back, and Barbour returned to the field wearing No. 44 after missing only one play.

FOOTHILL

Three top players are returning to action from injuries: Hart receiver Tim Waddell (broken leg), Canyon running back Monte McKeon and Saugus running back Colin Butterfield (broken collarbone). . . . Saugus threw everything but the kitchen sink at Burbank in a 47-13 victory. Ten players carried the ball, eight caught passes and seven scored. Seven players got their hands on the ball for the first time. . . . Winless Burbank has only 326 passing yards. . . . Burroughs running back Robert Barillas is out with a sprained neck. Wide receiver Alan Cruz, who has five interceptions, probably will play this week with his broken arm protected by a soft cast.

GOLDEN

Antelope Valley, which averages 45 points a game, is amazingly consistent. The Antelopes average 7.7 points in the first quarter, 13.5 in the second, 10.4 in the third and 12.7 in the fourth. . . . Littlerock, which has been plagued by injuries, should be bolstered by the return of center Lyle Hollands and receiver Dwight Hester. . . . Palmdale moved Mike Calhoun from free safety to defensive end with immediate results. In his first game at the new position, Calhoun recorded four sacks. . . . Quartz Hill tight end Andy Rethi, a three-year starter, has a school-record 79 receptions in his career.

PACIFIC

The “Golden Helmet” goes to the winner of Friday night’s game between Crescenta Valley and Hoover. Crescenta Valley will be without running back Tim Jones, who is sidelined indefinitely because of a broken hand. . . . Hoover senior Emre Ozgur, the Tornadoes’ leading rusher with 545 yards and four touchdowns, owes a debt to Glendale Coach Steve Pinkston, a former Hoover assistant. Pinkston persuaded Ozgur, a basketball player and track athlete, to go out for football. Ozgur, 5-11, 205, has developed into one of the league’s most effective runners.

CHANNEL

Its victory over Oxnard was especially meaningful for Rio Mesa because the game has become a neighborhood rivalry. “Our rival used to be Camarillo, but in the last five years or so the kids really aim for Oxnard,” Coach George Contreras said. The Spartans won without quarterback Farhaad Azimi, who had an ankle injury. Two position changes clicked as well: Ismael Lopez moved from defensive end to inside linebacker and Carl Richardson moved from outside linebacker to defensive end. . . . The Spartans will need a tough defense against Ventura, which has scored 137 points the past three years against Rio Mesa. Talk about timely: Jeramie Jackson’s only two touchdowns have come in the final minutes of the past two games, giving Ventura victories. . . . Kicker Mike Cohen of Buena has made 17 extra points without a miss. He also has a field goal and, as a tight end, a touchdown reception. . . . Since he was held to 60 yards rushing in Week 3, Hueneme tailback Ronney Jenkins has averaged 29 carries for 182 yards and two touchdowns the past four games. . . . At Oxnard, the wait is over for Donald Arguelles, Mark Valdivia and Courtney Palmore, junior transfers from Rio Mesa who will be eligible to play Friday against Dos Pueblos. Sophomore fullback Chad Pierson continues to be a bright spot for Oxnard, blocking well and scoring four touchdowns.

MARMONTE

Thousand Oaks safety Chris Melzer has been joined by linebackers Greg Gallup and Jim Ange, lineman Joe Kneizeh and cornerback Aaron Shaw in earning Green Helmets for defensive excellence. . . . Westlake defensive tackle Mike Mini is having an exceptional season. He sacked Newbury Park quarterback Chris Czernek twice last week. Mini, a senior, did not play football last year while attending a continuation school. “He decided he wanted to play, so he took night school plus six classes both semesters to be eligible,” Coach Jim Benkert said. . . . Brian Young had not made a reception for Simi Valley until catching a pass for the Pioneers’ only touchdown in a 10-8 victory over Channel Islands. Young, a catcher on the baseball team, missed several games due to injury. Twenty-three Pioneer players have missed at least one game. . . . After sitting out nearly two games with a toe injury, Royal tailback Christian Broussard is listed as questionable this week. . . . Elliot Silvers, a 325-pound senior tackle, is enjoying a tremendous season for Agoura. “Our line has holes, but he’s not one of them,” Coach Charlie Wegher said. . . . Camarillo has allowed only 222.7 yards a game, thanks in large part to the play of linebackers Eric Mooney and Sam Choi. The Scorpions scored four touchdowns in nine offensive plays during the third quarter against Royal. . . . Newbury Park has allowed 1,248 yards, nearly 1,000 fewer than the 2,231 yards Panther quarterback Czernek has accumulated passing.

MISSION

Chaminade running back Jason Giovannettone remains hampered by a severe ankle sprain and is questionable for Friday night’s game at Serra. The Eagles won’t know until minutes before kickoff whether their top offensive weapon, who has rushed for 792 yards and 14 touchdowns, will play. Giovannettone would also be missed on defense. Although he has not intercepted a pass, he is considered the leader of the Chaminade secondary. Tight end Gabe Crecion is proving he’s college material in shoulder pads as well as on the pitcher’s mound. Crecion (6-4, 220), who leads Chaminade with 11 catches for 195 yards and four touchdowns, is drawing interest from several Pac-10 schools, as well as Nebraska, Arizona and Brigham Young. Crecion, a hard-throwing right-hander, figures to be among the area’s most-recruited pitchers in the spring. . . . Notre Dame defensive back Jorge Piedra leads area players with six interceptions, two of which he has returned for touchdowns.

RIO HONDO

The La Canada offensive line, which paves the way for Sam Paneno, the region’s leading rusher, is neither sizable nor seasoned. Center Soumya Ray, the unit’s only senior, is 5-9, 175. Surrounding Ray are juniors Ronald Lee (5-11, 200) and Brandon Behlendorf (6-1, 230), and sophomores Neven Dravinski (5-10, 175) and Kevin Bratsven (5-10, 210). Behlendorf, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in August, did not suit up until the season’s sixth week.

CAMINO REAL

Harvard-Westlake has won consecutive games after an 0-5 start. Changes at key positions have aided the Wolverines’ turnaround. Senior Merlin DeMartinis moved from quarterback to fullback three weeks ago and has rushed for 129 yards. DeMartinis is among the school’s most-versatile athletes. Last spring, he pole-vaulted 14 feet 6 inches to place second in the Southern Section Division III track and field championships. De Martinis, who has competed as a decathlete at the club level, also is the Mission League’s defending champion in the 110 high hurdles and was an alternate on the school’s 4 X 100 relay team that placed second in Division III. De Martinis’ commitment to track caused him to skip spring football workouts.

FRONTIER

Andy Super of Santa Clara caught 13 passes for 148 yards, but Santa Paula held him to one touchdown in a 20-7 victory. Defensive ends Clayton Alamillo and Justin Guizar played well for Santa Paula and Rocky Frutos, Javier Saucedo and Aaron Pettitt each made interceptions. Javier Rodriguez, a flanker and defensive back for the Cardinals, is probably out for the season with a broken wrist. . . . Moorpark lost 95 yards in penalties against Bishop Diego, including three 15-yard fouls on the Cardinals’ final scoring drive. . . . A hyperextended knee is expected to sideline Calabasas quarterback Scott Quigley tonight against St. Bonaventure. Against Nordhoff, Quigley completed 12 of 16 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown in a little less than three quarters. . . . Russell Farrar of Nordhoff blocked two field-goal attempts against Calabasas. Farrar, a starter at linebacker and fullback, raced around the right end for one block and around the left side for the other.

TRI-VALLEY

Oak Park moved the ball fairly well even while being shut out by Fillmore. The Eagles lost three fumbles--one on Fillmore’s four yard line, and had a 75-yard touchdown run called back because of a clipping penalty. Topi Sanchez of St. Bonaventure scored three touchdowns in a one-point loss to Carpinteria on Saturday, giving him 128 points, best among Southern Section players in the region.

ALPHA

Village Christian has passed for a school-record 1,169 yards. The old standard was 1,145 set in 1988. Chris Coleman this season has completed 30 of 51 passes without an interception, a school record. . . . L.A. Baptist coaches say Chris Ross’ work with the school’s track team is showing on the football field. He has rushed for more than 200 yards in consecutive games and broke his longest run of the season--57 yards for a touchdown--last week against Maranatha. . . . Kilpatrick has rushed for 551 yards in two games after switching to a wishbone-style attack. In five previous games the Mustangs had 652 rushing yards. Larry Ford has raised his average from 76 to 124 rushing yards a game.

HIGH DESERT

Paraclete has dropped out of the Southern Section Division X Top 10, but its past two losses, 28-20 to No. 2 Kern Valley, and 39-36 to No. 8 Bishop, could have gone either way.

SANTA FE

David Montes, the leading rusher for Bell-Jeff, is not expected to play against St. Genevieve on Saturday because of an ankle injury. . . . After averaging 275 yards and 20 points in its first four games, St. Genevieve has been shut out three games in a row and has averaged only 91 yards a game. Rodney Villanueva has taken over as the Valiants’ quarterback, replacing Vinny Pisano, who has thrown 10 interceptions and four touchdowns.

FREE-LANCE

Montclair Prep tailback Akil Anderson is practicing for the first time since the opening week of the season. Anderson missed two games, including last week’s 27-0 victory over Community Christian, while nursing a sore ankle. Anderson’s replacement, Demetris Green, saw his first extensive action since suffering a knee injury a year ago. . . . Donavan Calhoun of Valencia has rushed for more than 100 yards in six of seven games.

Contributing: Mike Bresnahan, Dana Haddad, Steve Henson, Vince Kowalick, Michael Lazarus, Tris Wykes, Peter Yoon.