And the 1997 Awards Go to . . .

It’s time to present awards, citations and honors for the 1997 football season:

Walk-on of the year: Former Chatsworth High and Pierce College quarterback David Muir, who ends his career on New Year’s Day playing for Washington State against Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Muir is the holder on field goals and extra points, and the roommate of future NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf.

Playing Michigan is particularly special for Muir because his father, uncle and brother graduated from Michigan.

“Here it is, my last game probably ever, and I get to play against the team I always dreamed of playing for,” Muir said.

As for living with Leaf, Muir said, “I get to watch what I always wanted to happen to me. He’s deserving of everything he gets. It’s a neat experience to see what’s going on.”

Transfer of the year: Junior tight end George Wrighster went from tiny Buckley High in Sherman Oaks (tuition: $15,000 per year) to powerful Sylmar and made the All-Valley Pac-8 Conference team.

Looking for a rap announcement: Notre Dame tailback Justin Fargas is known to carry a notebook so he can write down rap lyrics that come to mind. Fargas ought to announce his college choice via a rap tune.

Here’s my suggestion:

“Yo people, my name is Justin, it’s been hard, it’s been tough, this recruiting thing has been pretty rough. . . .”

Finish it up, Justin.

Most embarrassing decision: Mission League coaches deciding not to honor Fargas as the sole league player of the year. Instead, they added two other players to make it tri-MVPs.

Luckiest assistant coach: Kennedy’s Fred Grimes, who won a 19-inch color TV at a raffle during the City championship games at the Coliseum.

Historic moment: San Fernando offensive lineman Steve Nevarez is the first sophomore in school history to make All-City dating to 1935, said school historian Bill Frazer. He’s the 91st San Fernando player to make All-City.

Strangest sight: Seeing an exhausted Taft Coach Troy Starr and assistant Frank Grossman taking a nap at 2 p.m. in the coaches’ office.

Road Warrior award: All-Del Rey League junior linebacker Andrew Altman drives 52 miles from his home in Thousand Oaks to attend Loyola in Los Angeles.

Most underrated player: Agoura offensive tackle Michael Beams.

Most improved player: Taft quarterback Steve Alvarado.

Most impressive individual achievement: Notre Dame quarterback David DeMartinis throwing 166 consecutive passes without an interception.

Best last-minute signee: Cal State Northridge picking up safety Jeremy Golden from Westlake High. There’s no tougher, more intense player.

Best coaching position open: Chatsworth. The next coach can build his team around 6-foot-3 quarterback Matt Cassel, All-Northwest Valley Conference linebacker-running back Eric Harris and talented defensive back-receiver Nicholas Lott.

Biggest upsets: 1. Cleveland over El Camino Real; 2. Antelope Valley over Compton Dominguez; 3. St. Francis over Notre Dame.

Most disappointing team: Chaminade.

Most improved team: Royal.

Best lower-level team: El Camino Real’s 10-0 frosh-sophomore squad.

Best early event to spot top players for 1998: The NFL Air-It-Out four-on-four flag football competition Jan. 10-11 at Balboa Park in Encino.

First big summer passing competition for 1998: Hart tournament on June 20.

Best college football prospects for 1999: 1. Westlake tight end Mike Seidman, 2. Hart receiver Jerry Owens, 3. Hart quarterback Kyle Boller, 4. Hart linebacker Scott Hunt, 5. Notre Dame receiver Todd Fenton, 6. Sylmar defensive back Corey Neal, 7. Westlake cornerback Travis Campbell, 8. Sylmar offensive tackle Tony Sanchez, 9. Newbury Park quarterback Nick Czernek, 10. Taft running back Marquis Brignac, 11. L.A. Baptist lineman Ashcon Madjid, 12. El Camino Real linebacker Blane Kezirian, 13. Agoura cornerback Garrett Lepisto, 14. Newbury Park linebacker Anthony Foli, 15. Chatsworth linebacker Eric Harris, 16. Royal defensive lineman Brian Montesanto, 17. Crespi quarterback Robert Muller.

Most impressive sophomores: 1. Valencia running back Manuel White, 2. Harvard-Westlake tight end Alex Holmes, 3. Valencia linebacker Ray Cassaday, 4. Westlake quarterback Zac Wasserman, 5. Chatsworth quarterback Matt Cassel, 6. Antelope Valley defensive back Jon Molock, 7. Crescenta Valley defensive lineman Ryan Morris, 8. Notre Dame defensive lineman Travis Johnson, 9. Hart linebacker Patrick Norton, 10. San Fernando offensive lineman Steve Nevarez, 11. Alemany quarterback Casey Clausen, 12. Littlerock defensive back Rodney Woods.

Top five teams for 1998: 1. Hart, 2. Taft, 3. Newbury Park, 4. Antelope Valley, 5. Sylmar.

Biggest change for 1998: Notre Dame moving to a Del Rey League that includes Loyola, Bishop Amat and St. John Bosco.

Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.

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THE FUTURE IS HERE

Staff writer Eric Sondheimer predicts that these football players from the region will have a major impact next season:

KYLE BOLLER

Hart

Will replace David Neill at quarterback for the Indians and become a top college prospect next season as he guides them to the playoffs.

MATT CASSEL

Chatsworth

One of the top five most impressive sophomores in the region as he received plenty of experience at quarterback for the Chancellors.

MIKE SEIDMAN

Westlake

This 6-5 junior tight end, who had 51 receptions for 728 yards, is already considered the region’s top prospect for next season.

MANUEL WHITE

Valencia

The most impressive sophomore in the region this past season, he ran for 2,002 yards during the regular season.