Wolverines Have Made a Fresh Start

In an effort to beat the heat, Harvard-Westlake has changed to lighter-colored uniforms and switched sidelines at home games.

It seems to be working.

The Wolverines (2-0), who play home games on Saturday afternoons, have outscored opponents, 40-0, in the fourth quarter. Both victories have been at home.

During the off-season, the Wolverines switched from black to red jerseys and moved to the west sideline to avoid looking into the sun.

“There were a couple games last year where I went home and was exhausted and was like, ‘If I’m tired, what do the kids feel like playing in this?’ ” Harvard-Westlake Coach Dave Bennett said.

“It was brought to my attention that it looked like my kids were wilting in the fourth quarter [last season] and getting tired. Come second half [this season], we’re pretty much in the shade. I like where we’re at right now. It was a good decision to move.”

Full load: Co-coach Darryl Stroh of Granada Hills thought he had seen everything since he started coaching in the 1960s. Then came the injury of all injuries. Offensive lineman Jae An showed up last week with a doctor’s note indicating he had a slight shoulder separation. And what was the cause? An’s book bag that he carried around school was too heavy.

“In the old days, all that would be in a book bag was Mad magazine,” Stroh said. “Now they’re killing the football players. We’re heavy into education. I guess that’s a good thing.”

For the cycle: Eric Harris of Chatsworth did everything but take out the water bottles last week against Monroe. He ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, ran for a two-point conversion, caught a two-point conversion pass, blocked a punt, recovered a fumble for a touchback and forced a fumble.

“That’s a pretty impressive resume for one game,” assistant coach Ron Martinez said.

Pick of the week: Defensive back Travis Nicol of Hart is on pace to break the school record for interceptions in a season.

Nicol, the Indians’ backup quarterback, intercepted two passes against Quartz Hill in the opener and had another last week against Thousand Oaks.

The school record is seven, set by Mike Ford in 1984. The state and Southern Section record is 17, set by Shad Lara of Carpinteria in 1988.

Footwork: El Camino Real hopes it has solved its kicking problems with the addition of soccer player Ian Cogan, who will make his football debut Friday against Westlake.

El Camino Real had to settle for a 12-12 tie with Dorsey two weeks ago when it couldn’t convert an extra point.

“He [Cogan] saw the problems we had,” Conquistador Coach Rick Hayashida said.

Wounded Tigers: San Fernando is trying to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 1991, but the Tigers will be playing Grant without one and possibly two key starters.

Quarterback Larry Brown injured his left leg in the second quarter of San Fernando’s 28-22 victory over University. Brown was still limping at practice Monday.

Middle linebacker Eduardo Ramirez might be lost for the season after possibly tearing a knee ligament in the fourth quarter on Friday.

Circle of life: Please excuse Coach Bob Francola of Kennedy if he’s feeling a bit old.

Sophomore tailback Antoine Deloch of Palmdale had two carries in the Falcons’ 14-7 victory over Kennedy last week.

Francola coached Deloch’s father, Jan, at Leconte Junior High and Hollywood High in the early 1970s.

Francola greeted the younger Deloch with a warm hug as the teams shook hands after the game.

Acid test: Coach George Contreras of Rio Mesa said linebackers Kevin Mack and Jerome Stevens have received recruiting interest but will see it increase with good performances on the SAT.

Contreras said Mack has not yet taken the test and Stevens has taken it but his score would make him only a partial qualifier.

Nebraska, Florida State and Washington requested film of the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Mack last week and Colorado State has shown interest in the 6-2, 245-pound Stevens.

Dirty laundry: Coach Wes Morimune of Oxnard said he was less than happy with the officiating in the Yellowjackets’ first two games.

Oxnard (0-2) has committed a combined 25 penalties for more than 230 yards while its opponents have been whistled for only nine fouls.

“You can tell we’ve been on the road,” Morimune said.

Horsepower: Coach Rick Scott of Buena didn’t like what he saw on the television highlights Friday, where quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt of San Marcos, the Channel League’s best player, ran roughshod over an opponent.

“[Van Pelt] looks like Secretariat,” said Scott, whose team plays Oct. 16 at San Marcos. “He’s a thoroughbred and he makes them the team to beat in our league.”

Van Pelt rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns in eight carries last week against Righetti. He completed eight of nine passes for 87 yards and returned an interception for a touchdown.

Catching on: Nick Longshore, the touted tight end for Canyon, caught his first pass of the season Friday night in a 17-0 victory over Highland. It went for 20 yards.

“He had about four or five attempts, “ Coach Larry Mohr said. “We’re trying to get him more involved in the offense.”

Change-up: Santa Clara ended an eight-game losing streak dating to the Saints’ only victory last season with a 33-14 victory over Mary Star of the Sea in San Pedro last weekend.

“I think this proves we can win,” said senior quarterback Kevin Gormley, who completed nine of 12 passes for 220 yards against Mary Star.

“We’ve been working really hard, and this helps make it all worth it. We mixed it up well, and everything really clicked.”

After their first victory since beating St. Genevieve, 33-7, in the third week of last season, the Saints are looking for another one against St. Genevieve in their first home game Friday at Channel Islands High.

Santa Clara has not won consecutive games since 1990. That season, the Saints wound up the regular season with victories over Nordhoff and Righetti, made the playoffs and finished 4-7.

Ready to return: Drew Coppola of Calabasas is expected to return to the Coyotes’ lineup this week against Verdugo Hills after missing the first two games because of a bruised pancreas.

Coppola, a senior fullback-linebacker who was the Coyotes’ third-leading rusher with 355 yards in 45 carries last season, was cleared to begin working out with the team Monday, although Calabasas did not practice because of a school holiday.