New rule interpretation helps refs get out ahead of a problem

It was a real head-scratcher.

Some fans appeared confused Friday during the Marmonte League game between Westlake Village Oaks Christian and Ventura St. Bonaventure when officials called a few personal fouls on what seemed to be legitimate tackles, signaling the infractions by placing a hand on the back of their head.

One of the calls sustained a third-down touchdown drive that helped Oaks Christian overcome a 19-0 deficit on the way to a 33-32 overtime triumph.

The officials were enforcing an illegal-contact-with-the-head rule that has become a focal point in the wake of concussions sustained by players across the country.

“The rules haven’t changed, but it’s a point of emphasis,” said Steve Strimling, an instructional chairman for the California Football Officials Assn., which works closely with Southern Section football officials. “Those types of fouls tend to lead to concussions or injuries.”

Strimling said the two types of illegal contact are tackles in which defenders lead with their helmets or initiate contact above the shoulder. Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell said officials emphasized in preseason meetings with coaches that they were going to watch leading with the head “very closely.”.

“I think there is a stronger emphasis than maybe there was in the past,” said Redell, who supports the initiative.

No QB controversy

Oaks Christian’s Trevor Gretzky had three passes intercepted in the first half against St. Bonaventure. His backup, Richie Harrington, passed for 161 yards and four touchdowns after replacing Gretzky in the third quarter to rally the Lions to what Redell called the greatest comeback in school history.

So, who starts for Oaks Christian on Friday against Calabasas?

“Gretzky is our starting quarterback, but the other kid certainly showed he can come in and play,” Redell said. “We’ll have no hesitation going to the other kid.”

Redell said that Harrington, a transfer from Santa Monica who sat out last season, threw several passes that should have been intercepted in the second half.

Red alert

Losing usually serves as uncharted territory for Santa Ana Mater Dei.

Yet, the Monarchs are 0-2 for the first time since 2005 after a 44-13 loss at Corona Centennial. Mater Dei has finished with a losing record only four times in its 60-year history, but the Monarchs’ play has hardly been indicative of a program that has amassed 25 league championships, nine section titles, two mythical national championships and five undefeated seasons.

Coach Bruce Rollinson noted that his team has rebounded from similar predicaments, finishing 9-4 in 2005 after an 0-2 start. “We’ll come back,” he said. “I guarantee you that. We’ll come back with hard work and discipline. The kids believe in themselves. We just have to clean some stuff up.”

There’s plenty to fix. Senior running back Corbin Anderson, who has missed the first two games because of a knee injury, won’t return for at least another month. Senior wide receiver Victor Blackwell has been playing despite an injured shoulder. And senior quarterback Max Wittek isn’t exactly putting up the numbers that back up his hype as a USC commit, completing 16 of 42 passes for 239 yards.

Quick hits

Encino Crespi quarterback Kenny Stenhouse completed 33 of 43 passes for a school-record 416 yards during the Celts’ 34-33 victory over Fresno Clovis West, eclipsing Brian Bennett’s 388-yard performance against Canyon Country Canyon in 2007. . . . Mission Viejo running back-linebacker Tre Madden will miss two to three weeks after suffering microscopic fractures in his foot and bone bruising during the Diablos’ 56-34 victory over Corona.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Times blogger Mark Medina and correspondent Melissa Rohlin contributed to this report.