HS FOOT: Notre Dame's Kasdorf still hungry

After passing for 3,291 yards and accounting for 38 touchdowns last season, quarterback Ryan Kasdorf returns for Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks more determined than ever.

Not only did Notre Dame's football season end disappointingly last year with a loss in the Pac-5 quarterfinals after a 10-0 start, Kasdorf has yet to land a scholarship offer despite such eye-popping statistics - not to mention being named Gatorade's state player of the year.

Notre Dame must rebuild its receiving corps because all four starters from last season have graduated, but fortunately most of the offensive linemen are back, including standouts Ben Gottschalk and Daniel Munyer.

"I take a lot of pride in protecting Ryan Kasdorf. We kind of think of him as guarding a buried treasure with huge diamonds," Gottschalk said. "It's definitely worth it. We might not always get the recognition or be on the front page of the newspaper like Ryan, but I don't care too much about the glamour part of it. Me the other four guys up front, we enjoy it."

Kasdorf, a 6-foot-1 senior who transferred from Canyon after his freshman season, is focused on preparing for the season and getting better.

"We're just trying to get ready for the first game, so we're working on everything," Kasdorf said.

-- Gerry Gittelson