HS FOOT: Radley, Roknipour play the waiting game

Lucky Radley, a top linebacker/running back at Taft of Woodland Hills, has been forced by the City Section to sit out the first four football games of the season because of transfer restrictions, and he does not like playing the waiting game. But considering Radley's history - he played at Crespi as a sophomore but then got into trouble, transferred briefly to Taft but was deemed ineligible, then transferred to Agoura last season before transferring once again to Taft - Radley is willing to go with the flow.

"It's tough, but it could have been worse. I'll get through it," Radley said. "I want to be a leader, but obviously right now I'm limited."

Taft athletic director Mark Drucker was surprised by the ruling, saying Radley should have been cleared right away instead of being forced to a month.

"As an athletic director, it's all about paperwork, and you submit everything there is to submit, and then it's out of your hands," Drucker said.

Another football player yet to be cleared is Mohammad Roknipour, a promising junior kicker at Canyon who arrived last winter from Iran and has been deemed ineligible by the Southern Section because he does meet the criteria for an exchange student, Canyon coach Chris Varner said.

An appeals hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8, and Varner said he would be shocked - and livid - if Roknipour is not cleared.

"He better pass or lawyers will be involved. It will be real trouble for the CIF if they deny him," Varner said.

-- Gerry Gittelson