HS FOOT: Taft quarterback questionable after hospitalization

The quarterback situation is perilous at Taft of Woodland Hills heading into a West Valley League game Friday between the host Toreadors (5-3, 3-0) and arch rival Birmingham of Lake Balboa (1-7, 1-2).

Bam Goodall, a three-year starter who has thrown for more than 1,000 yards this season, injured his back Friday in a win at El Camino Real of Woodland Hills. He's questionable after pending one night at West Hills Hospital.

"He has a bruised C-7 vertebrae and some swelling, but x-rays were negative and a cat scan came up all good," coach Matt Kerstetter said. "There's pain but no serious damage. He walked out of the hospital gingerly, and we'll know more after Bam sees a doctor again on Monday."

Two backups, David Leong and Nate Forer, have barely played this season. Meanwhile, Michael Bercovici, a top transfer from Westlake who arrived midseason but was ruled ineligible, is still in the picture because he is appealing. Kerstetter said an additional 22 pages of documents certifying the legitimacy of Bercovici's transfer have been forwarded to City Section officials, and the coach is optimistic the junior will be cleared this week.

"If Bam is out and Michael is cleared, then he's going to play," Kerstetter said. "I don't know if he's going to start, but he's going to play."

It was a rough game for quarterbacks. El Camino Real's Ryan Meier also was knocked out because of a concussion. He is slated to miss at least one more game, and Kyle Bradley is the backup.

"Kyle is only a junior, and we're going to work with him," El Camino Real running back Ra'Shon Harper said.

-- Gerry Gittelson