HS FOOT: Notre Dame hopes to heal fast

Injuries could remain an issue for Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks on Friday in a Pac-5 opener against visiting Fountain Valley (8-2).

Last week, the Knights were without their biggest lineman, Tyler Sulka (concussion), along with leading receiver Tyler Thomas (ankle) and leading tackler Wayne Swinson (ankle) in a 31-14 loss at Bishop Amat in La Puente.

Give quarterback Ryan Kasdorf credit for not making any excuses.

"The injuries definitely hurt, but we had capable guys stepping in, so we didn't have much of a dropoff," Kasdorf said. "Basically, Bishop Amat just out-physicaled us in every part of the game. We didn't play as we should have, and they played very well, so they beat us pretty badly."

Notre Dame is the only local entrant in the Pac-5, the Southern Section's most competitive division.

Since moving up to the Pac-5 beginning in 2006, Notre Dame has yet to advance past the quarterfinals. Last year, the Knights were undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation by Maxpreps when they lost 24-14 at Orange Lutheran in the quarterfinals.

-- Gerry Gittelson