Gerry Gittelson: October 2006 Archives

You better believe it was a tough decision this past summer for former Canyon High football defensive coordinator Scott Blade to leave his beloved Cowboys for his first head coaching job - all the way across the country at Hillsboro High in Nashville, Tenn.

But, oh, has it been worth it. Blade, 33, has never been happier, leading Hillsboro to a 10-0 regular-season record and a No. 2 ranking in its region this week heading into the first round of the Tennessee 4A playoffs, which is the state's second-largest division.

"I really like it here," Blade said. "I like everything about it, even though Nashville is so different than L.A., especially the weather. I'd never felt humidity like here, which is much different than the dry heat at Canyon. At Canyon, you get a nice sun tan, but in Nashville the humidity just zaps the water right out of you. There have been a lot of changes for me and my family, but they've all been positive."

Amazingly, two years earlier Blade had wanted to remain close to home but was spurned by Golden Valley High's administration when he asked for a job. The Grizzlies have since won two games in two seasons, including an 0-8 record this year.

"I sent (Golden Valley Principal) Jacque Snyder a letter of inquiry asking about the application deadline, and let's just say I didn't get the warmest feeling back," Blade said.

"I wanted to be Golden Valley's first coach, and I thought I should have been given consideration. I told them I already had a staff in place for Golden Valley, and had even designed uniforms and T-shirts. They decided I wasn't what they were looking for."

Snyder said Monday that she could not recall Blade's interest.

So Blade, who played at Canyon and briefly coached at Glendale College and College of the Canyons before returning to his alma mater when head coach Harry Welch came out of retirement in 2001, searched far and wide for a program willing to provide an opportunity for someone who had proven himself as an underling but had no head-coaching experience.

Frankly, Blade never expected a second look from Hillsboro, which had nearly 30 applicants - many with long track records of successes - who applied to be the new coach. Yet Principal Bob Lawson was willing to take a chance on him.

"I was particularly impressed with Scott's presence and his plan," Lawson said. "I also had a long chat with Harry Welch, and he was very positive about what Scott had done as Canyon's head assistant, and that Scott was ready to be a head coach."

When he got the job, Blade was in such a time crunch that he hired all of his assistants over the phone. Then Blade did what came naturally, which was to convert Hillsboro, which had averaged 12 victories over the preceding six seasons (including three consecutive section championship appearances from 2001-03,) into a mirror image of Canyon. Hillsboro had run a conservative wing-T offense and man-to-man defense, but Blade switched to a Canyon-style one-back spread offense and a zone defense.

"It's the same Canyon offense, defense and special teams," Blade said. "We kind of turned everything upside-down from what the kids had done before, but they've really bought into it. It's the same stuff you see at Canyon, but no one sees it out here."

It's working, big time. Hillsboro is averaging nearly 35 points per game and has won by an average margin of more than 23 points.

"Actually, a lot of the points we've given up have been at the end when the outcome already was decided," Lawson said. "I think twice the other team scored on the last play."

Matt Arent had passed for more than 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns, and Jacquese Seward has rushed for nearly 1,300 yards with 25 touchdowns.

"We even totaled 400 yards in the rain last week," Blade said. "I think the best thing about this team is they keep on wanting to get better every week."

Blade, his wife Shari, twin daughters Lauren and Alexis, 7, and daughter Brooke, 4, are loving every minute of it.

"It's been a big challenge but we're really enjoying it," he said. "Depending on who we play, we get at least a few thousand at every game, and the press coverage is pretty good, too. I've been interviewed on TV in the main news five times, and last Wednesday they had me in the studio. The principal and everyone else had made me feel like a million bucks, and they continue to do that every day. Football is king out here."

Reluctantly, Blade admits he sometimes feels a bit homesick, but he's never been happier.

"I still miss the Canyon kids and the community, and I miss working with Harry Welch," he said. "But it's OK because I keep up and still talk with Harry about twice a week."

-- Blade isn't the only one with local football ties who's made an out-of-state impact. Former Hart High receiver Taylor Embree, who moved to Kansas for his senior year, has emerged as quite a player for Blue Valley West High in Stilwell.

Embree has 27 receptions for 354 yards and five touchdowns despite missing nearly three full games for Blue Valley West (5-4), which begins the playoffs this week.

"Taylor is an outstanding player," Blue Valley West coach Scott Wright said. "We knew he was great as a junior at Hart, and he'd probably have a lot more receptions for us if he didn't miss those games and we didn't have a great corps of receivers who also have a lot of catches."

Embree, who's 6-foot-3, is being heavily recruited and might commit soon to Missouri or Kansas.

Meanwhile, Hart (4-4) has had its struggles without Embree, who was the team's only experienced returning receiver.

"Embree is really doing that well out there? Oh, don't tell me that," Hart coach Mike Herrington said with a smile.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
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Dylan Jones, a sophomore who is considered one of the Southland's top young baseball talents, has arrived at Valencia High after transferring from Crespi of Encino.

He's the only 10th-grader who has made Valencia's varsity team, an annual power that won a school-record 25 games last season, including 15 in a row before a playoff loss at Agoura.

"We like Dylan a lot," Valencia coach Jared Snyder said. "As a sophomore, he wouldn't be on the varsity if we didn't think he would contribute."

Jones, who can play several positions, was expected to be one of Crespi's top players. He recently moved to Valencia.

"He had a shot at being our starting shortstop," Crespi assistant David Sehnem said. "We were sorry to see him leave."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
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I don’t care which side you’re on, it’s hard to put a positive spin on Canyon High’s 90-0 football victory Friday over Golden Valley, an utter embarrassment not just for Golden Valley but for Canyon, too, because both must live with the humiliation.

Just glancing at the score, Golden Valley looks like a pathetic wimp, and Canyon looks like the neighborhood bully. But in retrospect, was there any way this thing wasn’t going to get out of hand?

In fairness to Canyon, a high-powered defending Southern Section Div. II champion that started the season ranked No. 2 in California, the Cowboys did their best not to rub it in – and this isn’t hearsay because I was there. They ran simple plays, they didn’t play dirty, and coach Harry Welch insisted a running clock be used in the second half.

In fairness to Golden Valley, which has seniors for the first time and has yet to win a game this season, the Grizzlies simply never had a chance with the players they have. They were smaller, weaker, less skilled – and probably scared half to death.

It was 70-0 at halftime, and Welch, who has won a lot of games during his 18-year career – including four section championships – was as bewildered as anyone.

“I’d never been a part of anything like this before,� Welch said. “We could have punted on first down or purposely fumbled or purposely thrown interceptions, but I thought that would have been insulting to Golden Valley. Even some of my players came up to me during the game and asked me what they should do. I just told them to play hard but be respectful.�

In the second half, Canyon didn’t run a single play outside the tackles, and every player on the team got into the game.

“That was the good part because we have guys who’ve been working hard in practice for eight months, and it was nice to see them out there on the field,� Canyon receiver Mark Urbina said. “I’ve got good friends on this team who work hard every day in practice but had never got a chance to play.�

Golden Valley offensive lineman Dean Woolum said he just tried to stay in the moment and to not dwell on the score.

“I was mostly concerned with the player in front of me, so I just tried to take care of my blocks, do my job, and hit my hardest,� Woolum said. “Our team morale? We’re learning and we’ve just got to let this game go and put it behind us. It’s history. It’s done. Monday we’ll go back to practice and give 100 percent. Yes, the odds are against us big time but I’ve accepted it. It’s fine by me. I’m just going to go out there and keep playing.�

There is a growing concern among Golden Valley parents that it’s unfair for the Grizzlies to be in the powerful Foothill League so soon, especially in light of the football program’s decreasing numbers from 125 last year to about 70 even though there are four grades this season for the first time.

“We have no business being in the Foothill League, and whoever decided in the beginning to put us there made a very big mistake,� said Golden Valley booster vice-president Robert Speers, father of lineman Joe Speers. “The kids are paying the price. They’re getting better but with this schedule they don’t have a chance to catch their breath. It’s just not right.�

Speers said a Canyon parent came to Golden Valley’s practice on Saturday and apologized.

“Most of the Golden Valley parents who have been around for all three years are absolutely numb,� Speers said. “We’re not in the denial stage anymore. We’re just numb.�

There are no magic words or easy solutions that are going to soothe Golden Valley as the sun sets on what probably will remain for many years the most one-sided football loss in area history.

But there will be better times ahead. After all, Hart, which leads the area with eight section titles, went 0-8 in its first season.

Welch, 61, has been around long enough not to dwell on Friday’s outcome – and that goes for both teams.

“The day will come when other teams will fear the Grizzlies,� Welch said.

Welch didn’t feel the need to set a timetable. No one should. But the sooner the better.

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What a terrific showcase tonight should be for Canyon’s J.J. DiLuigi and Hart’s Delano Howell, two of California’s top running backs who go head to head in the Foothill League opener at 7:30 tonight at College of the Canyons.

Howell already has scored 20 touchdowns in six games, chasing DiLuigi’s 2005 league record of 43. DiLuigi, who rushed for nearly 1,900 yards last season, is again solid this year with 658 yards, 17 receptions and eight touchdowns; Howell has 716 yards and 22 receptions, and he’s also averaging 50 yards per kick return, including a 95-yard touchdown.

Both figure to be on the run in a big way tonight, and there’s a good chance the top performer can lead his team to victory, as Hart (3-3) looks to end a three-game series losing streak to Canyon (3-2), which defeated the Indians 21-13 in December in the Southern Section Div. II championship in Carson.

Howell and DiLuigi are very fast breakaway types who combine open-field speed with impressive strength and power.

There are a lot more similarities than differences.

“They have different styles but they’re similar, too. They both good players,� Hart quarterback Alex Pettee said. “There’s going to be big attention on both running backs during the game.�

Who’s better? Perhaps tonight will be the test.

“I’m not comparing myself to anybody,� Howell said. “I just run hard and try to keep my legs moving and just use the ability that God gave me.�

Canyon linebacker Blake McMartin admitted that stopping Howell is part of the game plan.

“Oh, it’s a big part,� McMartin said. “He’s a key player and a real good athlete.�

Naturally, their teammates favored their own.

“Watching films, Howell looks like a real good runner, but honestly I think J.J. is a lot tougher,� Canyon offensive lineman Marc Valdez said. “J.J. runs over people, and I haven’t seen Delano do that.�

Hart receiver/defensive back Brandon Arndt likes Howell.

“He’s amazing. He can do anything, play any position,� Arndt said. “J.J. was good last year, and he looks just as good this year, but I wouldn’t want any other running back on my team. I’d want Delano.�

Top running backs J.J. DiLuigi of Canyon and Delano Howell of Hart go head to head tonight at College of the Canyons. Here’s how they compare:

Delano Howell, Hart

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It was touch and go last week for Canyon High football support staff members Cecil Hammock and Ric Bailey, both hospitalized with serious injuries before making a comeback just in time for Canyon’s 49-32 victory Friday over Chaminade of West Hills.

Hammock, 53, was taken by ambulance to the hospital because of severe chest pains, though it turned out he did not have a heart attack as originally feared. Bailey, 42, temporarily lost 75 percent of his sight, and his blood-sugar level fell to an alarming level because of symptoms related to diabetes, but like Hammock he bounced back just in time for Friday’s kickoff.

“I had three episodes of chest pains and spent two days in the hospital, and believe me I was happy when I left,� said Hammock, who works as a team photographer and press-box assistant. “I just praise god that everything came back to normal. I’m good because of the prayers that people were praying for me.�

Hammock isn’t through with doctors and hospitals. He’s scheduled to undergo back surgery next week for the second time, but he’s hoping to be back on his feet as soon as possible.

Bailey, a former Saugus running back who helps manage Canyon’s sideline during games and also performs various team duties, said he feels like a new man.

“I just wasn’t taking good care of myself but it’s all good now,� Bailey said. “I was scared because I couldn’t see a thing for a week. I was blind.�

-- While Canyon running back J.J. DiLuigi enjoyed another breakout performance with 279 yards rushing and four touchdowns Friday against Chaminade, it’s quickly becoming apparent who the school’s next star running back will be.

Look no further than freshman phenom Antonio Bray, a blazing 5-foot-7, 150-pounder who has scored nine touchdowns in four JV games – including four against Chaminade -- while playing with sophomore teammates a year older than him.

“He’s marvelous,� varsity coach Harry Welch said. “Antonio Bray is not just going to be a good running back, he’s going to be great.�

Bray earned quite a reputation in youth-football circles through the years, rushing for 1,500 yards with 20 touchdowns as an eighth-grader.

-- In more Canyon news, keep an eye on prized basketball prospect Cody Anderson, a 6-foot-8 junior who has grown three inches from last season, when he averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds for the JV team.

Anderson, who wears size-15 shoes, said he’s still growing. He could eventually be 7-foot like some of his relatives, he said.

“I didn’t play varsity last year because I was still developing my skills, but I’m doing a lot better,� Anderson said.

-- Down in the dumps after losing three of its first four football games, Hart got just what it needed Friday in a 55-6 rout over visiting Antelope Valley, jumping to a 49-point halftime lead to allow the reserves to play the entire second half.

“Everybody was happy because this brought up our team morale,� said Brandon Arndt, a starting receiver and defensive back who called it a night after two quarters. “For everyone to play, it’s fantastic even if it’s just two plays. They love that compared to standing on the sideline.�

-- Daniel Jose, a 15-year-old from West Ranch High, is quickly making a name for himself in the paintball world, competing with teammates Jason Belling, 15, from West Ranch, and Matt Thompson, 15, from Hart, in a large-scale, 150-team tournament in Acton through today.

“Paintball is fun. It’s really something I like to do,� Jose said. “We play seven-on-seven, and it’s challenging because you’ve got to move around a lot and communicate with each other.�

Gerry Gittelson’s column appears in the Daily News three times a week. He can be reached at (661) 257-5218 or gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com.