Gerry Gittelson: October 2008 Archives
For Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks and its star quarterback Ryan Kasdorf, the games are getting bigger - more important, more at stake, and, supposedly, more pressure.
With a powerful, accurate arm and nerves of steel, Kasdorf continues to rise to the occasion.
He completed 22 of 28 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns Friday in a surprisingly easy 37-17 victory over Serra League rival Crespi of Encino before a sold-out crowd of about 5,000 at Crespi.
In just eight games, Kasdorf has passed for a school-record 2,406 yards, breaking Dayne Crist's 2007 record of 2,168. Kasdorf also has tied Ryan Bowne's 1995 school record of 26 touchdown passes.
Coming in, the one knock against Kasdorf was he had not participated in high-pressure games, but there was plenty of pressure Friday and Kasdorf responded by completing his first 11 passes.
"Ryan has proven he can play with the best. He's a great quarterback," Notre Dame receiver James Flynn said. "This is huge, a really big league win."
The victory was Notre Dame's 13th over the past 14 games against Crespi (6-2, 0-1), avenging a loss to the Celts last year that cost the Knights the league title.
"It was a little surprising that we were able to perform so well," Kasdorf said. "I just tried to stay calm and focused and to manage the game, and we came out with the win."
Kasdorf connected with Flynn on touchdowns of 2, 26 and 49 yards, and he also passed 37 yards to Tyler Ruiz for a touchdown. Kenny Boggs added a 1-yard touchdown, and Crespi also scored on a safety on an intentional grounding call against Crespi in the end zone.
Flynn finished with seven receptions for 116 yards, and his three touchdowns gave him 13, tying a school single-season record held by three former Knights.
"We came in and played our butts off and gave it our all," Flynn said. "The 13 touchdowns are nice, but I'd really like to win a CIF championship and a state championship. I believe we can do it if we keep playing well."
Notre Dame (8-0, 1-0) totaled 469 yards - while giving up 262 -- as the Knights scored more than 30 points for seventh consecutive game.
"Crespi is a great team but we were more hungry," Notre Dame linebacker Jordan Barrett said. "We came out and performed.
Crespi's Bryan Bennett completed 20 of 35 passes for 184 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
"We just didn't come out and execute and we needed to do," Crespi offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu said. "We'll move on and keep our heads up high and forget about this. We've got to win the next two games starting next week with Bishop Amat."
Crespi scored on a 6-yard run by Jeremiah McKibbins and a 24-yard field goal by Christian Nastos.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
ND 7-16-14-0-37
C - 0-10-0-7-17
ND-Flynn 2 pass from Kasdorf (Lluis kick)
C-McKibbins 6 run (Nastos kick)
C-FG Nastos 24
ND-Safety, intentional grounding in end zone
ND-Ruiz 37 pass from Kasdorf (Kasdorf run)
ND-Flynn 26 pass from Kasdorf (kick failed)
ND-Flynn 49 pass from Kasdorf (Lluis kick)
ND-Boggs 1 run (Lluis kick) 37-10
C-Segal 14 pass from Bennett (Nastos kick) 37-17
STATS
Passing:
ND: Kasdorf 22-28-325
C: Bennett 20-35-184
Rushing
ND: Boggs 16-88
C: McKibbins 10-59
Receiving
ND: Flynn 7-116
C: Stanton 11-94
Not a big surprise, but Notre Dame quarterback Ryan Kasdorf is performing brilliantly once again. The junior completed his first 11 passes and has thrown for 227 yards and three touchdowns through two quarters to help stake the Knights to a 23-10 halftime lead over host Crespi before a sellout crowd.
Kasdorf has completed 16 of 20 passes.
gerry.gittelson
Notre Dame looked very good on its first possession, driving 76 yards for a touchdown, culminating with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Kasdorf to James Flynn.
The drive gobbled nearly six minutes.
Crespi is coming back, though, and they're at the 10. Stay tuned.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Checked in with Joe Fauria, the former Crespi standout tight end now at University of Notre Dame, and Fauria is fully up to date about tonight's Crespi-Notre Dame showdown that begins in just a few minutes.
Fauria has a friendly bet going with Fighting Irish teammates Dayne Crist and Anthony McDonald, both of whom played at Notre Dame High last year: The loser must wear the school colors of the winner for a whole day -- head to toe, including a hat.
gerry,gittelson@dailynews.com
Matt Dominguez, the former Chatsworth standout infielder drafted in the first round of the 2007 Major League draft, has undergone elbow surgery to remove bone chips from left (non-throwing) elbow. The rehab period is three to four weeks.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Well, I'm here in Encino more than two hours early for the Notre Dame-Crespi game, but so is mighty Eric Sondheimer, so we've been fighting for the best press-box seat (only two seats) -- but it's all good.
You can already feel the excitement in the air. People are in line waiting at the gate for the place to officially open -- no presale tix were distributed -- and if you ask 10 peeps who is going to win, five will say Cresi and five will Notre Dame. it's that close.
Always love coming to Encino, as I grew up on Encino Avenue right next door to tennis legend Vic Braden and across the street from Dragnet's Jack Webb (only saw him once though).
I'll update when I can ...
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Hey, Jeremiah McKibbins, Uncle Sam wants YOU!
It sure seems that way for the Crespi High running back, considering Army offered him on Tuesday and Navy offered him on Thursday.
Always nice to get two DI offers over a three-day period. A good showing tonight could mean a lot more attention, as McKibbins and the Celts (6-1) play host to Notre Dame (7-0) in a Serra League showdown streamed live at dailynews.com. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Just got word from Antonio Bray, and the Canyon High junior said his eligibility appeal has been denied, so the decision disallowing the running back to play for one full year because of a transfer violation will be upheld.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Crespi receiver Kevin Cummings has been offered by San Diego State, according to scout.com.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Eddie Russ, Jr. is having a crazy year for Antelpe Valley College -- as in crazy good.
He has returned six kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns this season -- plus he returned an interception for a touchdown, too.
Russ is also a top track runner, and that's where he gets his speed.
gerry,gittelson@dailynews.com
Valencia plays host to Hart on Friday in one of Southland's most heated rivalries. The host Vikings (6-1, 2-0) are looking to stave off Saugus (4-3, 2-0) for the league title, while underdog Hart (3-4, 1-1) is hoping to qualify for the playoffs for the 20th time in coach Mike Herrington's 20 seasons.
"It will interesting," Valencia coach Larry Muir said. "I think we have to make sure we hold onto the ball for a long period of time, and that means we have to stop the run. And our playmakers have got to make plays."
Hart defeated Valencia 10 times in a row before the Vikings finally ended the streak in 2004 with a 29-10 victory -- also ending Hart's 65-game league winning streak.
Hart holds a 12-1-1 advantage, including two playoff victories.
A rundown:
2007 - Hart 21, Valencia 21
2006 - Hart 22, Valencia 15
2005 - Hart 17, Valencia 14
2004 - Valencia 29, Hart 10
2003 - Hart 42, Valencia 35
2002 - Hart 39, Valencia 15
*2001 - Hart 42, Valencia 13
2001 - Hart 26, Valencia 0
2000 - Hart 21, Valencia 7
*1999 - Hart 34, Valencia 6
1999 - Hart 42, Valencia 21
1998 - Hart 38, Valencia 14
1997 - Hart 45, Valencia 23
1996 - Hart 37, Valencia 7
*Playoff victory
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Knight's Christian Bush is the Golden League's hottest running back, rushing for 1,260 yards and 10 TDs, including an 80-yarder. Last week, Bush rushed 245 yards against Lancaster after totaling 242 yards the previous week against Quartz Hill.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Former Crespi OL Steve Eck and QB John Sullivan, both of whom graduated in 1972, are slated to be inducted into the Crespi Hall of Fame on Saturday in a campus ceremony hosted by Fox Sports' Chris McGee, a Crespi alum.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Cleveland is 4-3 under new coach Vinnie Johnson, as the Cavaliers have totaled one victory than they had in the 25 games prior to Johnson's arrival from Birmingham, where he was an assistant and head JV coach.
Last year, Birmingham defeated Cleveland 82-0 - one of the most lopsided routs in area history - and the rematch is Friday at Cleveland.
"You know, it's just another game, and Birmingham is a tough opponent - to me they're the best in the City," Johnson said. "But 82-0? We should give a little better fight than that."
Johnson said he has several players with the potential to succeed at the next level, including WR/S Curtis Hudson, QB Tim Brown, WR Travion and WR Tavarus Sterling.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
After 11 years as a San Fernando assistant, Eddie Alcantar was due for a head coaching job, and he has one at Grant High, taking over for Devin Eillsion, who has been at Grant for five years and will remain on campus as a teacher.
"Eleven years? I definitely think I'm ready to be on my own. I'm ready to go," Alcantar said.
Grant's top returning players are Hugo Torres and Enrique Osuna.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Westmark of Encino, a school for students with learning differences, is having a good eight-man football season.
The Lions are 6-1 heading into a game against Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth (7-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Pierce College.
"I don't know how big of a game it's going to be for us because we barely have enough kids to play - too many injuries," Westmark coach Kevin Fox said. "I've had three quarterbacks get hurt - one tore a ligament in his shoulder, one tore his ACL, and the last one has a bone chip in his knee."
Westmark's top players include backs Jordan Haven, Clifton Jones and Bryan Mandell, receiver Max Mason (10 touchdowns) and defensive lineman Aaron Domio (13 sacks).
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Seems Fillmore is a bit spooked about something, according to Ventura Star blog: No Holloween costumes allowed for Friday's game against visiting Santa Paula.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Crespi looks very sharp tonight, as the Celts lead St. Francis 20-0 at halftime.
It has been Crespi quarterback Bryan Bennett's night from the very beginning. He completed 9 of his 10 first 10 passes and by the end of the first half was 14 of 17 for 200 yards and a touchdown.
Crespi's Christian Nastos kicked field goals of 37 and 23 yards in the first half.
Kevin Cummings scored Crespi's first touchdown on a 38-yard pass from Bennett, breaking free at the last moment in the end zone on a long pass down the left sideline.
On Crespi's next possession, the Celts drove 50 yards on eight plays, as Bennett completed five passes for 59 yards, including a 22-yarder to Jeremiah McKibbins, and Chris Carter scored on a 1-yard run.
Crespi has outgained the Golden Knights 226-30, as St. Francis' standout running back Dietrich Riley has been held to 19 yards on nine carries.
St. Francis' Justin Sciarra was constantly forced out of the pocket by a Crespi's blitzing defense. Through two quarters, he managed just one completion in six attempts for 5 yards.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Big game here at Crespi tonight -- in fact, the Daily News game of the week -- as the Celts play host to St. Francis in a showdown between two of the area's top parochial schools.
Fans just trickling in, kickoff coming up soon.
Crespi, led by quarterback Bryan Bennett, is the favorite, but St. Francis has looked good, so who knows what's going to happen?
Will update when I can ...
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Three weeks before the first day of practice, West Ranch girls' basketball coach Ron Manalastas has resigned, according to The Signal.
West Ranch was 12-15, 1-9 in the Foothill League last season.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
With plans to graduate to 11-man football beginning next season, second-year program Sierra Canyon is trying to go out with a bang. The Trailblazers (6-0), ranked fifth in the Southern Section eight-man poll, have outscored opponents by an average of 38 points heading into tonight's 7:30 game vs. Montclair Prep (3-3) at Pierce College.
"Our team is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores. We're a very young team," Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said. "We are going to continue to grow as a program."
Receiver Shane Harrison has 11 touchdown receptions in four games.
"He is a stud," Ellinghouse said.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
It's been 41 years since Paraclete finished as the 1967 Southern Section small-schools co-champion after tying Calipatria 7-7 in the final, and former coach Joe Slavin, now 73, still remembers the touchdown that got away that night, costing the Spirits an outright title.
"It was a cold night at Palmdale High, and with about two minutes left, our sophomore quarterback, Butch Trosin, had a receiver all by himself in the end zone, but we had the wrong guy in and he dropped the pass," Slavin said. "I remember looking at my assistant coaches and telling them we had the wrong guy on the field. He was fast but he couldn't catch.
"Calipatria was good, but we were better. We should have won the game."
Some of Paraclete's top players included Grant Gillis, who would go on to be a sportwriter for the Antelope Valley Press, along with John Mahoney, Ken Barnes and Gary Worford.
"It was a fun environment, a small town back then," said Slavin, now in Arroyo Grande. "The school had opened just a couple of years earlier, and our first year we were 0-9, then 3-5-1. In those days, just about everyone on the team played three or four sports."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Dakota Fanning, the 2007 Kids Choice Award winner for favorite movie actress, is a Campbell Hall cheerleader.
Fanning has strong family ties to sports, as her mother played pro tennis and her father played minor league baseball. Her grandfather is former NFL quarterback Rick Arrington, and her aunt is ESPN reporter Jill Arrington.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Averaging 248.3 yards rushing per game, Malibu's Sean Conrad (1,490 yards, six games) has a shot to break into the Southern Section single-season top 10 if he keeps the pace and Malibu (5-1) can extend its season in the playoffs. Here is the list:
SOUTHERN SECTION SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING LEADERS
Rank Yards Player School Year
1. 4,495 Tyler Ebell, Ventura 2000
2. 3,586 Jermaine Marshall, Kilpatrick 1999
3. 3,523 David Dotson, Valley View 1991
4. 3,438 Chad Kackert, Grace Brethren 2004
5. 3,398 DeShaun Foster, Tustin 1997
6. 3,263 Chris Hanks, Cathedral 1997
7. 3,233 Toby Gerhart, Norco 2005
8. 3,219 Oscar Arzu, Sierra Vista 1996
9. 3,194 Darrell Scott, Moorpark 2006
10. 3,124 Kenyon Barner, Notre Dame/Riverside 2007
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
El Camino Real returning shortstop Alex Mejia has committed to an Arizona baseball scholarship.
"Arizona is getting a quality player -- in the classroom and on the field," El Camino Real coach Josh Lienhard said. "He's a well rounded kid."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Rudy Lugo, who coached football at Canoga Park for 39 years, the last 25 as head football coach before retiring in 2007, died Tuesday at home after a long battle with cancer. He was 60.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
For years, neighbors always were reminding Paul Janson that he was living in John Elway's old house on Tulsa Street in Northridge, and Janson says he had a feeling the Hall of Fame quarterback from Granada Hills High would show up one day.
Sure enough, Elway did show up Monday, but Janson didn't expect an entourage of two dozen production workers that arrived with Elway as part of an upcoming TV show, "Homecoming."
"I heard the door knock and thought someone might be trying to sell me something, and it was John Elway saying hi and asking how I was doing - with 20-something camera people behind him," Janson said. "I was startled. I didn't want to let all of them in - just John -- because you know how it is: The beds weren't made, and I had my work files spread out all over the floor."
Janson and Elway hung out in the backyard, where Elway looked up and "reminisced about jumping off the roof into the pool and sneaking back home through the sliding glass door late at night," Janson said. "I actually talked to him for a long time, and he seems like a real nice guy."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Rojello "Rocky" Magdaleno, a longtime community baseball figure and the grandfather of 10-year Major League pitcher Russ Ortiz from Montclair Prep, died Tuesday. He was 84.
Magdaleno lettered in baseball and track at San Fernando High, served in WWII, and coached at various youth leagues in Van Nuys, North Hills and Encino. He also worked as a letter carrier.
"He had an influence on hundreds of kids," said grandson Shad Ortiz. "We did not have a dad in the picture, and he stepped up to be our father figure and male role model. I remember playing catch with him in our front yard in Van Nuys and going to Buddy's bataway on Van Nuys Boulevard, where it was seven pitches for a quarter."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Best wishes to Taft of Woodland Hills football coach Matt Kerstetter's 1-year-old son, Tyler, who undergoes corrective hip surgery Thursday morning.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Lancaster's national soccer center is the site for the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships on June 15-21. A crowd of up to 10,000 is expected, as the tournament is part of the U.S. Soccer National Championships, the USA's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Austin Walker, a top returning junior shortstop at Crespi, committed to a UC Irvine baseball scholarship a couple of weeks back. Not to be outdone, three days later Walker's brother, Adam, a Crespi senior, committed to play Lacrosse at Div. III Fontbonne University in St. Louis.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
In above their heads against state power Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks, the Alemany Warriors tried all sorts of early trick plays Friday - a couple of pooch kicks, a fake punt, a flea flicker.
The problem was, nothing worked.
Using gadget plays was not a bad idea, but Notre Dame executed too well and was always alert.
And with Alemany having its difficulties stopping Notre Dame's potent passing offense, it was no surprise the favored Knights won 44-17 in a nonleague showdown before a standing-room-only crowd of about 4,000 at Alemany.
Notre Dame's Ryan Kasdorf completed 20 of 27 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a 12-yard run, and Kenny Boggs added three touchdowns on runs of 2, 2 and 1 yard, as the Knights (6-0) remained undefeated while handing Alemany (5-1) its first loss.
Kasdorf, a junior coming off a school-record 418-yard passing performance, has thrown for 1,902 and 19 touchdowns. Kasdorf added 78 yards rushing, as Notre Dame amassed 524 yards.
They'll be more in Saturday's Daily News ... or when the clock strikes 12 on our web site.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
A last-minute update: St. Francis' all-purpose back Dietrich Riley, one of the area's top players, is definite tonight against visiting Bishop Amat -- good news for the Golden Knights (5-0) because Bishop Amat (4-1) is by far their toughest opponent so far.
Riley, recovering from a back injury that has sidelined him one week, was questionable as of Wednesday. The junior already has scholarship offers from USC and UCLA, so that tells you how much of an impact player he is.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Trailing 21-0, Mojave's homecoming game Friday against Silver Valley was called late in the second quarter after Mojave's Darren Johnson lay motionless for 30 minutes and was airlifted to the hospital, according to a story in the AV Press.
According to the story, Johnson is doing OK. The school homecoming dance also was canceled.
gerry,gittelson@dailynews.com
You can bet Oaks Christian is a bit bummed St. Bonaventure lost to Long Beach Poly 12-7 on Friday, as the richocet effect of the defeat might eventually cost Oaks Christian a state bowl berth in Div. III.
Here's the logic:
St. Bonaventure already has defeated Crespi, and a win over Long Beach Poly -- considered a state favorite in Div. I -- combined with St. Bonaventure winning the rest of its coming games (probably will happen) would have made St. Bonaventure a strong candidate to represent the South in the new, highest "open" division of the bowl series, a step higher than being named the Div. III representative.
Being chosen for the "open" division is an anointment that goes to the best team, regardless of division, and St. Bonaventure might have fit into that categroy -- and left a spot in Div. III for Oaks Christian, assuming the Lions can win a sixth consecutive section title (probably will happen, too).
Now, if St. Bonaventure wins out and takes the Northern Division championship, and Oaks Christian, playing less worthy nonleague and playoff opponents, wins the lesser Northwest Division, the nod in Div. III probably would probably go to St. Bonaventure over the Lions.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
NORWALK - Better late than never for Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks and its
prolific quarterback, Ryan Kasdorf.
Make that way better.
A power outage caused a delay of more than an hour for Notre Dame's nonleague showdown Friday against Servite of Anaheim at Cerritos College, but Kasdorf and Co. were more than ready when the lights finally went on.
Kasdorf, a junior, passed for a school-record 418 yards, completing 27 of 37 passes and four touchdowns in a 31-24 victory.
Halfway through his junior season, Kasdorf already has established himself as one of Notre Dame's all-time greatest quarterbacks. In five games, the junior has passed for 1,577 yards and already holds five of the Notre Dame's top seven single-game performances.
The power outage lasted for so long that the game almost didn't happen. But just as some spectators were getting into their cars and leaving, the lights turned on and everyone scurried back to their seats.
There seemed a good chance someone would make an early mistake because of the delay, and sure enough Notre Dame's Brandon Glass fumbled the opening kickoff out of bounds at the 2.
But the gaffe did not affect Notre Dame, as the Knights drove 98 yards on 14 plays, scoring on a 23-yard pass from Kasdorf to Tyler Ruiz. The key play was an improvised fake punt, as Brandon Lluis was about to kick the ball but saw an opening at the last moment and ran for 28 yards.
After passing for 371 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 148 yards and a touchdown one week earlier in a victory over Saugus, Kasdorf was even hotter. In the first half, the junior completed 13 of 21 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, and he added 35 yards rushing, as Notre Dame led 17-14.
In the first half, Notre Dame also scored on a Chris McNeill's 7-yard reception and Lluis' 21-yard field goal.
Lluis tried a second fake punt on the last play of the first quarter and was tackled on his own 8, and Servite cashed in one play later on a 8-yard touchdown pass from Cody Fajardo to Anthony Ferraro.
Servite rallied in the final minutes before Notre Dame's Chris McNeill sealed the victory by intercepting a pass at the 2 with two seconds remaining.
It was past 10 p.m. by the time the second half started.
Fajardo completed 7 of 11 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in the first half, and Greg Portis added 52 yards on eight carries, including a 13-yard run.
Servite was outgained in the first half 263-133.
Notre Dame defensive back Tom Drachkovitch returned after missing two games because of a knee injury. He started at defensive back and came through with several tackles in the first half.
Kasdorf keyed an 81-yard touchdown drive in six plays to open the second half, completing 5 of 6 passes on the series, culminating with a 53-yard scoring pass to Kenny Boggs in which Kasdorf had every faked out by looking right, then turning to his left at the last moment to hit a wide-open Boggs near the sideline.
Notre Dame 31, Servite 27
Notre Dame 7-10-7-7-31
Servite 0-14-0-10-24
ND-Ruiz 23 pass from Kasdorf (Lluis kick)
S-Ferraro 8 pass from Fajardo (kick failed)
ND-FG Lluis 28
S-Portis 13 run (Samooti run)
ND-McNeill 7 pass from Kasdorf (Lluis kick)
ND - Boggs 53 pass from Kasdorf (Lluis kick)
S-Samooti 1 run (Echeverry kick)
ND-Flynn 10 pass from Kasdorf (Lluis kick)
S- FG Loftus 35
Just in time, poof -- the lights came on at Cerritos College for tonight's Notre Dame-Servite that almost didn't happen because we've been sitting in pitch dark waiting for the electricians to fix the electricity.
So it's looks like 20 minutes till kickoff. Boy, will I be pressed to make deadline tonight.
I'll update when I can.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
OK, the latest here at Cerritos College in Norwalk, where the lights are not working -- which could mean the Notre Dame-Servite game would be canceled.
According to a Servite source, a crew of electricians are en route to troubleshoot the problem -- with no guarantee -- and hopefully someone will figure out a way to get the lights on because it is PITCH DARK out here -- and it's almost 8 p.m.
The talk is the teams would rather not play Saturday, but there is no confirmation on a alternate plan.
Even if the electricians can fix the problem, word is the game won't happen until at least 9 p.m. or later. If that's the case, I would prefer it be postponed until tomorrow -- at least we can get the result in the paper that way.
So for now, repeat after me: "Let there be light."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Some dark news to report here at Cerritos College in Norwalk, as the stadium lights aren't working as Notre Dame and Servite prepare for a scheduled game, and a secruity person is telling spectators they have to leave the standium "for safety reasons."
I talked with the facility electrician, Les Bell, and he said there is a problem with the "transformer" and that he recommends the game be canceled. This was twenty minutes ago, and Bell said he would try one more thing to get the lights on from a different circuit, but it does not look good.
"Nothing like this has ever happened before," said Notre Dame coach Kevin Rooney, in his 29th year.
"It's crazy," said Servite coach Troy Thomas.
It's not clear if the game would be postponed or canceled. I'll try to provide an update -- if my computer battery can hold out, as there is no electricity in the press box either.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Valencia quarterback Dominick Solley, who's missed three games (all victories) because of an ankle injury, is back in the starting lineup tonight for the Vikings (3-1) against visiting Westchester (1-3).
"I'm 100 percent," he said.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Ranny Lowe, a top returning shortstop for Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, has committed to Pepperdine, where he'll join fellow Knights' returning infielder Kelly Dugan.
As a junior, Lowe batted .289 with 21 runs to help Notre Dame to the Southern Section Div. III championship. Lowe transferred to Notre Dame from Montclair Prep.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Just gave Larry Drew, Jr. a holler, and the former Taft High kid is doing great as a freshman at North Carolina -- though the basketball wunderkind concedes he misses Los Angeles.
"Oh,of course I miss L.A. It was my home," Drew said. "But it's really nice out here in North
Carolina. The gym is nice, the arena is nice. And it's 7 to 1 girls' ratio,"
Not that Drew has had much time to chill because even though it's not basketball season, the sport consumes him "24 hours day" -- including daily four-hour conditioning workouts the likes of which he has never seen.
"We do a lot of conditioning and a lot of lifting weights -- a lot," Drew said.
Meanwhile, Drew just might have a chace to play significant minutes or even break into the starting lineup.
"That's the plan. Whoever gets the job done will be playing," Drew said.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Marti Sementelli, a sophomore baseball player at Burbank High, pitched a no-hitter Sunday to lead a team from New England to a 3-0 victory to win the women's national baseball championship in Tucson. The 5-foot-2 right-hander allowed three hits and struck out nine in seven innings.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
It will be fun to see which Western Division teams can remain undeated. Five of the top eight in this week's Southern Section poll have not lost a game -- No. 1 Alemamy (4-0), No. 2 Santa Monica (4-0), No. 5 St. Francis (4-0), No. 7 Paramount and No. 8 Lynwood (3-0-1).
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Wow, the wizard Erik Boal set a Daily News pronog record by going 40-3 this past weekend, measuring in at 93 percent -- rather amazing for a 43-game slate. He has taken over the No. 1 spot by two games (over yours truly) --- but hey, it's still early ...
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Ryan Kasdorf came through with a performance for the ages Friday, passing for 371 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 148 yards and a touchdown - a whopping 519 yards total offense - to carry Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks to a 52-28 victory over visiting Saugus.
Kasdorf, a 6-foot-2 junior, completed 13 of 20 passes, connecting with Chris McNeill for touchdowns of 68 and 78 yards and James Flynn for touchdowns of 67 and 83 yards.
Kasdorf scored on a 38-yard run and nearly scored another long touchdown but stumbled and fell untouched at the 3 on an 87-yard run.
Notre Dame (4-0) totaled a school-record 693 yards, breaking the mark of 574, set in 1997 against Bishop Montgomery.
Saugus (2-2) was hard to stop, too. Led by quarterback Desi Rodriguez and running back Ryan Zirbel, the Centurions totaled 534 yards. Rodriguez completed 15 of 26 for 149 yards and one touchdown, and he rushed for 151 yards on 27 carries, including two touchdowns. Zirbel carried 22 times for 218 yards and two touchdowns, including a 73-yarder, and he had five receptions for 55 yards.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
it's 42-14 Notre Dame over Saugus at the half here at Notre Dame, a combination of Notre Dame being very good and Saugus being very bad.
Notre Dame has amassed 519 yards on 20 plays - an average of 26 yards per play - to forge a 28-point halftime lead.
Notre Dame's Ryan Kasdorf has completed 10 of 12 passes for 329 yards and four touchdowns of 68, 67, 78 and 78 yards. He also has rushed for 106 yards, including an 87-yard run.
No question, Notre Dame executed smoothly, and it's clear Kasdorf, a junior, is a rising star. But Saugus was clueless on defense, as the majority of Kasdorf's completions were to wide-open receivers.
With Saugus having to replace 11 starters on defense this season, growing pains were expected. Nevertheless, this is the fourth game of the season, which should be enough time to at least figure out which guys should be where on basic pass patterns. If the Centurions don't improve, or perhaps make major changes, there is no way they'll keep pace with Foothill League rivals Canyon, Valencia and Hart of Newhall.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Notre Dame is dealing with major injuries heading into tonight's game against visiting Saugus here in Sherman Oaks, as starters Tom Drachkovitch (defensive back) and Taylor Cressy (offensive guard) are not available.
Drachovitch has been out with a knee injury since the second week of the season, and Cressy (shoulder) was injured against Birmingham last week.
They're about to kickoff. Notre Dame is 9-0 in the series, but that does not faze Saugus coach Jason Bornn.
"I wasn't even here for half of those losses, and the ones I was here for we were still growing," Bornn said.
The first eight loses were by 14 points or more. Last year's result was closer -- 38-35 -- but still a Notre Dame victory.
I'm side by side right now with noted wordsmith Sean Ceglinsky from the L.A. Times, so I will try to really be on point tonight. I'll update when I can -- probably at halftime and after the game.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Check out David Lassen's column on Newbury Park football and its coaching staff -- good stuff.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
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