Ex-Dons QB Toscano to face No. 1 Florida

A.J. Toscano, who was a standout in at least three positions – WB, TE, LB – for El Rancho High School before recording a stellar two-year (2006-07) performance at Cerritos College, steps into the big time Saturday afternoon.
Toscano will start at quarterback for Charleston Southern University when the Buccaneers play defending BCS champion and No. 1-ranked Florida in Gainesville.
Last season, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound red-shirt junior played in a little more than one quarter in one game (against Savannah State), completing seven of 11 passes for 74 yards and one touchdown, then took a medical redshirt.
Toscano will be the fourth starting quarterback in four years for the Bucs.
“I have been very pleased with A.J.’s performance,” coach Jay Mills said after naming the ex-Don the starter. “He has steadily progressed since arriving here, and not just with his mechanics, but in establishing himself as a leader on the team.”
Toscano, who passed for 1,874 yards and 21 touchdowns while at Cerritos College, including 1,446 yards and 15 TDs as a sophomore, says he’s ready for his next challenge.
“I feel very confident about what we are doing offensively,” said the former first team, Daily News all-area selection. ” We had a great summer, with everyone working hard. I think we all have really high expectations this year.”
The game is scheduled to be shown on Fox Sports Net beginning at 4 p.m. (PDT)

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Morales named St. Paul athletic director

Casey Morales, a member of St. Paul High School’s 1981 CIF Southern Section championship football team and 1982 graduate of the school, has been named the Swordsmen’s athletic director.
Morales, (age) replaces Marc Hernandez, who resigned Thursday to take a position with a firm outside the teaching profession.
“It was something I knew that before I finish (retire) I wanted to be an A.D.,” Morales said after Monday afternoon’s football practice. “I know what it takes and the kind of guys to get in place to coach and run a program.
“I always wanted an opportunity like this, I just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. It’s a little earlier than I figured, but I’m ready and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
As for immediate goals, Morales said, “Of course, we’re trying to increase enrollment, and we still want to put out an A-plus athletic program.
“We’ve had a lot of success over the years, and I want us to continue that success. And, of course, it’s got be academics tied to athletics.”
Morales, who was an offensive guard on that 1981 championship team, moved on to play football and baseball at the University of San Diego before graduating from the school in 1986.
He actually began his coaching career in 1985 at University of San Diego High School.
He had coaching positions at St. John Bosco, Santa Fe, Glen A. Wilson (Hacienda Heights) and La Serna high schools before returning to St. Paul in 2005.
He has coached softball and track & field at St. Paul and is currently an assistant football coach and head baseball coach for the Swordsmen.
A release from the school cites Morales’ “vast coaching experience and positive relationship with the school and surrounding community that will serve him well as he embarks on this new challenge.”
Morales has had a long connection with St. Paul. He was the first of four members of his family (a brother and two sisters) to graduate a Swordsman, and his wife Julie and daughters Cassie (’02) and Christina (’03) and son Daniel (’08) are St. Paul graduates, and daughter Katrina will be a Swordsman senior this year.

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Football correspondents needed …

We’re looking for correspondents to cover football games this season.
It will involve writing short stories for the Daily News and/or
online, and sometimes just calling in the box score with a recap of
the game. A press pass will be provided that will get you into the
game and access to the sideline or the press box (if available). You
will be paid a small fee for your time and efforts. This is an ideal
situation for journalism majors or football junkies who have
knowledge of the game and can spell. To be considered, please send an
email with your contact information to roger.murray@sgvn.com to set
up an interview.

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Flores, Willson select colleges

Adrian Flores, a main cog in St. Paul High School’s boys basketball league championship season this past winter, has signed with Northland College, an NCAA Division III affiliate in Ashland, Wis.
Flores averaged a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) in helping the Swordsmen to a 22-6 record overall and a 10-0 mark atop the Camino Real League.
In a story by Garett Greenwald, associate sports editor for the Ashland Daily Press, coach Ron Robinson cited the 6-foot-5, 230-pound forward’s potential.
“He moves very well for a guy of his size,” Robinson said, comparing Flores favorably to former Lumberjack standout Dallas Goodman (1996-97).
Chris Willson, a pitcher/first baseman for the Swordsmen, has committed orally to Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Willson, a 6-5, 230-pound senior, batted .325 with six home runs and 23 runs batted in this past season. In 13 appearances on the mound, he posted a 6-5 record with one save, struck out 62, walked 30 and had a 2.96 earned run average in 52 innings in helping the Swordsmen to an 18-13 record overall and 9-3 in the Del Rey League.
Willson currently is contending for St. Paul’s starting quarterback’s job.

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Swordsmen Athletic Director resigns

Marc Hernandez, who served as St. Paul High School’s athletic director the past four years, resigned his position Thursday morning to accept a managment position “outside the teaching profession.”
“I was offered a situation that was too good to turn down,” Hernandez explained. “It is an opportunty that will change my family’s situation.” Hernandez also cited a desire to spend more time with his family.
“The hours are much more conducive for family life,” Hernandez said. “I have only one son, and (Thursday )was his fifth birthday. Watching him made me realize how much of his growth I have missed. This job gives me the opportunity to be around him more and enjoy his growing up.”
Hernandez joined St. Paul’s football staff in year 2000 and served as the Swordsmen’s defensive line coach for five years. He also was the school’s Dean of Discipline in 2001.

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