High school rivals deal with a painful bond

Life doesn’t seem fair when a teenage boy loses his father at the precise moment he needs him most, but senior quarterback Ben Longshore of Canyon Country Canyon and junior running back Delano Howell of Newhall Hart each is shouldering the burden the best he can.

It’s a big week in the Santa Clarita Valley, with Canyon playing Hart on Friday night at College of the Canyons in a Foothill League game that figures to determine the league championship. But no matter which team wins, prayers and good wishes will be directed toward Longshore and Howell.

Longshore’s father died April 24 of a blood clot. He was 49. Howell’s father died Sept. 10 of complications from heart surgery. He was 57. Both were much-respected in their community, churches and schools.

Todd Longshore, the father of three sons and one daughter, was such a prominent youth coach and scout leader that the Santa Clarita City Council voted last month to name a new 32-acre park in his name. Groundbreaking is set for Nov. 3.

Keith Howell, the father of three sons, taught Sunday Bible classes.

There has been an outpouring of community support as the two youngest sons mourn their fathers’ passings, but complicating everything has been football. It’s both a blessing and a distraction.

The week Longshore lost his father, he left for a football camp in San Diego, a trip on which his father was to have accompanied him. Instead, older brother Nate, the starting quarterback at California, took the trip, along with Canyon Coach Harry Welch and several teammates.

The week Howell lost his father, Hart had a game against La Puente Bishop Amat. He missed one practice, played in the game and scored five touchdowns, returning the opening kickoff 95 yards. The next day, he watched as his father was buried.

“It’s part of the cycle of life, but it doesn’t make it easier,” Welch said.

Football is helping the players cope with their sorrow and emptiness.

“In a way, since he was also my coach, it’s another way to think of him but do what I love doing,” Longshore said.

Added Howell: “I just try to do the best I can and play for him as if he were in the stands.”

But football is also adding pressure to two teenagers who have been taught to excel in sports and in the classroom as well as be good citizens.

“He has a lot of pressure to be a great quarterback instead of enjoying the moment,” Welch said of Longshore.

Longshore hasn’t been as consistent as he hoped in his senior year, even though his performances have helped Canyon, which began the season as The Times’ top-ranked team, to a 3-2 record, with close losses to powerful Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Ventura St. Bonaventure.

“I’m a little disappointed,” he said. “I’m waiting for a game when I can look back and feel satisfied.”

Longshore relied on his father to be his toughest critic and most loyal supporter.

After a defeat, Longshore said his father would have told him, “Don’t sweat it. You’ll have another game.”

But he’s gone, and Longshore must try to remember his father’s words and take them to heart.

“Everything you learn in church comes into play, and being close to your family helps,” he said.

Howell keeps playing to the best of his ability while seeking comfort in the belief that his father is still watching.

He scored a school-record six touchdowns on Sept. 29 against Antelope Valley and has 20 touchdowns in six games.

“If I wasn’t Christian and didn’t have the faith I have, I don’t know if I’d be able to get through this,” Howell said.

Hanging out with friends and teammates is aiding the healing process. Each knows that life must go on.

“We’re not going to let this bring us down because we believe our dad is in a better place and we want to make him proud,” Howell said.

Added Longshore: “You know where he is, you know he loves you and he wants you to live your life.”

And so Longshore and Howell will try to lead their teams to victory Friday night. Afterward, when the players go to midfield to exchange handshakes, Longshore and Howell figure to embrace and shed a tear or two.

They won’t be alone.

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

T.J. Simers has the day off.