North Hollywood making a comeback

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The season opener for North Hollywood on Aug. 31 ended with the Huskies on the wrong end of a 36-0 beatdown by Marshall. In addition, eight players went out of the game with assorted injuries.

If Coach Andrew Kasek was thinking the season could be shot with nine games left, who could blame him.

‘At one point of the Marshall game we had three 10th graders on the offensive line,’ Kasek recalled.

Slowly but surely, the Huskies have regrouped. And after Friday’s 20-14 victory over Verdugo Hills, North Hollywood finds itself tied with Grant for first place in the Sunset Six League. Just as important, at 4-3 overall going into this week’s game against Poly, the Huskies are the lone Sunset Six team above .500.

‘I’d never had a season like this where so many players were hurt so early,’ Kasek said. ‘But we’re getting healthy again; I’d say we’re about 90%.’

That’s good news for the Huskies, who have entered the toughest part of their league schedule after easy wins against Arleta and Van Nuys. Verdugo Hills is the two-time defending league champion. Poly big league rival. And there could be a league-title showdown game against Grant in two weeks.

At least Kasek no longer has to consider raiding middle schools to fill out the roster.

- Mike Terry