HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK : Hart Hurt by Hype as Much as Injuries

Hart High was the top-ranked team in the Coastal Conference in a Southern Section preseason coaches’ poll, and Coach Rick Scott says he has been paying for the honor ever since.

The Indians are 0-2, having lost to Canyon, 6-3, and Santa Barbara, 28-18.

The players’ reaction: shock.

Said Scott: “The kids are kind of stunned. With all the high hopes and ballyhoo surrounding us, we started to read our press clippings. And we believed them.”

In fact, Scott still believes--even after the 0-2 start.

“After the Santa Barbara game I sat down and figured out that we were starting 11 juniors,” Scott said. “Only four of our seniors started last season.

“We sat down long before the Canyon game and told the kids--and I really believe this--that our No. 1 goal is to win the league championship. CIF championships and intercity rivalries are important, but if you win your league and go to the playoffs, you’ve had a pretty successful year.”

Despite its lofty preseason ranking, Hart’s losses actually haven’t been upsets.

Canyon is the No. 1-ranked team in the Northwestern Conference and Santa Barbara is No. 3 in the Coastal Conference.

Said Scott: “We’re not down. We’ve played well at times and showed some good things. A lot depends on the kids’ states of mind, as far as coming back. If there’s any teams in our league that are better than Canyon or Santa Barbara or Canyon, I’d be very surprised.”

The schedule doesn’t get much easier this week.

Hart meets undefeated and unscored-upon Alemany at College of the Canyons tonight.

Speaking of Alemany:

With all the attention Crespi has received in winning its first two games after a 0-9-1 season last year, the emergence of the Indians as a title contender in the Del Rey League has practically gone unnoticed.

Alemany has posted back-to-back shutouts over Harvard and St. Genevieve.

“We expected a good showing from our defense, but nothing like this,” said Coach Enrique Lopez. “The kids aren’t going for just wins anymore. They’re striving to throw those goose eggs on the scoreboard.

Two of the leaders on defense have been 5-6 nose guard David Montes, who has six quarterback sacks, and sophomore safety Roy Talavera, who has had an interception in each game.

Said Lopez about Talavera: “We feel he’s one of the top sophomores in the Valley right now. He’s got the size, speed and aggressiveness it takes. He’ll be one to watch in the future. He’s going to be a great one.”

Crespi, which is 2-0 under Coach Bill Redell, will be without placekicker Peter Zenobi in its game against Duarte tonight.

Zenobi is in Dallas to participate in a regional high school all-star soccer game Saturday.

He was an All-Southern Section midfielder last season. Taking his place for kickoff duties will be either John Budge or Todd Kieling. Budge will attempt the PATs.

For the second consecutive season, Burbank has lost its first two games.

Last season, the Bulldogs lost to Quartz Hill and running back Aaron Emmanuel in game No. 1, then to Baldwin Park and quarterback Michael Johnson a week later.

Emmanuel ended up on everyone’s All-America team and earned a scholarship to USC. Johnson also made several All-America teams and signed with Arizona State.

This season, Burbank opened with Claremont, who had a preseason All-America selection in quarterback Dan McGwire. Burbank lost, 28-0.

The Bulldogs then were defeated by Crespi and highly touted quarterback Randy Redell, 38-0, last week.

Next up is Crescenta Valley, which is good news for Bulldog fans. Burbank ended its losing streak last season by pummeling the Falcons, 28-0.

Now the bad news: Burbank will be without running back Frank Valdivia for the second straight week. He sprained his ankle against Claremont and will not play until next week.

Add Injuries:

Jeff De La Cruz, running back for St. Genevieve, is questionable for tonight’s game against Notre Dame because of a shoulder injury.

De La Cruz is the team’s leading rusher. He also punts.

Sean Pettway, one of Grant’s top players, will miss tonight’s game against Birmingham with an ankle injury. Coach Bill Foster said that Pettway, who starts at linebacker and on the offensive line, may also sit out next week.

Saugus quarterback Joel Condren is questionable for the Burroughs game tonight.

Condren has a sprained hip and might play but will not start. In his place will be Brian Riley.

Add Saugus:

Coach Al Hansen had his spirits buoyed by the performance of fullback Scott Hutchings, who was playing in his first game after only two weeks of practice.

Hutchings (6-0, 185), who recently moved to Saugus from Cincinnati, gained 115 yards in his debut.

“He’s fast but also very strong inside,” Hansen said. “Teams have been keying on our tailback, Rodney Bradshaw. They won’t be able to do that anymore.”

The Valley Top 10

Selected by sportswriters of The Times

Rank Team League Record 1 Canyon Golden 2-0 2 San Fernando Valley 4-A 1-0 3 Kennedy Valley 4-A 1-0 4 Granada Hills Valley 4-A 1-0 5 Westlake Marmonte 2-0 6 Alemany Del Rey 2-0 7 Crespi Del Rey 2-0 8 Simi Valley Marmonte 2-0 9 Hart Foothill 0-2 10 Cleveland Valley 4-A 1-0