It Turned Out to be Point, Game and Streak for El Camino Real

El Camino Real High recorded a pair of firsts in its Valley 4-A League game against Cleveland Friday night.

The Conquistadores not only scored their first points of the season but also won their first game, 23-7.

El Camino Real entered the game having been outscored, 153-0, in five games. And even though its first points came in the first quarter, they were scored with a little extra drama.

On its first possession, El Camino Real blew a scoring opportunity when a wide open John Colarossi dropped what would have been a touchdown pass.

The Conquistadores were forced to punt, but were penalized on the punt play and forced to kick again.

Cleveland fumbled the second punt and Colarossi, of all people, recovered.

A 28-yard pass from Carl McFadden to Roy Schneider, followed by a 13-yard run by Warren Butler, gave El Camino Real a first-and-goal at the seven.

Three rushing plays netted six yards, but McFadden managed to sneak in from the one on fourth down.

And how did the El Camino Real players react to finally scoring?

Said Barry Sloan, who was covering the game for The Times: “It was bedlam. You would have thought they won the Super Bowl.”

Taste test:

Flyers passed around the Granada Hills student section during Friday night’s game against rival Kennedy proclaimed: “In a recent taste test, Granada football players were found to prefer Stroh’s over (Fran)cola.”

Francola is a former Granada Hills assistant coach who is in his first year as an assistant at Kennedy. The Stroh’s the flyer referred to is Granada Hills head coach Darryl Stroh.

At least I hope that’s what they meant.

Kenny Durr of Canoga Park has defeated every high school that he’s ever attended, which is no small feat.

Durr played for El Camino Real last season when the Conquistadores beat Canoga Park.

As tailback for Canoga Park this season, Durr has helped defeat Taft, El Camino Real and Cleveland.

Durr went to Taft as a sophomore. He transferred to El Camino and then to Canoga Park as a junior. He also spent one day at Cleveland his junior year.

The Reseda varsity team dropped a 15-12 decision to first-place Venice Friday night, but its B team ended a 40-game win streak by Venice, defeating the Gondoliers, 7-0.

If you went to the Canyon-Saugus game Friday night and are wondering why Canyon Coach Harry Welch stayed with his starters so long in a 42-0 rout, consider:

When Welch put the second-team offense in with 6:49 left in the game, it immediately drove 79 yards for a touchdown on 11 rushing plays.

Welch may have been holding the score down by keeping his regulars in.

Add Canyon:

When John Watkins completed only one of his first seven passing attempts against Saugus, Welch inserted Ken Sollom into the lineup.

Sollom and Watkins alternated the rest of the game. Apparently, that’s not a bad combination. Sollom completed 5 of 11 for 67 yards, and while alternating, Watkins completed 4 of 5 for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Coach of the Year candidate:

With his team leading Burbank 20-12 midway through the fourth quarter, San Gabriel Coach Terry Cox had his team go for a first down on a fourth-and-short situation in its own territory.

Said Cox: “If you can’t get a half yard in that situation, you don’t deserve to win.”

San Gabriel made the first down and won the game.

Shame on Shamus:

The mismatch of the week took place on a first-half kickoff Friday night when Bell-Jeff linebacker Shamus Martin went after Chaminade kicker Matt Fee.

Martin, 6-10, 175-pounds was literally picking the 5-9, 145-pound Fee off the ground with blocks 25 yards downfield from where Fee’s kick was being returned.

To his credit, Fee kept his balance and didn’t fall down until the play was finally whistled dead.

Martin’s size enabled him to win the individual battle, but Fee and Chaminade won the game, 13-10.

Shaun Christensen of Royal may have attempted 40 passes in a 29-13 loss to Newbury Park, but the game’s officials probably went home with the sorer arms.

There were almost as many flags flying as there were passes.

The two teams were called for 28 penalties totaling 260 yards.

During an 8-play drive by Royal in the second quarter, eight penalties were called and two touchdowns were nullified.

Oops Dept.:

Notre Dame and St. John Bosco combined for eight fumbles, two interceptions and a fumbled punt Friday night. Included were two fumbles by St. John Bosco and one by Notre Dame on consecutive plays in he first quarter.

Notre Dame won the game, 16-0, but lost the turnover total by two interceptions and a muffed punt.

Add Notre Dame:

Jerry Pondella led the Knights rushing attack with 87 yards on 16 carries in his first game back from a knee injury.

For the third time in four weeks, the No. 1-ranked team in the Down in the Valley Poll won its next game.

This time, it was El Camino Real which not only managed to score, but also win.

The Conquistadores join Grant and North Hollywood as teams which have had short stays at the top of the rankings.

Victories by El Camino Real and Sylmar, which was ranked fourth last week, leave Oak Park, Royal and Saugus as the only winless teams in the Valley area.

This week’s Down in the Valley Poll:

1) Oak Park, 0-7 record, outscored 22-184. 2) Royal, 0-7, 72-209. 3) Saugus, 0-5-2, 25-100. 4) North Hollywood and Grant, both 1-5, 85-287. 6) Cleveland, 1-4, 68-89. 7) El Camino Real, 1-5, 23-160. 8) Van Nuys, 1-5, 41-126. 9) Sylmar, 1-5, 63-82. 10) Camarillo, 1-6, 133-152.