HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK : They’re Cheering for No. 1 at Saugus, Oak Park

So what if the wins have no effect on the league standings or playoffs?

Just try and tell football players from Saugus and Oak Park high schools that their victories Friday night were insignificant.

Do you think there was some celebrating in San Fernando when the home team beat Granada Hills for the Valley 4-A League title?

Well, the jubilation was no less raucous for Saugus and Oak Park after each team picked up its first win in the last game of the season.

Saugus (1-7-2) had been outscored by 100 points in its last four games, and was down, 10-6, in the fourth quarter Friday against Quartz Hill. The Centurions rallied in the fourth quarter for a 12-10 victory.

Across the Valley in Agoura, Oak Park was capturing its first win, a 9-3 decision over Bishop Diego. The Eagles, who had just 157 yards rushing its first seven games, piled up 156 against Bishop Diego.

Said Oak Park Coach Mark Jacobs: “It felt just like we won a CIF championship. It was great for our seniors to go out with a win. And for our juniors and sophomores, it’s just like they will be starting with a 1-0 record next year. It’s something to build off of.”

Said Coach Al Hansen of Saugus: “There was a whole lot of happiness on our side of the field after that game. It takes away some of the frustration we’ve all felt the last few weeks of the season.”

Santa Paula drew straws with Nordhoff and Calabasas and won, so the Cardinals advance to the Southern Section’s Desert-Mountain Conference playoffs as the Frontier League’s third-place team.

Santa Paula defeated Fillmore, 21-0, Friday night, while Calabasas lost to league champion Santa Clara, 45-26, and Nordhoff lost to Agoura, 35-0.

Larry Edwards, coach of Calabasas, can still look at the past season with great satisfaction. The Coyotes (6-4) had their first winning season in five years and they will return nine starters on defense and five on offense next season.

Monroe needed to upset first-place Chatsworth to gain a third-place finish in the Sunset League and advance to the playoffs.

The teams battled to a 14-14 tie, which means one of the most talented players in the City 3-A Division will not see playoff action--Monroe’s Barry Thomas.

The senior wide receiver and defensive back didn’t go out quietly, however.

He caught five passes for 83 yards and both Monroe touchdowns against Chatsworth. He also made three interceptions.

Granada Hills lost more than a game Friday night against San Fernando.

In their 40-12 defeat, the Highlanders lost to injuries wide receiver Greg Fowble, return specialist Bob Allen, receiver and defensive back Dean Yoshitani, fullback Mike Davis and defensive back Carl Yeargain. All may be lost for the playoffs.

Fowble, who may be the best receiver in the Valley area, suffered a broken hand early in the game. Allen is out with a dislocated shoulder, Yoshitani has a bad ankle, Davis has a strained Achilles tendon and Yeargain may need to undergo knee surgery.

“Without all the injuries, it might have been a decent game,” said Granada Hills Coach Darryl Stroh. “It wasn’t all that physical; we just seemed to get hit with a lot of freak stuff.

“I guess we’ll have to have tryouts all over again on Monday.”

Granada Hills will host Dorsey in the first round of the City 4-A playoffs on Friday.

At Sylmar, they are comparing nose tackle Richard Hetherington with the best in the Valley at his postion--including Canyon’s Joe Zacharia.

His performance in Sylmar’s 26-7 win Friday night over Poly was typical.

Hetherington, a 5-11, 210-pound senior, was credited with 10 tackles, including three quarterback sacks. He also forced and recovered a fumble.

On the season, he has 66 solo tackles and 15 quarterback sacks.