HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK : Polite Appearances at Faith Baptist Clever Mask for a Rude Awakening

The red, white and blue was out in force Saturday afternoon in Canoga Park, and the result was predictable. The guys wearing the white hats--or in this case white helmets--won.

The Faith Baptist Contenders have, for the last two seasons, made a habit of winning. They have a 23-game streak, longest this side of Canyon Country.

But the team’s winning ways aren’t the only unique aspect of Faith Baptist football.

Look around at a home football game.

First, there is the well-attired Faith Baptist crowd. There is a dress code at the school, even at football games.

Male students are not allowed to wear jeans or tennis shoes to school. At games, tennis shoes are allowed, but jeans are still prohibited. Female students must wear knee-length dresses and dress shoes.

The cheerleaders are dressed smartly in red, white and blue sweaters and long, white skirts with red and blue pleats. Most of the game, they stand on their stools clapping and cheering politely.

Down on the sidelines, the players also show refined etiquette. There is not an expletive to be deleted, just a lot of “gosh darns.”

Before the game, the national anthem was played by the nine-member Faith Baptist Junior High band. Of course, they were also impeccably dressed and well-behaved.

But on the field, the Contenders’ football team was playing the role of rude host, as usual, to a team from Pasadena Poly.

The defending Eight-Man champions took the opening kickoff and immediately drove down the field for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

By halftime, Poly had recovered for a 7-6 lead--the first time this season that Faith Baptist trailed in a game. Harry Morgan, coach of the Contenders was not pleased.

Morgan has a profile much like the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Lasorda and a demeanor to match when he’s behind in a game. His first words at halftime were, “I guess you guys believe all that garbage people have been telling you--that you can’t be beat . . . “

The speech worked.

Faith Baptist rallied in the second half for its 11th win of the year, 26-7.

After the game, the cheerleaders lined up in front of the stands and led the team in a rendition of the school song. Minutes later, they were handing out homemade cookies to the players.

Another Saturday, another win for Faith Baptist.

The Contenders move into the Eight-Man Conference finals against Templeton, a 56-20 winner over Chadwick on Friday night.

Faith Baptist beat Templeton, 52-0, earlier this season, but Morgan, with a straight face, is able to tell people that the game was much closer than the score indicates.

Faith Baptist has outscored opponents, 428-102, not counting a forfeit win over Buckley that is listed officially as a 2-0 win.

No, they were not shooting footage for another M*A*S*H* movie Friday night in Granada Hills.

The walking wounded on the Granada Hills sideline were Highlander football players who were unable to take part in the team’s first-round playoff game against Dorsey.

An unofficial count had three players on crutches, one walking with a cane, one with an arm in a cast and another with an arm in a sling.

The scoreboard was a more depressing sight for Granada Hills fans. It showed a final score of 34-14 in favor of Dorsey.

A player to watch: Sean Brown is only a sophomore, but his prowess on the athletic field is already evident.

Brown, a wide receiver on the Granada Hills football team, had four catches for 91 yards in the Highlanders’ loss to Dorsey. Two of his receptions went for touchdowns, accounting for all but two of the Highlanders’ points.

Rival schools can be assured they haven’t seen the last of the 6-2, 185-pounder. He will also play varsity basketball and baseball.

Those who have seen Montclair Prep’s Reggie Smith Jr. play baseball and then watched him play football may be a bit confused.

Smith is a left-handed pitcher but throws a football with his right hand.

In a 14-0 win over Bishop on Friday night, Smith completed 7 of 18 passes for 136 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown pass to John DeRouen.

Smith also plays defensive back and snaps the ball on punts.

Just when you thought it was safe to become a high school football official: In the third quarter of Agoura’s 44-0 win over St. Bonaventure on Friday night, referee Joe Garcias was in hot pursuit of a play when he tripped on a down marker and took a nasty fall. He cut and possibly broke several fingers.

He was unable to continue, leaving only three officials to call the remainder of the game.

Moorpark had an excuse for its poor performance last season when it lost to St. Genevieve in the first round of the football playoffs.

After all, it was the first playoff appearance in the school’s history.

But the experience apparently didn’t help the team this season.

Moorpark lost six fumbles and had one interception in a 36-7 loss to Santa Clara on Friday night. All the fumbles were lost inside the Musketeers’ 36-yard line. Three of the turnovers led to Santa Clara touchdowns. Another resulted in a field goal.

Moorpark also was hit with 14 penalties for 103 yards, including 10 calls for encroachment on defense.

The Musketeers’ offense was equally to blame, gaining less than 10 total yards prior to its last two possessions in the fourth quarter.