Scott’s Running Joke About Hart Deficiency Is No Laughing Matter

Picture yourself in the stands at College of the Canyons, awaiting the start of tonight’s game between Hart and Saugus. Like many fans, you’re wondering who Hart Coach Rick Scott will start at tailback in place of injured Craig Whitten.

The Indians charge onto the field to the roar of the crowd and you notice that one of the Hart players is small enough to be Scott’s 5-year-old son.

Moments later, the public-address announcer confirms your suspicion, incredulous though it may be.

Ladies and gentlemen. . . . Starting at tailback for Hart. . . . No. 5 1/2. . . . Jake. . . .Scott.

Great Scott! The Indians aren’t that hard up for a tailback, are they?

“It’s a possibility,” Scott said. “Jake just played his first flag football game last week and he looked pretty good. He should be ready soon.”

Before child-abuse hot lines start ringing off the hook, let it be known that Scott is joking, although he does have Jake penciled in at quarterback for the 1999 season. The Indians’ running back situation, however, is no laughing matter.

Scott thought he had a replacement for Whitten in sophomore Howard Blackwell. Blackwell stepped up from the sophomore team last week and rushed for 124 yards in Hart’s 13-7 win over Arroyo.

Problem solved?

No. Blackwell decided he wasn’t ready for varsity ball and rejoined the sophomore team.

“He’s a real shy kid and he doesn’t know many of the varsity players,” Scott said. “He’ll be in our future, but he’s not our today kid.”

Hart’s running game has been a question mark since Whitten sprained his ankle in practice. Whitten, who rushed for 69 yards and caught 5 passes for 140 yards in a season-opening win over Canyon, probably will miss three games. Hart’s ground attack, which has accounted for just 320 yards in three games, lacks depth.

Fullback Jerry Smith quit the team when Scott denied him more playing time. When the Indians were at full strength, Smith was the short-yardage fullback. He didn’t like sitting on the bench and he let Scott know it.

“I told him he’s got to earn his playing time like everyone else,” Scott said. “He hadn’t earned it yet. It’s interesting because he might be our No. 1 fullback right now.”

Fullback Elliott Graeber is the front-runner for the tailback job. But then Scott will need a new fullback. John Olrich carried the ball against Arroyo, but fumbled twice in the second half--both times in crucial situations.

Scott’s other fullback candidates are linebackers Scott Holden and Frank Williams. Graeber, on the other hand, might remain at fullback and tight end Brian Allen, who played tailback last year on the sophomore team, will play tailback.

Confused yet?

“We’ll come up with something,” Scott said. “Besides, when you look at our passing game, it’s basically a running game. We throw a lot of shorties and quickies and dumps and drops. We just throw the ball a little ways.”

Chris and Cross: Canyon High fullback Chris Peery decided Thursday to stick with his decision to quit football. Peery, a sophomore, turned in his equipment along with junior tailback Cam Cross earlier in the week. Cross declined to comment on his reason for quitting. Peery, who hinted Wednesday that he might reconsider his decision, said he had grown tired of football.

“I still feel the same way,” Peery said. “I feel tired and lazy and I don’t feel like practicing. It just isn’t there anymore.”

Canyon Coach Harry Welch, whose team is off to a 1-2 start for the first time in Welch’s six years as coach, has left the door open, hoping that Peery and Cross will return.

“I’m worried for him,” Welch said of Peery. “I’m afraid he’ll remove himself from challenging academic classes and he’ll suffer.”

The Canyon team, too, might be in for some suffering. The Cowboys play host to Notre Dame tonight then travel to Alemany next week before opening their Golden League schedule against Saugus.

Strength saver: Before the season began, many people expected Burroughs quarterback Jeff Barrett to be torching opposing secondaries in every game. While Barrett ranks third among Valley-area quarterbacks after three games with 461 yards passing, he’s thrown only 20 times in the past two games.

Why such restraint?

“We’ve just been running the ball at everybody,” Burroughs Coach Butch McElwee said. “We have one of the best pair of running backs around.”

Behind Barrett in Burroughs’ backfield are tailback Doug Dragomer (5-10, 180) and fullback Wes Bender (5-10, 200). Dragomer, a senior who is averaging 6.5 yards a carry, has rushed for 168 yards. Bender, also a senior, has 157 yards and is averaging 5.4 yards a carry.

“Jeff gets a lot of credit and it’s well he should,” McElwee said. “But our running backs are the ones really doing the job for us now.”

Pain in the neck: Three Canyon players--linebacker Chris Eddy, defensive back Steve Martinez and wide receiver Clint Beauer--all have sprained necks and will miss tonight’s game against Notre Dame.

Several other Valley-area players are expected to miss this weekend’s games, including: Hart tailback Craig Whitten (sprained ankle), Canyon linebacker Kevin Doss (concussion), Chaminade tailback Tim Lavin (sprained knee), Calabasas quarterback Ceo Wimmer (fractured foot), St. Genevieve linebacker Chad Russell (sprained ankle), Birmingham defensive tackle Doug Allen (broken leg) and Cleveland defensive tackle Ron Johnson (pulled hamstring).