Canoga Park’s Conover Runs Over Van Nuys

Van Nuys High’s football team was exposed as a sheep in Wolves clothing Friday night at Canoga Park.

Canoga Park, led by Mike Conover’s four touchdowns and 272 yards rushing, defeated the Wolves, 38-20, in the Sunset League opener for both teams.

Van Nuys (2-2-1) was undefeated the first three weeks of the season against 2-A Division competition and was playing its first game against a 3-A opponent.

Friday night’s game, played at times in a light rain, was close for a half, but the Hunters (4-1) turned to what they do best--get the ball to Conover--to outscore Van Nuys in the second half, 17-0.

Conover, the Sunset League offensive player of the year in 1986, set a career rushing record on 31 carries and kicked a field goal and five extra points.

Conover broke loose on a 30-yard touchdown run six plays into the third period, then kicked the extra point, expanding a 21-20 halftime lead to 28-20.

He added a 19-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, then ran 31 yards for a touchdown late in the period to complete the scoring.

The Hunters looked like they would make it a runaway early. Conover scored the first of his two first-half touchdowns on a 10-yard run on Canoga Park’s first possession of the game.

Van Nuys, aided by 53 yards in Hunter penalties, tied the score, 7-7, after Lou Vann connected with Fred Bryant on an eight-yard touchdown pass.

Canoga Park had 93 yards in penalties in the game, including 83 in the first half.

On the ensuing play from scrimmage, Pete Marine went 75 yards and Conover’s conversion kick gave the Hunters a 14-7, first-quarter lead. Marine finished with 84 yards on five carries.

Canoga Park made it 21-7 early in the second quarter after Conover’s 27-yard scoring run.

But the Wolves came back, closing the score to 21-14 after Muhammad Zaid’s two-yard touchdown run. Van Nuys scored again just before the half as Vann passed 14 yards to Bryant.

Bryant’s PAT kick was blocked, however, and the Hunters led, 21-20, at the half.

Vann passed for 128 yards in the first half with Bryant catching six of his passes for 111 yards. Bryant finished with 118 yards on seven catches. Vann completed 12 of 22 passes for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Zaid rushed for 99 yards on 20 carries, but Canoga Park outgained Van Nuys in total offense, 405-288.