HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS : Foothill League : Hart’s Carson Dealt a Pair of Aces in Search for Starting Quarterback

Finding the right man for the job is no easy task. Dave Carson would know. He was selected ahead of about 25 applicants to become Hart High’s new head coach after Rick Scott resigned to become head coach at Buena.

And Carson’s immediate task this summer was almost as difficult: finding a replacement for Times All-Valley quarterback Darren Renfro, who passed for 2,808 yards last season to lead Valley-area quarterbacks.

The left-handed Renfro, who also passed for 26 touchdowns, was himself filling some big cleats. One year earlier, Jim Bonds passed for a Valley-leading 3,153 yards before heading to UCLA.

With two tough acts to follow, a pair of juniors--Chad Fotheringham and Robby Westervelt--spent the summer slinging spirals for Carson in a pitched battle for the starting job.

“One day it’s Chad, one day it’s Robby,” Carson said. “I thought it would clear out a little easier than this.”

Carson announced this week that Westervelt would be the Indians’ starting quarterback for tonight’s opener against Canyon at College of the Canyons.

“Chad runs the offense better than Robby,” Carson said. “But, physically, it’s Robby. When he pulls the string, he makes the big plays.”

Westervelt (6 feet, 2 inches, 180 pounds), who missed practice most of last week because of a strep throat, passed for nearly as many yards as Renfro (2,804) and more touchdowns (39) in leading the sophomore team to its fourth consecutive undefeated season.

Fotheringham (6-5, 190) was Renfro’s backup last season. But backing up Renfro basically meant sitting on the bench. Fotheringham attempted only two passes, completing both for a total of 57 yards.

Carson said that both quarterbacks should get plenty of playing time this season. And either quarterback is likely to post Hart-like numbers. With talented receivers, the Indians should be pass-happy again this year. Tight end Brian Allen, who caught 44 passes last year, might be the most highly recruited receiver in the state.

Allen teams with wide receivers Jamie Carroll and Cameron Smyth, who combined to catch only nine passes last year. But fullback Elliot Graeber, who caught 24, returns.

While Carson struggled with his quarterback situation, coaches at Burroughs and San Gabriel, Hart’s two closest competitors, filled their quarterback positions quickly.

At Burroughs, Coach Butch McElwee praises senior Marco Arcipreste, who completed 6 of 16 passes last year as a backup to left-hander Jeff Barrett.

“Marco’s got a better arm than Barrett,” McElwee said. “He’s much stronger. And he’s an excellent athlete.”

And San Gabriel Coach Terry Cox calls his quarterback, third-year starter Dan Bachman (5-11, 160), “the best quarterback in the Foothill League.”

Bachman passed for 2,339 yards last year and is within 100 yards of becoming the Matadors’ career passing leader. Bachman’s favorite receiver is senior Neal Begerow, who caught 60 passes last year.

At Burbank and Schurr, quality quarterbacks are in need. Burbank’s choice is Anthony Valento, an inexperienced senior who completed 13 of 21 passes for 149 yards as a backup last year.

Schurr’s quarterback is senior Jim Le Noue, who runs the option well, Coach Ken Davis said. “We don’t anticipate throwing a lot,” Davis said.

Alhambra’s quarterback is returning senior David Salazar, but the Moors might need more to improve on last year’s dismal performance. Alhambra’s only league win was by forfeit over Burbank.FOOTHILL LEAGUE Predicted Finish

1. Hart (8-2)

2. San Gabriel (7-3)

3. Burroughs (7-3)

4. Burbank (4-6)

5. Schurr (3-7)

6. Alhambra (2-8)

Predicted record in parentheses.