THE HIGH SCHOOLS : Hanson Gives Newbury Park Everything but a Win

In a game in which he seemingly did everything right, Brad Hanson’s punting might have been what saved Newbury Park High from its first Marmonte League loss of the season.

Against Westlake, Hanson the senior linebacker and kicker was forced to become Hanson the punter as well when regular punter Brandt Pile injured his hamstring during the week.

In seven attempts, Hanson (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) punted for a 32.3-yard average--but his most impressive kick traveled 21 yards with 7:43 remaining in the 14-14 tie. On fourth and 10 from the Panthers’ 35-yard line, the snap sailed over Hanson’s head. He spun, chased the ball down at the 15, and unleashed a panic punt that came to rest on Westlake’s 44-yard line.

Add to that six solo tackles, six assists, three quarterback sacks, two deflected passes and two point-after kicks.

Oh, and he also returned a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown.

“The guy was just in on every single play,” Coach George Hurley said. “How many times can a kid win a game for you and then not win the game?”

Hall of fame: San Fernando defensive coordinator Troy Starr says that Vincent Hall’s performance this season has been “awesome.” Considering Starr’s background--he coached at Carson before moving to San Fernando last season--it’s difficult to dismiss his assessment.

Starr says that Hall, a 5-10, 190-pound inside linebacker who also plays fullback, is as talented as any player he coached at Carson. Quite a statement, considering that in Starr’s last season with the Colts in 1986 three Carson linebackers were selected to the All-City Section 4-A Division team. The best of that trio was Arnold Ale, who played last year on Notre Dame’s national championship team as a freshman before transferring last summer to UCLA, where he is redshirting.

“We had a lot of great players at Carson,” Starr said, “And Vince is as good as they were.”

The numbers support Starr. Hall is averaging 13 tackles a game.

The defense rests: When you’re Jerome Casey, standout Sylmar tailback-safety, you have to worry about wearing out your legs.

Or, more precisely, if you’re Casey’s coach, Jeff Engilman, you have to worry about preserving the strength of a back who has gained 716 yards in his first four games.

Engilman, fearing that Casey may become burned out from double duty, has decided to ease the senior out of his defensive duties--in which he serves as an enforcer--in an effort to rest him for his offensive duties--in which he enjoys forcing the ball down the other team’s throat.

A Casey-less Sylmar defense, ranked No. 1 among Valley City Section schools, will get its first big test this Friday against Reseda.

Staff writers Tim Brown, Steve Elling and Brian Murphy contributed to this notebook.