Montclair Prep Could End Doubts

We interrupt basketball season to bring you an update on Valley football, 1990-style.

Remember Montclair Prep? That tiny school in Van Nuys dripping with talent? The school of which everybody had an opinion?

Certainly you heard of the backfield of dreams, with juniors Derek and Leland Sparks and senior Michael Jones. You heard of the behemoth linemen, such as Donovan Roy and Jason Blatt. You saw their blowouts against outmanned opponents.

Perhaps you were among those who questioned the validity of the Mounties’ 12-1 season, which ended just one game shy of a Southern Section title.

You heard the rumblings. Montclair Prep . . . who did they ever play?

Well, if things work out as planned, the mighty Mounties will have a chance to thumb their noses at all doubters and prove something in the process. There is a chance that Montclair Prep can play a preseason nonleague game against Chaminade, a member of the newly created Mission League (along with Alemany, Crespi, Notre Dame, St. Paul, Bishop Montgomery and St. Bernard). Chaminade has a well-respected program, the kind that lends credibility to an opponent’s schedule.

The Eagles and the Mounties share an open date on Sept. 21, 1990. Chaminade Coach Rich Lawson has approached Montclair Prep coaches George Giannini and John Hazelton about a game.

“I mentioned that it would be kind of nice for both schools,” Lawson said. “The kids know each other, so what the heck? I think it would be a good game and I would enjoy it.

“I guess it’s just up to the athletic directors now. They’re the ones carrying the ball right now.”

Add big game: Montclair Prep already has taken steps to add weight to its schedule by participating in a preseason game in Hawaii as part of a national triple-header that also includes Crespi and Canyon. But a game against a recognized local power likely would mean more to Montclair Prep--and draw much fan interest.

Lawson points out that, because of his team’s affiliation with a new league and its attendant prestige, the Mounties would benefit greatly from a win. Probably more so than Chaminade.

“It’d be a real big shot in the arm for their program if they win,” Lawson said. “Heck, we stand to lose more than they do. But why not? I’d like to play as many schools in the San Fernando Valley as possible.”

And how does Montclair Prep feel about all this?

Said Hazelton: “It’d finally be a chance to answer our critics.”

Quotebook: Lawson, on Chaminade’s jump from Division VII to Division I in one season: “For the other programs, it’s not that big a deal. But it’s one giant step for the little Eagles.”

It’s fair to say, then, that the Eagles have landed.

Royal confusion: John Reed, wrestling coach at Royal High, says that a misunderstanding led to his dismissal two weeks ago as freshman football coach. In an interview regarding wrestling, Reed said he was disappointed to see that in California there is little connection between a school’s football and wrestling programs. In Oklahoma, many football players have wrestled, said Reed, who attended school there. To him, it appeared that this helped the football players greatly with agility and from a mental approach.

Reed told the reporter that if he were a head football coach, he would encourage his players to wrestle.

When the quote was published, it read as if Reed had said that if he were the football coach, he would encourage same.

Royal varsity Coach Gene Uebelhardt took exception to what he perceived as unnecessary advice regarding his program and fired Reed as freshman football coach. Reed is still confused and saddened over the incident.

“I still think it was an innocuous statement,” Reed said. “I don’t see the harm. It was never something that was meant to put a blame on anyone or anything like that. I told Gene, ‘I wasn’t pointing a finger at you. I was just making a statement about football and wrestling.’ And I will stand by that statement.

“This is not something I want to make enemies on.”

Uebelhardt, however, failed to see it that way.

“I have no comment,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, the subject is closed.”