California High Has Certain Air, Thanks to Haney

California High in Whittier has only a 2-4 record in football, but junior quarterback Larry Haney has gained notice with his passing statistics.

Haney is leading quarterbacks in the Southern Section with an average of 254.4 yards passing per game. In six games, he has completed 131 of 223 passes for 1,526 yards and 18 touchdowns, and in last week’s 34-31 double-overtime loss to Whittier High, he passed for 285 yards and four touchdowns.

Last season, Haney passed for 1,563 yards in his first year as starting quarterback under Coach Tom Tereschuk. Despite learning a new offense, Haney showed signs of promise with his mobility and passing touch.

“We run a one-back offense that features a lot of high percentage underneath passes,” said Tereschuk, in his second year as coach at California. “We try to control the ball with our passing and Haney is the person in control. He has improved tremendously from his sophomore year.”

Haney, 6 feet 2, is as smooth as they come in operating the Condors’ passing offense, but said he was surprised by his passing ranking.

“I didn’t think that I’d be so high in the rankings,” Haney said. “Even though we are passing more than last year, our offense is pretty easy. It is basically a run-and-shoot offense that doesn’t throw the ball downfield that often.”

Haney’s best statistical game this season came in a 44-43 loss to Whittier Christian, when he passed for 315 yards and six touchdowns. He has learned to spread the ball around to his receivers, with five of them having double figures in catches. Toby Whickoff leads with 41 receptions and 10 touchdowns, followed by Paul Martinez, who has 30 catches.

“I just get the job done because I don’t have that strong of an arm,” said Haney, who ran the 400-meter dash on the track team last spring along with playing in the outfield for the baseball team. “Every week I feel that I’m improving. For one thing, I stay in the pocket a lot better than I used to and that has helped.”

Hacienda Heights Los Altos Coach Dwayne DeSpain entered this season only four away from his 200th victory. It seemed like a sure bet considering that Los Altos has appeared in the playoffs the past 18 seasons, a Southern Section record, and has won seven Southern Section titles.

However, after winning their first two games of the season, the Conquerors have had problems, losing three of four games, including last Friday’s 35-15 defeat by Nogales.

“I really haven’t thought about (the 200th win),” said DeSpain, who has a 199-67-4 record in his 24 seasons coaching. “It is not something that the team is concerned about this season. We’re not sitting here crying over spilled milk, but we’re not as good as we’ve been in years past.”

So, when does DeSpain think he’ll get his 200th victory?

“It might not come,” DeSpain said laughing. “It is just one of those things where we are getting overmatched, but we’ve still got a chance.”

Claremont Coach Bob Baiz gained his 210th victory and his 100th at Claremont when the Wolfpack defeated previously unbeaten Glendora, 14-7, Friday night.

After trailing, 7-3, at halftime, Claremont received a major break midway through the third quarter when Glendora’s Nathan Pellow kicked a rolling Wolfpack punt that was recovered by Nick Baiz, the coach’s son. Claremont scored on a four-yard pass from Adam Metwalli to Ryan Wall.

“We punted and the most unlikely thing happened,” said Baiz, who coached at San Dimas and Fermin Lasuen of San Pedro before taking over at Claremont. “Their safety just kicked the ball while it was still moving. That was a key play to the game.”

Glendora had a chance to score on its last possession when it drove to Claremont’s seven-yard line. However, Nick Baiz again made the big play when he intercepted Glendora quarterback Tracey Thompson’s pass in the end zone with 13 seconds remaining.

The Mt. San Antonio College Cross-Country Invitational, biggest high school cross-country meet in the western United States, will be held Saturday at the school. at Mt. San Antonio College. The invitational features more than 300 schools and 7,000 participants.

Headlining the boys’ action will be the sweeepstakes race, featuring a showdown between California’s top big school team, Madera of the Central Section, and Page, Ariz.

Unbeaten Louie Quintana of Arroyo Grande, rated the top cross-country runner in the nation, headlines the boys’ individual competition. Quintana, who finished third in the Kinney Nationals last year, has dominated his competition in setting several course records this season, including a meet record in the Stanford Invitational two weeks ago.

In the girls’ competition, three nationally ranked teams will meet in the team sweepstakes race: Agoura, led by Deena Drossin, San Diego Mt. Carmel and Arroyo Grande. In the individual swee18866146251633904672

Prep Notes Standout running back Napolean Kaufman of Lompoc, who scored 39 touchdowns last season, missed his third consecutive game with an ankle injury and the Braves lost to Marina, 17-7. . . . After missing two games with an ankle injury, Lamont Warren of Dorsey led the Dons to a 37-0 victory over Crenshaw.

TIMES’ TOP TEAMS

Southern Section

No. School, League / Division, Record

1. Fontana, Citrus Belt / Div. I, 6-0-0

2. El Toro, South Coast / Div. II, 6-0-0

3. Bishop Amat, Angelus / Div. I, 5-1-0

4. Loyola, Angelus / Div. I, 6-0-0

5. Eisenhower, Citrus Belt / Div. I, 6-0-0

6. Paramount, San Gab. Valley / Div. III, 6-0-0

7. Capistrano Valley, So. Coast / Div. II, 5-1-0

8. Westlake, Marmonte / Div. II, 6-0-0

9. Canyon Springs, Ivy / Div. IV, 6-0-0

10. CC Canyon, Golden / Div. I, 5-1-0

11. Tustin, Sea View / Div. VI, 6-0-0

12. Hawthorne, Bay / Div. II, 5-1-0

13. Edison, Sunset / Div. I, 5-1-0

14. Esperanza, Empire / Div. III, 6-0-0

15. Serra, Camino Real / Div. VII, 4-0-0

City

No. School, League / Division, Record

1. Dorsey, Pacific / 4-A, 5-0-0

2. Carson, Pacific / 4-A, 4-1-0

3. Granada Hills, West Valley / 4-A, 4-1-0

4. Banning, Pacific / 4-A, 2-3-0

5. Kennedy, North Valley / 4-A, 4-1-0

6. Wilson, Northeastern / 3-A, 5-0-0

7. Garfield, Eastern / 3-A, 5-0-0

8. Locke, Central / 3-A, 4-1-0

9. Taft, West Valley / 4-A, 3-1-0

10. Fairfax, Metro / 4-A, 4-0-0