Superior Speed Helps Hardaway Getaways

It must be a new decade. A receiver from Chatsworth High is leading area City Section receivers in touchdowns and total yardage.

Delvon Hardaway burst upon the scene with a school-record 99-yard scoring reception against Kennedy four weeks ago, but that is not the reason he is averaging 24.0 yards a catch.

“He can run with anybody,” Chatsworth Coach Myron Gibford said.

Hardaway (6-foot, 170 pounds) is a three-year starter at cornerback for Chatsworth, but not until this season, when Gibford decided to open up the Chancellors’ conservative offense, did he get a chance to show his offensive prowess. Hardaway, who also plays basketball and competes in track, has been timed in the 100 meters in 10.8 seconds. He has 22 receptions for 528 yards.

Consider that Chatsworth quarterbacks passed for 567 yards in 1988 and 1989 combined.

“If our offense was a little more consistent, his numbers would be unreal,” Gibford said.

Streaks: Granada Hills faces El Camino Real on Friday in a game that could decide the West Valley League title, and history is definitely on the Highlanders’ side. Granada Hills has won or shared four consecutive league titles--two North Valley League crowns and two in Valley 4-A League play.

The Highlanders, who moved to the West Valley this season, have won 11 consecutive Northwest Valley Conference games and 17 of 18 since the conference format was instituted in 1988. From the 1986 season on, Granada Hills is 24-1-1 in league and conference play. The lone league loss came two years ago at San Fernando. El Camino Real has not won a league title since 1980.

Records: Westlake set four school records in a 41-41 tie with Thousand Oaks on Friday. The Warriors set a team record for first downs (25). Todd Preston threw his 20th touchdown pass of the season, eclipsing his record of 19 set last season, and he increased his passing-yardage total to 2,055, which breaks his 1989 record of 2,014.

Seamus Gibbons, the school’s all-time leading receiver, broke the single-season record of 40 receptions set by Luke Crawford last season. Gibbons, who made seven catches against Thousand Oaks, has 45.

Camarillo junior Tag Johnson gained a school-record 238 yards in 14 carries and the Scorpions rushed for a school-record 469 yards in a 28-24 win over Agoura. Johnson, a fullback in the Scorpions’ wishbone formation, had rushed for only 268 yards entering the contest.

Crespi quarterback Cody Smith, (28 of 39 attempts for 380 yards against St. Paul) set school records for completions and passing yardage in a game. Dan Laufenberg, brother of longtime NFL quarter back Babe Laufenberg, completed 26 passes in 1974, and Pat Crawley passed for 295 yards in 1970.

Smith’s favorite target this year, wide receiver Ryan Kieling, also set a mark for receiving yardage. Kieling caught 14 passes for 202 yards, one yard more than Mike Steele’s total in 1970.

Hart kicker Brady Vilensky tied a school record with eight point-after conversions against San Gabriel. The senior, who has converted 38 consecutive PATs and three of four field-goal attempts this season, set the record last year in the Indians’ win over Saugus.

Rushing: Ventura’s offensive line could open enough holes for two running backs to rush for 1,000 yards for the first time in school history. Senior Jack Hammond has 1,002 yards and sophomore Derek Swafford has 800. The Cougars lead area teams with 2,558 rushing yards and 3,473 total yards.

Defense: Thousand Oaks sacked Preston three times Friday. Preston had been sacked twice all season. . . . Poly has picked off 15 passes this season--more than any other area team.

REGIONAL FOOTBALL TOP 10 Selected by sportswriters of The Times

Last Rk Wk Team League Record 1 1 Westlake Marmonte 8-0-1 2 5 Glendale Pacific 9-0 3 2 Granada Hills West Valley 7-1 4 3 Canyon Golden 8-1 5 6 Quartz Hill Golden 7-2 6 7 Thousand Oaks Marmonte 6-1-2 7 4 Crespi Mission 7-2 8 8 Ventura Channel 7-1-1 9 9 Sylmar East Valley 7-0 10 10 Royal Marmonte 7-1-1

NR--Not ranked.