THE HIGH SCHOOLS / STEVE ELLING : Simi Valley Staff Learned to Craft Run-and-Shoot at Camp

Picture a dog-eared poster of a downtrodden player, his uniform in tatters, self-esteem in comparable shape. His hair is matted, his skin bruised. “Simi Valley” is written across his chest. His uniform number is 00.

A caption reads: “Your generous donation can help send a needy kid to summer camp.”

Needy coaches are on their own.

For the past few seasons, no program was more in need of a victory than the one at Simi Valley High. The Pioneers were 1-29 over the past three years.

Simi Valley was 0-10 in 1990 under first-year Coach Stan Quina, who apparently decided a trip to camp was just what he needed. Arts and crafts were not on the agenda, although this season Simi Valley (3-1) has artfully crafted several fine performances.

Quina and some assistants went packing off to camp to learn the specifics of the run-and-shoot offense. Simi Valley implemented the rudiments of the scheme last season, but tinkering was needed.

Like a kid making his first leather wallet, an extra stitch here or there was all the Pioneers needed. Friday, Simi Valley won its first Marmonte League game in two years, defeating Newbury Park, 34-27.

“We tried the offense last year, but we’re better at it now,” senior receiver Dave Romines said.

The evidence speaks for itself. In 1990, Simi Valley scored 88 points in 10 defeats.

In four games this season, the Pioneers have banged out 103 points while Romines (5-foot-8, 150 pounds) and quarterback Eric Bennett have emerged as one of the region’s top passing combinations.

Bennett has passed for 943 yards and eight touchdowns. Romines has caught 18 passes for 530 yards (a 29.4-yard average) and seven touchdowns. Now that’s some running and shooting.

Last season, the Simi Valley offense used a roll-out set on passing downs and typically sent two wide receivers into the pattern. This year, Bennett remains in the pocket while four receivers zigzag through the secondary.

Simi Valley’s success probably would catch a few players in the league by surprise, notably Tim Kirksey of Westlake.

Kirksey started at quarterback last season at Simi Valley, then transferred to Westlake where he is now a receiver. Bennett, a 6-2, 170-pound junior, has more than picked up the slack.

“I like Ben a lot,” Romines said, referring to his quarterback.

Ah, happy campers.

Add run-and-shoot: The area’s foremost purveyor of the fuel-injected offense, Hart quarterback Ryan Connors, was knocked from the game against Saugus on Friday because of a back injury.

In the second quarter of Hart’s 40-21 loss, a muscle in Connors’ lower back was wrenched as he was tackled, causing swelling. Connors did not return to the game.

He will be examined Monday to determine his status for this week’s game against Quartz Hill.

Time too short: Terry Barnum says the players at Alemany refer to Richard Dice’s last-minute, game-winning touchdown last season against St. Bernard as the “Immaculate Reception.”

Friday night, a reception of sorts at the goal line made the difference against St. Bernard as Alemany gambled and went for a victory in the game’s final minutes.

Immaculate it wasn’t. Immediate it was.

After a touchdown pulled the Indians to within 26-25 with 3:58 left, Alemany elected to attempt a two-point conversion. Barnum was swarmed by tacklers on a running play designed to go over the right side, and, after the kickoff St. Bernard ran out the clock.

Barnum said the Indians figured that if the two-point conversion attempt failed, they could go back to Dice in the final seconds. Of course, using the same logic, the Indians could have kicked the point-after and had an almost certain tie.

“We felt that with the time left, we still could get the two-minute (offense) going and we could get the ball to Rich in a one-on-one situation, which is where he excels,” Barnum said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the opportunity.”

Versatile weapon: Midway through a 42-0 pasting of El Camino Real, the San Fernando defense forced a punt, but LaKarlos Townsend--the deep return man--could not be found. Coaches bellowed his name. Townsend, standing near the team bench, got the message, put on his helmet and dashed out to join his teammates.

He ran toward El Camino Real’s end of the field.

Must be force of habit. On punt returns, he usually gets that far anyway.

Townsend, also a starter at tailback, returned punts of 52, 67 and 90 yards. Although all but the 67-yard scoring dash were wiped out by penalties, Townsend made it up elsewhere.

He also rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 35-yard touchdown pass in helping San Fernando remain unbeaten at 4-0.

With his performance, Townsend moved past Manfred Moore (1966-68) into ninth place on the Tigers’ career rushing list with 1,592 yards.