Lesser Names Helping LJCD Take Charge

While Division I prospects Rashaan Salaam and Eric Abrams have been basking in the limelight at tiny La Jolla Country Day, multidimensional seniors Larry Cheng and Robert Yang have been getting rave reviews from Torres Coach Rick Woods.

“(Cheng and Yang) call themselves The Oriental Express,” Woods said. “And they’ve been just as big a part of our success the past few years as Rashaan and Eric.”

Case in point: Yang and Cheng made big defensive plays late in the game near the goal line to help LJCD defeat previously undefeated Christian, 16-13, on Saturday.

Yang, a middle linebacker/fullback, had a game-high nine tackles against Christian, which had been averaging more than 50 points a game, and helped clear the way for Salaam, who rushed for 102 yards.

Cheng, a wide receiver/safety, had seven tackles and a key 14-yard reception to keep alive a time-consuming, fourth-quarter drive.

Yang has led the Torres (4-0) in tackles for the past two seasons. Cheng, who has a team-leading three interceptions, finished second in the county last year with nine interceptions.

LJCD, eight-man champions in 1990, now have won 15 consecutive games heading into this week’s game against Francis Parker, the last team to defeat the Torres--in the 1989 championship game.

Counting Their Chickens: As six of the county’s nine 2-A and 3-A football leagues get under way Friday, there are five unbeaten and untied teams, and already they have all but assured themselves of a playoff berth. Grossmont, Kearny, La Jolla, USDHS and Vista all are 5-0.

At least one team with only four victories has made the playoffs each year since 1989, when the section expanded its playoff format to 16 teams in each division.

Tough Race Expected: Despite having only five teams, the City Western, one of the leagues starting this Friday, has produced nearly as many victories as any other league and easily has the best winning percentage.

City Western schools are 20-3 (87%). The eight-member Avocado and Palomar leagues are 21-19 (52.5%) and 19-19-2 (47.5%), respectively. Next best in terms of winning percentage is the City Eastern League, 16-8-1 (64%).

The Elusive First One: Of the eight schools still searching for its first victory, five have first-year head coaches.

Making a Name: For the second consecutive week, defensive back Nestor Mangohig has provided the winning margin for top-ranked Vista.

In a 21-14 victory over Orange Glen two weeks ago, Mangohig returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown. On Friday, Mangohig recovered a bad snap in the end zone for a touchdown to help the Panthers to a 14-7 victory over Mt. Carmel.

Four Horsemen: The El Capitan Vaqueros almost had four running backs rush for more than 100 yards Friday. James Hopkins rushed for 133 yards, Eric Rockhold 120, Greg Ryan 110 and Jessic Heise 95 in the Vaqueros’ 42-28 victory over Mt. Miguel, which had been allowing only 91 rushing yards per game.

Pick a Back, Any Back II: University City, whose offense had scored only one touchdown this season before Friday, also had three backs top the 100-yard mark in a 22-20 victory over Patrick Henry.

Paul Turner had 201 yards, Ed Miller 118 and Wayne Clemons 108 for the Centurions (3-1).

Miller may not have made it, but a 67-yard run by Turner in the second quarter was negated by a penalty, and Miller took the ensuing handoff 76 yards for a touchdown.

Reid Ready: The Valhalla Norsemen dedicated Friday’s game to Marc Beeson, a former teammate who died Wednesday in a one-car accident, and Rob Reid helped deliver the victory.

Reid threw for one touchdown, kicked an extra-point, made field goals of 41 and 47 yards and intercepted two passes to lead Valhalla to a 19-7 victory.

Doing It All II: In addition to scoring on a five-yard run and a 21-yard interception return, Grossmont’s Jon Heinrichs kicked a 47-yard field goal as the Foothillers downed El Cajon Valley, 44-13.

Running Along: Fallbrook’s Milena Glusac, the two-time defending section girls’ cross-country champion, had the fastest time in the Southern California Invitational in Oceanside on Saturday, setting her fifth course record in five meets this fall.

Glusac’s time of 13 minutes 41 seconds over the 2.5-mile course at Guajome Park was 17 seconds faster than the record set by Rancho Buena Vista’s Kira Jorgensen in 1988 and more than a minute faster than runner-up Melissa Keim of San Pasqual.

Brian Keim, Melissa’s brother, won the boys’ race, but missed the boys’ course record for 3.25 miles (15:56) by one second. Keim’s teammate, Nazario Romero, had the second fastest time of the boys.

San Pasqual showed precisely why it has the No. 1-ranked boys’ and girls’ team in the state in Division II. An Eagle runner finished first in nine of the 14 races.

The SCI would seem to be a nice tuneup for this weekend’s prestigious Mt. San Antonio College Invitational, but that is not always the case, said San Pasqual Coach Will Wester, who indicated he will send only a few runners to Mt. SAC.

“Mt. SAC has such a hammer course, I don’t like to run some kids there, especially after a tough meet like (SCI),” he said.

Hugged a Coach Lately?: This is national high school activities week. Friday has been set aside to honor coaches.