THE HIGH SCHOOLS / VINCE KOWALICK : Fellow Kicker Offers Words of Consolation to Chilton

There is not much one can say to a kicker who just missed the biggest field-goal attempt of his life. Perhaps only another kicker can offer the right words.

Saturday morning, Saugus’ Rob Chilton was home in bed nursing a sore throat and a wounded psyche when he received a phone call from someone he had never met.

On the line was Glendale kicker Edward Nouriganiyan. The night before, the two players were linked by uncannily similar circumstances as the clocks ticked down at Canyon High and Pasadena City College.

Both Saugus and Glendale trailed, 16-14, as they lined up for field-goal attempts on the final play. Both games were crucial: Saugus needed a win over Canyon to remain one game behind Golden League leader Antelope Valley; Glendale and Muir entered their Pacific League showdown tied for first with 3-0 records.

As time expired, Nouriganiyan booted a 24-yard field goal to give Glendale a dramatic 17-16 victory and the inside track for a second consecutive league title.

At about the same time Nouriganiyan’s teammates were carrying him off the field, Chilton was lining up for a 40-yard attempt at Canyon. The kick, however, sailed wide of the right upright, dropping Saugus (2-2 in league play) into a third-place tie with Canyon.

“It was just one of those kicks that didn’t go my way,” Chilton said. “All night long, I heard: ‘It’s OK, man,’ ‘It’s not your fault’ and ‘You can’t make ‘em all.’ I got home around 11:30 and talked to my parents for a while. They felt really sorry. My mom was crying.

“I was really upset. I didn’t sleep well at all.”

Nouriganiyan’s call made Chilton rest a little easier.

“I know how he feels,” Nouriganiyan said. “When you lose a game like that, it’s very sad. All the pressure is on you and everyone is watching--even though there are so many other things that can cost your team the game.”

The kickers chatted about their games and their teams. The conversation even turned to the plight of former Houston Oilers kicker Ian Howfield, who was cut after missing a game-winning field-goal attempt last week against the Washington Redskins.

“We got to know each other a little bit and he told me not to worry about it,” Chilton said. “It was nice that he called. Not many people can understand, except a kicker.”

Add Saugus: Saugus’ loss clouded the Golden League playoff picture and might wind up costing the Centurions a playoff berth.

Here’s how the race stacks up with one game to play:

Antelope Valley (4-0) and Quartz Hill (3-1) will play Friday and the winner will enter the playoffs as the league’s No. 1 entry.

If Quartz Hill wins, Antelope Valley becomes the No. 2 representative and either Saugus or Canyon will finish third. Because Canyon defeated Saugus, the Cowboys would gain the final playoff berth if the teams finish with identical records.

If Antelope Valley defeats Quartz Hill, and Saugus and Canyon both win, Canyon, Quartz Hill and Saugus will wind up in a three-way tie.

A series of coin flips then would decide which two teams qualify for the playoffs.

For Magic: Another kicker, Van Nuys’ Harold Boudreaux, opted to leave the ball on the kicking tee during an extra-point attempt in the final minutes of the Wolves’ 32-9 win over Grant on Friday night.

It was the final act in an evening of tribute to Magic Johnson, whose announcement Thursday that he had contracted the AIDS virus stunned the world.

“The last few days have been such a shock for everyone,” Boudreaux said. “Magic is everybody’s role model. I met him twice. One time at a Raider game I shook his hand.”

Before the game, those in attendance at Van Nuys High observed 32 seconds of silence in honor of Johnson, who wore number 32 throughout his 12-year NBA career. In the locker room, Boudreaux, who also wears No. 32, led a team prayer for Johnson.

Finally, with less than two minutes to play, Gary Guemiksizian returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown to increase the Wolves’ lead to 32-9.

But with the scoreboard flashing 32, Boudreaux, who also rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns, and Coach Kenji Mochizuki decided to forgo the PAT.

It takes a thief: Simi Valley’s Dave Romines has caught more passes this season from opposing quarterbacks than many wide receivers catch from their own. Friday night, Romines intercepted three passes in the Pioneers’ 34-20 victory over Westlake.

That is not a Simi Valley record simply because Romines set the standard the week before with four interceptions against Channel Islands.

In nine games, Romines, who plays free safety and receiver, has nine interceptions and 155 yards in returns. “I try to read the quarterback and kind of time it,” the 5-foot-8, 155-pound senior said. “I try to look (into) his eyes and watch the receiver at the same time.”

Twice this season, however, the strategy backfired. Anticipating the interception, Romines missed the ball and landed flat on his face mask while the receiver hauled in a pass and ran for a touchdown.

But that’s the way it goes in the last-line-of-defense business. “It’s OK,” Romines said. “Our coach emphasizes going for the ball and not the man.”

Take two: Amon Flanagan said Saturday morning that his arms hurt.

No wonder. On Friday night, Flanagan blocked a school-record two punts for San Fernando in a 44-6 win over Cleveland. “It hurts,” he said. “But the excitement was more overwhelming than the pain.”

Flanagan, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound linebacker, overwhelmed Cleveland blockers--even though they anticipated his charge and tried to stop him by barking last-second instructions before the snap.

Flanagan’s block in the first quarter gave the Tigers possession at the Cleveland 15-yard line and led to a touchdown. In the second quarter, Flanagan blocked a punt at the San Fernando 40 and the Tigers embarked on another touchdown drive.