THE HIGH SCHOOLS / VINCE KOWALICK : Keiaho’s Sub Surfaces as Top Buena Running Back

Who would have imagined a Buena High running back other than George Keiaho rushing for more than 200 yards in a game?

Least of all, Johnny Chang.

Chang, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound junior reserve linebacker, didn’t even envision handling the ball this season. But with Keiaho, Buena’s sensational junior running back, sidelined because of an ankle injury, Chang checked in as an emergency replacement in Friday night’s Channel League opener against Dos Pueblos.

“I was so nervous I couldn’t be serious,” said Chang, recalling the moment before he took the field. “You know how you’re supposed to have a game face? I couldn’t. I was just kind of fooling around. Kind of happy-go-lucky.”

Johnny Come Lately quickly began making a name for himself.

In his inaugural start at running back, Chang rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries to lead Buena to a 36-23 victory. Chang capped scoring drives with runs of five and three yards.

“George is such a tough back, I didn’t think he’d ever be injured,” said Chang, who also has played sparingly on special teams. “I knew this would probably be the only time in high school I’d get a chance like this.”

Chang was given his assignment when Buena Coach Rick Scott learned minutes before the opening kickoff that Keiaho, the area’s leading rusher entering the game with 684 yards, would be unable to play because of an ankle sprain sustained last week against Newbury Park.

Chang had been slotted as Keiaho’s backup all along. But Keiaho had played every down in the Bulldogs’ single-back offense.

“We were just in a situation where we had to go with (Chang),” Scott said. “We laid it out on our kids and said, ‘You’re going to have to be a team, not just George.’ ”

So, Chang is the new starting running back? Perhaps.

Keiaho is doubtful for Friday’s game against Santa Barbara, Scott said, because of severe swelling in his right ankle. Keiaho is expected to be examined Monday by a doctor.

Go, Johnny, go?

“I’ll be happy with what I get right now,” Chang said. “I’m enjoying this.”

*

Footloose: A handful of kickers had a hand--make that a foot--in their teams’ victories Friday night.

Ricardo Rivas of San Fernando, Bach Stabile of Crespi, David Kreider of Canoga Park, Lee Ciuffitelli of Camarillo and Doug Thaxton of Rio Mesa kicked field goals to contribute to victories.

Rivas’ 32-yard field goal with 53 seconds to play against Taft, and Stabile’s 30-yard kick with 2:42 to play against Notre Dame snapped ties and decided seesaw battles.

In Crespi’s 17-14 nonleague win Stabile, who earlier had missed from 54 and 37 yards, needed a successful try to outshine Notre Dame’s Chris Sailer, who had connected on field goals from 45 and 37 yards.

However, Stabile was still kicking himself Saturday for narrowly missing from 54 yards: The kick would have broken the school record of 52 yards.

“I was so mad about that one,” Stabile said. “I hit it too high.”

Having a new holder in Matt Walker did not make things easier. Torie Lee usually holds on kicks, but Lee had to be replaced after sustaining a broken finger two weeks ago. Yes, that finger.

“It didn’t make that much of a difference,” Stabile said. “But you do get used to one guy.”

Kreider, who scored all of Canoga Park’s points in a 13-12 upset of Poly, kicked field goals of 32 and 20 yards. Kreider, who has scored 44 of the Hunters’ 58 points, has made five of seven field-goal attempts.

Ciuffitelli’s 50-yard effort in a 38-20 Marmonte League win over Agoura is the third field goal in his career longer than 40 yards.

To boot, Jeff Jagard of Simi Valley, Alfonso Velasco of Burbank, Jeff Dibbini of L. A. Baptist, Anthony Perico of Burroughs, Sevak Shirvanian of Hoover and Jeremy Deach of Kennedy kicked at least one field goal in losing efforts.