Misfortune Hits St. Francis on Several Fronts

There are two ways to look at the St. Francis High football season. Either the Golden Knights are having a lousy year, or they are doing well to be 2-2.

Their season has been one disaster after another; some the team brought upon itself, others just plain weird.

Misfortune began the first day of practice in pads when backup quarterback James Free was injured in a freak accident. An offensive lineman rolled over him.

After winning their opener against Burroughs--an ugly, four-fumble, 135-yards-in-penalties game--the Golden Knights learned that sophomore running back Chris McAlister was being investigated by the Southern Section for alleged rules violations involving his transfer last year. Before the Southern Section cleared him, McAlister had to sit out St. Francis’ second game, in which the team rallied from a 23-0 deficit for a 24-23 victory over Mary Star.

But, looking back, McAlister might wish he had not played in either of the next two games. Against top 10 Division I teams Loyola and Mater Dei, the Golden Knights were crushed by a combined score of 79-0.

Against Loyola, quarterback Rudy Martinez suffered a shoulder separation, ending his season. St. Francis replaced him with Browder Morrisey, a receiver who was switched to quarterback after Free’s injury. Because Morrisey had little passing experience, St. Francis installed an option offense the week it played Mater Dei.

On the way home from Mater Dei, the team bus broke down.

But the Golden Knights’ fortunes appear to be improving. They have a bye this week.

NEW HAT TO DON

Passing out of a shotgun formation, Reseda tight end-linebacker John Buckley (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) played extensively at quarterback last week in a loss to Chatsworth and completed nine of 18 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.

“He can run, he can catch and he can throw,” Coach Joel Schaeffer said. “But he can’t do it all at the same time.”

Buckley might be Reseda’s best player. He has team-high totals of seven sacks, 30 solo tackles and 11 receptions for 205 yards in four games. But versatility is the key at this school.

In mid-game against Chatsworth, Buckley replaced quarterback Reggie James, who moved to receiver. James, who had completed a pair of passes to Buckley, later caught a pair of passes from Buckley.

WILD AND CRAZY

Six touchdowns were scored and the lead changed hands five times during a head-spinning fourth quarter of Friday night’s Channel League opener between Rio Mesa and Oxnard. Only after scoring a touchdown on the game’s final play did Rio Mesa emerge with a 37-36 win.

After three quarters, Oxnard held a seemingly comfortable 22-9 lead. Following is a chronology of the chaotic conclusion:

--11:15 to play: Rio Mesa running back Demetrius Henderson runs two yards for a touchdown. Doug Thaxton kicks the PAT. Score: 22-16, Oxnard.

--8:45: Rio Mesa quarterback Don DiDomizio dives one yard for a touchdown. Thaxton adds the PAT. Score: 23-22, Rio Mesa.

--6:13: Oxnard fullback Lloyd Mix runs 38 yards for a touchdown. Tailback Larry Bumpus runs for the two-point conversion. Score: 30-23, Oxnard.

--5:11: DiDomizio of Rio Mesa runs 64 yards for a touchdown and also runs for the two-point conversion. Score: 31-30, Rio Mesa.

--3:05: Oxnard running back Adrian Wilson runs 57 yards for a touchdown. Wilson comes up short running for a two-point conversion. Score: 36-31, Oxnard.

--With two seconds to play, Rio Mesa running back David Belger runs four yards for a touchdown, tumbling into the end zone with no time on the clock. Final score: 37-36, Rio Mesa.

“It was a good thing we scored with two seconds to play,” said George Contreras, defensive coordinator for Rio Mesa, “because they probably would have come back and scored again.”

Staff writers Steve Elling, Jeff Fletcher and Vince Kowalick contributed to this notebook.

Regional Football

Top 10 Selected by sportswriters of The Times

Lst. Rk Wk Team League Record 1 1 Hart Foothill 4-0 2 3 Saugus Foothill 3-0-1 3 4 Sylmar East Valley 3-0 4 5 Crespi Del Rey 4-0 5 2 Ventura Channel 3-1 6 9 Glendale Pacific 4-0 7 NR Newbury Park Marmonte 3-1 8 NR Chaminade Mission 3-1 9 NR San Fernando North Valley 3-0-1 10 NR Canyon Foothill 3-1

NR--Not ranked