SCOREBOARD : FACTS, FIGURES AND COMMENTS FROM AREA EVENTS

PREPS

The St. Francis football team will get a well-deserved break this week after playing Loyola and Mater Dei, two of the best teams in Southern California, on successive Fridays.

St. Francis was shut out twice and lost quarterback Rudy Martinez because of a shoulder injury during the Loyola game, but Golden Knights’ Coach Andy Boynton said his players have emerged with their confidence intact.

“We’ve seen as good a team as we’re going to see,” Boynton said. “We’ve played the best and we know what that level is now. Our players didn’t back down or quit. I think they’re feeling positive.

“The week off is going to make us a better team. And I think in the future we’ll be able to compete with those teams.”

St. Francis opens Mission League play Oct. 16 against Bishop Montgomery. Boynton said Chaminade is the league favorite.

“Chaminade is a good football team but I don’t know that they are the caliber of Loyola or Mater Dei.” Boynton said. “Our goal at the beginning of the year is to win the CIF (championship). Preseason is to get you ready for your league so you can get a good seed in playoffs.

“We had some tough losses, but once we get into league we can still obtain the goal we set out for.”

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Glendale College football team evened its record in the Western State Conference with a 24-7 victory over Santa Monica last week.

The Vaqueros (2-1, 1-1 in the WSC) play host to Bakersfield on Saturday.

Glendale quarterback Eric Kiesau passed for 150 yards against Santa Monica. Tailback Pathon Rucker gained 102 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Other Glendale athletic teams will also be busy this weekend.

The Vaquero men’s and women’s cross-country teams will travel to Irvine to compete Friday in the Irvine Invitational.

The women’s volleyball team, which improved to 1-5 last week with a victory over Moorpark, plays host to Ventura on Friday and travels to College of the Canyons on Saturday.

The men’s soccer team plays L.A. Mission at the Griffith Park soccer fields on Friday.

COLLEGES

The Occidental football team plays host Saturday to Pomona Pitzer after opening its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule with a 34-6 victory over Whittier.

Brian Madlangbayan and Erik Messal each scored two touchdowns for the Tigers, who improved to 2-1 with their second consecutive victory.

Madlangbayan, a tailback, rushed for 89 yards, and Messal added 88. Messal has passed for 221 yards in three games. Andrew Wind returned a punt for a touchdown for the Tigers. Wind leads NCAA Division III, averaging more than 30 yards on 10 returns.

Occidental is averaging 333 yards a game and is giving up a SCIAC-low 257.7. The Tigers have forced 12 turnovers, including seven interceptions. Defensive back Rick Mock leads the conference with three interceptions in three games.

Pomona Pitzer is 2-2 and coming off a 48-9 loss to La Verne. The Sagehens average 311 yards a game and are surrendering 370. Quarterback Josh Spitzen has passed for 526 yards and one touchdown. Running back Robert Hicks has gained 293 yards.

The Occidental men’s and women’s cross-country teams are off this week after establishing two school records during the Stanford Invitational last week.

Konstantine Kinderich finished 16th in the men’s race, covering the 8-K course in 24 minutes 28 seconds, the fastest time ever by an Occidental runner at that distance. Freshman Will Allan finished 44th in 25:09, the fastest time at that distance for a freshman in school history.

Arcelia Gomez finished the women’s 5-K event in 18:10.

Occidental resumes its schedule Oct. 17 at the SCIAC multi-team meet at La Mirada Park.

The Occidental women’s volleyball team, which finished 5-19 last year, improved to 8-2 with victories over Redlands and Pomona Pitzer last week.

The Tigers, under first-year Coach Jeff Campbell, have been led by sophomore outside hitter Patty Buffett.

PREP ATHLETE OF WEEK

Ryan Bittle, Crescenta Valley--Bittle scored seven goals to lead Crescenta Valley’s water polo team to a 20-11 victory over perennial Pacific League champion Muir.

The Falcons, under first-year Coach Pete Loporchio, also got five goals from Jason Berry in handing the Mustangs only their fifth loss at home since 1972.

COLLEGE ATHLETE OF WEEK

Erik Messal, Occidental--Messal , a 6-1, 214-pound senior quarterback, scored two touchdowns and rushed for 88 yards in 15 carries to lead the Tigers to victory over Whittier.

Messal also completed four of seven passes for 77 yards.

MISCELLANY

The city of Glendale will offer youth team tennis beginning Oct. 25 at Fremont Park. Sign-ups are taking place Monday through Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fremont Park tennis booth. Information: (818) 548-3796.

Flintridge Sacred Heart High is sponsoring a golf tournament Oct. 22 at the Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena. The tournament features a scramble format and raffle prizes. Proceeds will benefit the Harry G. Johansing memorial scholarship fund. Information (818) 792-9727.