SCOREBOARD: Facts, Figures and Comments from Area Events : PREPS

Nancy Evans, an All-Southern Section pitcher for the Hoover softball team, has given an unwritten commitment to attend the University of Arizona in the fall.

Evans, who was a Times All-Glendale selection in basketball last season and a standout for the Hoover volleyball team, chose Arizona over UCLA.

She will join former Glendale High standout Jennifer Dalton in Tucson. Dalton is a freshman at Arizona.

Margarito Casillas of Hoover won an individual sweepstakes race at the Mt. San Antonio College cross-country invitational last weekend.

Casillas, a senior, covered the three-mile course in 15 minutes 11 seconds.

St. Francis finished first in the boys’ Division III race. John Stires finished fourth in 16:24 to lead the Golden Knights.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Glendale College football team will attempt to extend its winning streak to five games Saturday when the Vaqueros play at Ventura.

Glendale improved to 5-1 and 4-1 in the Western State Conference with a 48-22 victory over Santa Barbara City College on Saturday. Ventura is 0-6.

“When you play a team that doesn’t have any wins, any coach is concerned about players becoming complacent,” Glendale Coach John Cicuto said. “They (Ventura) have nothing to lose. They can come out loose, and if we’re not on our game we could be in trouble.”

Glendale, which has outscored its opponents, 124-44, in the past three games, gained almost 500 yards against Santa Barbara.

Eric Kiesau completed 11 of 15 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown. Pathon Rucker gained 90 yards and scored two touchdowns. Andy Cleland gained 65 yards and scored twice.

The Glendale men’s and women’s cross-country teams will compete in an invitational meet Saturday at Moorpark College.

The Vaqueros, who with Los Angeles Valley will co-host the Western State Conference championships Nov. 10 at Griffith Park, are coming off impressive performances at last week’s WSC mini-meet at College of the Canyons.

Sergio Becerril finished second in 22 minutes 56 seconds and Luis Jacobs was third in 23:10, leading Glendale to a first-place team finish in the men’s race.

America Rivas of Glendale won the women’s race and helped the Vaqueros finish second.

The Glendale men’s soccer team plays host to Hancock on Friday at Griffith Park and travels to Mission on Tuesday.

Glendale improved to 6-2-2 and 5-1-1 in the WSC with a 2-1 victory over Santa Barbara and a 4-1 victory over Santa Monica last week.

The Glendale women’s volleyball team (2-9) plays at Santa Monica on Friday and at Moorpark on Tuesday.

COLLEGES

The Occidental football team plays a key Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game Saturday at La Verne.

Occidental improved to 4-2 Saturday with a 48-35 nonconference victory over the University of San Diego.

Occidental and La Verne are 2-1 in the SCIAC, a game behind 3-0 Redlands.

La Verne is coming off a 20-13 loss to Redlands. The Leopards are led by quarterback Willie Reyna, an NCAA Division III All-American last season, who has passed for 1,398 yards and 11 touchdowns. Gabe Cotero is Reyna’s favorite receiver. He has 35 receptions for 420 yards and four touchdowns. La Verne gains an average of 350.8 yards and gives up 321 yards a game.

Occidental is gaining 363 yards and giving up a conference-low 291.

The Occidental women’s volleyball team entered the week tied with Claremont atop the SCIAC standings.

Occidental improved to 14-4 and 7-2 in conference by defeating Redlands in three games and Pomona Pitzer in four. But Occidental lost to Claremont in three games.

Occidental played Whittier Wednesday.

The Occidental cross-country teams will participate in the SCIAC championship meet Saturday at El Prado Park. The men’s team is a point ahead of Redlands and the women are a point ahead of Whittier entering the championships. Scores from the championships are combined with those from the SCIAC eight-way dual meet two weeks ago to determine conference champions.

PREP ATHLETE OF WEEK

Paul Lopez, Crescenta Valley-- Lopez, a senior running back and linebacker, gained 151 yards and scored two touchdowns for the Falcons in their 24-17 victory over Glendale.

Lopez also made three solo and seven assisted tackles. The Falcons (7-0) are off to their best start since 1976.

COLLEGE ATHLETE OF WEEK

Wes Bender, USC--Bender, a former standout for the Glendale College football team, scored the clinching touchdown for USC Saturday in the Trojans’ 31-21 victory over Washington State.

Bender, a 6-foot, 245-pound senior, scored on an eight-yard run. However, he has been used primarily as a blocker for the Trojans, gaining 33 yards in seven carries.

MISCELLANY

The Glendale Parks, Recreation and Community Services department is sponsoring Halloween celebrations Saturday at Carr, Palmer, Pacific and Maple parks. Information: (818) 548-3785.

HOW THE AREA’S TOP PREP FOOTBALL TEAMS FARED

(Rank, Team, Record Entering Week and Synopsis) 1. Crescenta Valley; 7-0: Defeated Glendale, 24-14. Paul Lopez gained 151 yards for the Falcons, who play Muir on Friday in the probable Pacific League championship game.

2. Glendale: 5-2; Lost to Crescenta Valley, 24-14. Ramon Jose completed seven of 13 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown for the Dynamiters, who are 0-2 in the Pacific League. Glendale plays Arcadia on Friday.

3. Marshall: 6-1, Defeated Lincoln, 31-12. Shane Gerard passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns and Aman Abye rushed for 57 yards and scored twice for the Barristers, who play Belmont on Friday.

4. St. Francis: 3-3, Lost to Harvard-Westlake, 20-12. Ryan Conway scored on a 67-yard pass play and Chris McAlister scored on a 50-yard run. St. Francis plays Notre Dame on Friday.

5. La Canada: 3-4, Defeated Monrovia, 30-26. Tim Rosales gained 106 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Spartans in the Rio Hondo League victory. La Canada plays South Pasadena on Friday.

6. Hoover: 1-6, Lost to Muir, 55-12. Nathan Dishington ran for a touchdown and passed for another for the Tornadoes, who play Pasadena on Saturday.

7. Franklin: 3-4, Defeated Eagle Rock, 18-13. Juan Perez ran for a touchdown and passed for 120 yards for the Panthers, who overcame a 10-point deficit for the victory. Franklin plays Verdugo Hills on Friday.

8. Eagle Rock: 1-6, Lost to Franklin, 18-13. Neil Dominguez gained 110 yards for the Eagles, who squandered a 10-point lead in their Northern Conference defeat. Eagle Rock plays at Wilson on Friday.

9. Verdugo Hills: 1-5-1, Lost to Wilson, 13-6. David Bryant gained 71 yards and scored a touchdown for the Dons, who play at Franklin on Friday.

10. Flintridge Prep: 5-2, Lost to Chadwick, 34-29. John Vance passed for 278 yards and four touchdowns for the Rebels, who were unable to overcome a 34-9 deficit in the Prep League defeat. Flintridge Prep plays at Rio Hondo Prep on Saturday.

11. Ribet Academy: 4-2, Defeated Masada, 45-0. Joe Corley gained 133 yards and scored on runs of 65 and five yards to lead the Fighting Frogs, who play Los Angeles Christian on Friday.

Rankings according to Times Glendale sportswriters’ poll.