Quarterbacks Complete a Year to Remember

It has been a memorable high school football season in many quarters of the region in 1993, particularly for quarterbacks. For instance, four from the region rank among the state’s top six passers after nine games, as reported to Cal-Hi Sports.

They are: 1. Keith Smith of Newbury Park (2,823 yards); 2. Zack Hernandez of L.A. Baptist (2,617); 5. Mike Kocicka of Hart (2,216); 6. Brad Norris of Quartz Hill (2,184).

Passing yardage, however, is merely one of the measuring sticks. The NCAA uses a formula for quarterback effectiveness that also factors touchdowns, interceptions, attempts and completion percentage into its equation.

Mike Ferguson of Taft has passed for 1,149 yards and 17 touchdowns--well off the pace of the fab four--yet has thrown only one interception. His NCAA quarterback efficiency rating of 182.42 is second only to Smith (185.26) among area quarterbacks with more than 100 attempts.

An efficiency rating of 150.0 is considered excellent at the college level. Kocicka (180.56) ranks third in NCAA efficiency behind Smith and Ferguson, followed by Hernandez (162.03) and Norris (155.80).

Area players also lead the state in three other categories compiled by Cal-Hi Sports. Receiver Leodes Van Buren of Newbury Park leads in receptions (76) and tailback Wilbert Smith of Montclair Prep leads in yardage (2,325) and scoring (224 points).

FOOTHILL LEAGUE

Hart’s Not Buying It

Canyon Coach Harry Welch, whose team has struggled at times this year, says his Cowboys are decided underdogs for tonight’s game against Santa Clarita rival Hart. Said Welch: “We don’t have the size, speed, talent or athleticism to match up with Hart.”

Retorted Hart Coach Mike Herrington: “Why are we a decided favorite? They were favored to win the league before the season started and they had more returning starters.

“Since he’s been the coach (at Canyon) since 1982, (Welch) has said the same thing every year. It’s like he just presses the button on a recorder and repeats the message.”

Welch is concerned that Canyon (6-2, 3-0 in league play) won’t be able to stop Hart quarterback Mike Kocicka, who has thrown for 2,216 yards and 24 touchdowns--especially after Canyon lost two starters in the secondary. But Herrington is worried about Canyon running back Ed Williams, who has 1,166 combined yards in rushing (911) and receiving and has scored 18 touchdowns.

“We expect (Welch) to all-out blitz us,” Herrington said. “We just gotta go out there and get the job done.”

MARMONTE LEAGUE

‘All the Marbles’

Newbury Park senior quarterback Keith Smith and senior receiver Jason Tucker waited eagerly last spring to view the Panthers’ football schedule for this season. Smith and Tucker then grabbed copies and circled one date: Nov. 12--Westlake.

As expected, tonight’s game at Newbury Park is a showdown for the league title.

“Everyone predicted it would come down to this and it has,” said Smith, the area’s top quarterback. “I don’t think we could be more fired up.”

Said Tucker: “It’s going to be very intense. This is what we’ve wanted all season.”

Newbury Park (9-0, 6-0) and Westlake (7-1-1, 5-0-1) are the only teams undefeated in league play.

Newbury Park will win the championship with a win or tie. Westlake needs a victory to take the title.

“This is for all the marbles and the kids know it,” Panther Coach George Hurley said. “This is why you play football.”

The Panthers are attempting to win their second consecutive league championship and fifth in school history (Newbury Park opened in 1967). The Panthers are also trying for their first undefeated regular season and the top-seeded spot in the playoffs beginning next week. Newbury Park has never been seeded higher than fourth.

“It would be great to have a team go undefeated,” former Newbury Park Coach Ken Cook said. “We’ve had some teams with only one loss, but never undefeated.”

MISSION LEAGUE

Making Waves

So much for talk about a down year.

Before the season, area water polo coaches were licking their chops and predicting that Harvard-Westlake was vulnerable this year after losing four senior All-Americans.

But the Wolverines are 23-2, went undefeated and unchallenged in Mission League play (10-0) and are ranked third in Southern Section Division I.

“The thing that I like about this team is that to date, we have overachieved,” Coach Rich Corso said. “Everyone said, ‘Oh, they’re no good anymore.’ But the team has used that negative innuendo, and sometimes the press in Orange County, to their advantage.”

Harvard-Westlake opens the playoffs at home today at 3:15 against Santa Ana Valley. The Wolverines, who Corso said have struggled for years to gain recognition equal to Orange County teams, are seeded third, behind El Toro and Newport Harbor.

NORTH VALLEY LEAGUE

Simpson Cleared to Play

Taft linebacker Antwan Simpson, sidelined for a month because of a neck injury, has received medical clearance to play tonight against San Fernando. Simpson was left motionless for several minutes when his neck snapped back as he was making a tackle against Reseda, though the injury proved less serious than originally feared.

Simpson was told by one doctor that had the blow been absorbed an inch lower, he might have been paralyzed.

Kennedy Cosgrove and staff writers Steve Elling, Dana Haddad, John Ortega and Jason H. Reid contributed to this notebook.