SIDELINES : Dynamiters Could Use More Explosiveness, Duke’s Swagger

Long before he became John Wayne and a movie legend, Marion Morrison demonstrated true grit for Glendale High.

In 1924, Morrison, a 170-pound senior guard, “battered great holes through the line,” as reported in the school yearbook, helping Glendale to a Southern Section football championship with a 26-0 victory over Compton. Seventy years later, the championship remains one of only two the Dynamiters have won. The other was in 1937.

“What’s interesting is, they even called him ‘the Duke’ back then,” said Pat Lancaster, a journalism teacher at Glendale and curator of the school’s archives. “Every senior had a nickname--’Droopy,’ ‘Lefty,’ ‘Mac.’ It’s right here in the yearbook: Marion (Duke) Morrison.”

Off the field, young Wayne served as sports editor of the school paper, vice president of his junior class and was a member of the Shakespearean club. From there, he went to USC on a football scholarship and rode tall in the saddle as a hero in dozens of westerns before dying in 1979 at age 72.

Wayne obviously went on to greater fame, but the real standout of the Glendale line was tackle Jesse Hibbs. He was selected state player of the year, went on to be named All-American in his junior and senior seasons at USC and later played for the Chicago Bears.

The Dynamiters could have used such heroes this season. Glendale, which concludes its season Thursday night with its annual game against cross-town rival Hoover, is winless in nine games.

No qualms: Best known for the fleet feet that have rushed for 929 yards in seven games, Mario Qualls used quick thinking and an accurate arm to lift the Kilpatrick football team to a dramatic 15-14 victory over L.A. Baptist last week.

After running 53 yards for a touchdown to bring Kilpatrick to within 14-13 with nine minutes to play, Qualls got the call on the two-point conversion and started around right end. Seeing his path blocked by several defenders, he raised up and threw a strike to Shawn Reed in the end zone.

The play was not designed as an option.

Qualls, who rushed for 223 yards against L.A. Baptist, would be the tailback at Inglewood High had he not landed at Kilpatrick, a camp for juvenile offenders.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior was suspended for the first two games this season but has returned to lead the Mustangs (7-2, 3-1 in league play) to the brink of a Division X playoff berth.

The Farrar side: In Nordhoff’s 36-27 victory over Moorpark--a game that probably determined the Frontier League football championship--the Farrar family played prominent roles. Senior linebacker Brian Farrar had two sacks, sophomore linebacker Russell Farrar returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown and their father, Coach Cliff Farrar, successfully gambled twice in his play-calling. The Rangers converted a fake punt for a first down and a halfback pass for a touchdown.

Net return: The Highland High girls’ volleyball team has won nine matches in a row and the Golden League championship--the first title won by a girls’ program in school history.

Similarly, the Highland boys’ team last spring surprisingly vaulted into playoff contention. The Bulldogs were undefeated during the regular season and advanced to the Southern Section Division II title match.

Other than Coach Mike Bird, the teams have few things in common. The boys feature a quick-strike offense. The girls play tough defense and often score after long rallies.

“The girls don’t hit the ball super hard like the guys do,” Bird said. “We try to make the other team make mistakes.”

Quotebook

Going into Thursday night’s Marmonte League football showdown, Agoura High Coach Charlie Wegher believes he has discovered a defense that will contain Westlake receiver Billy Miller and the Warriors’ high-powered offense: “We’re going to play with 16 guys, and put four of them on Miller.”

Statistics

He holds the unusual distinction of leading the Santa Clara High football team in receiving and passing after nine games, but Andy Super’s numbers still don’t quite live up to his name.

Super has 16 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns. He has completed 48 of 97 passes for 443 yards, but unfortunately, he has thrown 14 interceptions.

Honors

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Three wide receivers, Isaiah Mustafa of Moorpark College, Tim Hilton of Glendale and Rodney Williams of Pierce were selected football offensive tri-players of the week in the Western State Conference. Pierce linebacker Selves Smith was named defensive co-player.

Fab five: Cal Lutheran placed five players on the All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s soccer team. Halfback Jeff Aycock and fullback Mattias Larson were first-team selections. Forwards Brian Collins, Frode Davenger and Jan Hammervold were chosen for the second team.

Things to Do

Tonight, 7, Chatsworth High gymnasium: Van Nuys will meet second-seeded Chatsworth in the quarterfinals of the City Section 4-A Division girls’ volleyball playoffs. After sweeping through the 3-A Valley Pac 8 Conference with an undefeated record, Van Nuys was seeded seventh in the 4-A playoffs.

Contributing: Fernando Dominguez, Jeff Fletcher, Dana Haddad, Steve Henson, Vince Kowalick, Michael Lazarus.