HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK 2 : Notre Dame, Arzu Cruise Past Royal in Laugher

Tailback Alvan Arzu continues to play comeback player of the year for Notre Dame High. And the rest of the Knights appear to be picking up where they left off.

Arzu, sidelined most of his junior season because of a knee injury, rushed for more than 100 yards for the second consecutive week as Notre Dame (2-0) breezed to a 40-7 nonleague victory over Royal on Friday at Moorpark College.

Arzu rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries to spearhead a 440-yard performance by Notre Dame, the defending Southern Section Division III champion.

Arzu rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns last week against Alemany.

“Last year was really hard,” Arzu said. “I kept trying to come back, but the knee wasn’t healed. I think the off-season is what made the difference. It feels great.”

Also in top form was senior quarterback Ryan Bowne, who completed eight of 13 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Bowne, a starter last season, connected with senior wide receiver Troy Garner for first-half touchdown passes of 25 and 17 yards. In the third quarter, Bowne zipped a 41-yard touchdown pass to Adam Boyd.

Garner, among the area’s top college prospects, finished with three catches for 65 yards. He also had an interception.

So far, Notre Dame appears poised to repeat as section champion.

“I think one of the things that makes it look that way is that we have a pretty veteran team, offensively,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said.

Notre Dame’s defense did the rest, sacking Royal quarterback Paul Janousek three times and intercepting four of his passes. George Piedra opened the scoring by returning an interception 35 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Bojo Deranja returned an interception 12 yards for a touchdown.

Notre Dame limited Royal (0-2) to 112 yards. And it could have been worse.

Notre Dame failed to score on its first two possessions, despite moving the ball into scoring range with ease.

Garner’s interception and 31-yard return gave the Knights possession at the Royal 37. Five plays later, Bowne found Garner over the middle, but Garner fumbled near the goal line and Royal recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

Notre Dame came away empty again when Bowne’s nine-yard touchdown pass to Boyd was nullified by a penalty. That forced a 39-yard field-goal attempt by Pat Thompson that was blocked.

Midway through the second quarter, Arzu ran 36 yards to the Royal 13 to set up the Knights’ second score. Two plays later, he swept 13 yards for a touchdown.