Czernek’s State Passing Record Provides Little Peace of Mind

Chris Czernek couldn’t stop thinking about interceptions. And in the end, it seemed he couldn’t stop throwing them.

Czernek, Newbury Park High’s prolific junior quarterback, succeeded in becoming the state’s all-time single-season passing leader, surpassing former Panther Keith Smith, in Saturday night’s 30-21 loss to Diamond Bar in the Southern Section Division III final at Moorpark College.

But Czernek, who finished the season with 4,362 yards, also threw four interceptions, equaling the number of interceptions he threw last week against Westlake and raising his season total to 16.

Czernek (13 of 24 for 190 yards) threw two interceptions in his first three attempts. And he threw his last on his final attempt.

Czernek, still wearing his helmet during postgame interviews, spoke in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

“I gotta go,” he said, walking briskly from a handful of reporters.

In Czernek’s mind, all that mattered was that he had failed where Smith had succeeded two years earlier on the same field: to win a championship.

“I don’t deserve that,” Czernek said of the record. “If we don’t win the game, that doesn’t mean a thing.

“I thought we’d win. I feel sorry because I let the whole team down.”

Czernek’s pinpoint passing to a talented group of receivers led the Panthers to a 13-0 record and invoked comparisons to 1993, when Smith, now a freshman at Arizona, piloted the Panthers to an identical record entering the championship game.

Smith, who led Newbury Park to a 22-14 victory over Hawthorne in the 1993 Division III final, roamed the sidelines Saturday night. He returned to his hometown to watch the game. And to counsel Czernek.

“I talked to him for two hours today,” Smith said. “He was stressing about the four interceptions against Westlake. I said, ‘Chris, I threw five [in one game] in my sophomore year.

“I told him, ‘Quit worrying about the record. It’s gonna come.’ ”

Smith was right. Czernek’s 51-yard completion to Justin Vint on the final play of the first quarter raised his total to 4,251, eclipsing Smith’s 1993 total of 4,244.

But Smith also told Czernek that a victory would follow the record.

“He wanted me to settle down and have fun,” Czernek said. “But I can’t have fun when I’m throwing interceptions.”

With six minutes to play and Newbury Park trailing, 24-21, Smith approached Czernek on the sidelines and emphatically told him, “Now’s the time to step it up.”

Czernek responded by completing consecutive passes of four yards to Patrick Reddick and Vint but overthrew DaJuan Hawkins on third down.

The Panthers turned the ball over on downs and Diamond Bar marched 40 yards for the clinching touchdown.

Czernek, who threw 45 touchdown passes this season, will get another chance next season. And Smith said he likes what he sees in the young passer.

“He’s smart and he’s level-headed,” Smith said. “He knows what he’s doing.”

*

Hart indeed craved revenge against Antelope Valley in Friday night’s Southern Section Division II final--no matter what players and coaches said beforehand.

And the Indians got it, coming from behind to claim a 35-28 victory that avenged a 36-15 loss to the Antelopes in last season’s final.

Members of Hart’s camp were guarded in their pregame remarks to the media. “Playing well” and “executing” were consistent, if not catchy, buzz phrases.

Hart running back Ted Iacenda, who fumbled twice and was held to 60 yards in last season’s final, knew he had no room to talk. So, he kept his mouth shut--even after being incensed by a report in a High Desert newspaper that labeled him the “goat” of last year’s game.

But a guy can take only so much.

After rushing for 163 yards and three touchdowns Friday night, Iacenda cleared his throat.

“Those newspaper reporters . . . have some nerve calling me the goat,” Iacenda said. “The thing is, they were right. But they didn’t have to put it in the newspaper.

“I know I choked last year. I felt really bad about it. Last year was devastating for us. I didn’t come out of my room or talk to anyone for two weeks.

“Now that it’s all over, we can say it: We wanted A.V. from Day One. And we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”

Even Mike Herrington, the Indians’ usually stoic coach, allowed himself a measure of expression.

“We did care about last year,” Herrington said.

Still, the Indians did a poor job of concealing their motivation. Before the game, players charged onto the field and through a 10-foot-wide banner.

The banner’s message: “Sweet Revenge.”

*

It is said that nothing lasts forever. But kicker Tommy Gutierrez and his Reseda teammates won’t soon forget events of the past week--including their untimely cases of influenza.

Saturday morning, Gutierrez, one of 10 players stricken this week, was wondering if his malaise would be eternal.

“I don’t think I got it as bad as some of the other guys,” Gutierrez said. “But I think it’s really catching up to me now.”

Gutierrez deserved a rest after booting the most important field goal of his life in Friday night’s 10-7 victory over Eagle Rock in the City Section 3-A Division final. Gutierrez’s 35-yarder early in the third quarter snapped a scoreless tie and ultimately proved decisive.

Gutierrez, a senior, has made seven field goals in as many attempts this season.

“But none were as big as this one,” he said. “I just tried to concentrate and keep my head down and get off a good kick. I was excited that I got a good kick.”

An exhilarating week began with the Regents as guests on the television program “Monday Night Live,” which follows “Monday Night Football.” But excitement turned to trepidation as players one by one became ill over the next few days.

Gutierrez also battled a case of nerves when his mother reminded him that kickers often are counted on in the final seconds to win games. The image of shanking a potential game-winner made Gutierrez feel, well, sick.

“She said: ‘What if it comes down to you having to kick a field goal?’ ” Gutierrez said. “I tried to block out nervousness and not think about that.”

All’s well that ends well. Now if Gutierrez can just get well.

“I’ll be all right,” he said. “[The flu] will go away. But I’m going to remember this--the game, everything--for a long, long time.”