Conversion Call Was No Little Mistake

Kennedy High’s Juan Saucillo tried to be a hero. What he got was a tongue-lashing.

The 5-foot-3, 110-pound junior--the smallest player in the Northwest Valley Conference--was sent into last Friday’s game against Cleveland to hold the ball for a conversion attempt in the latter stages of a blowout victory.

But Saucillo changed the play. When the ball was snapped, Saucillo got up and threw a two-point conversion pass to Aaron Lewis.

An angry Bob Francola was waiting at the 25-yard line.

“I told him to take his helmet off and sit down at the end of the bench,” the Kennedy coach said. “If he tries something like that again, he can go ahead and turn his uniform in.”

Blame game: Malibu football Coach Rich Lawson was offering no apologies after his Sharks were routed, 34-10, Wednesday by Montclair Prep in an unusual nonleague game.

Malibu is a first-year program made up of a dozen 14-year-old freshmen, seven sophomores and nine juniors. The Sharks’ nine other opponents are freshman or junior varsity teams.

But Lawson, seeking tougher competition for his team, agreed to play the Mounties under varsity conditions.

That meant his freshmen had to be cleared by a parent and their personal physician to play. Nine freshmen eventually received clearance.

Without the Malibu game, Montclair Prep would not have had the eight varsity games required by the Southern Section for a free-lance team to qualify for the playoffs.

Lawson has been criticized by some area coaches and administrators for coming to the Mounties’ aid. He said he anticipates heated words at a Frontier League meeting next week.

“People say I’m helping [Montclair Prep] get into the playoffs but I’m just trying to get my kids snaps against good competition,” Lawson said. “We’re only one of their eight opponents.”

Big move: Amid the shuffling that has recently characterized the North Hollywood offense, one change stands out.

It really stands out.

All-City Section center Oscar Gonzalez has been switched to tight end, where his 6-foot-5, 295-pound frame is being noted.

“If he ever gets the ball, I feel sorry for any DBs, little 130-pounders, trying to tackle him,” North Hollywood Coach Gary Gray said. “That’s a lot of kid running down the field.”

Gonzalez made the switch because former tight end Damian Romero moved to quarterback and became the Huskies’ fourth signal-caller this season.

Double vision: The first time Palmdale Coach Jeff Williams looked at his 1996 roster, his head was spinning. The Falcons have six sets of players with the same last name, including one pair that basically share the same moniker: Manny Florez and Manuel Flores.

Here are the others:

Jan Brown and Shawn Brown.

Chris Chavez and Fernando Chavez.

Matt Leonard and Malosi Leonard.

Alejandro Perez and Shaun Perez.

Shawn Rodriguez and Imad Rodriguez.

“I’m lucky I have a good memory,” Williams said. “It can get pretty confusing. But I’ve known most of these kids for three years now, and that helps.”

The Leonards are the only brothers on the team.

Nothing up his sleeve: In only his first year at Village Christian, Bill Schnobrich has found the easiest way to coach the girls’ volleyball team.

It involves aces.

In a recent victory over Vasquez, Village Christian served 31 aces. Maryann Parker had 12, Sara Fristad had 10.

The match lasted about 25 minutes, which made Schnobrich ponder the effect perfect serving would have on his life.

“My job would be so easy,” Schnobrich said. “I’d have a life outside of volleyball.”

Geography lesson: Calabasas football Coach Larry Edwards on senior Shariff Hasan, who bulked up to 250 pounds after playing at 210 last year: “He’s a small country playing defensive end.”