Royal Planning to Put a New Twister on Its Homecoming

The Munchkins will be there.

As will be the Scarecrow, the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch and the Yellow Brick Road. Must be the Royal High homecoming.

The Royal High homecoming?

All of the above will be part of the Wizard of Oz halftime show Friday night when Royal plays Newbury Park at Moorpark College.

But the Emerald City of events will be when a hot air balloon-- seven stories tall--drops off the ceremony emcees, who will announce the homecoming king and queen.

“This is a little different than what is done traditionally,” said Royal senior class treasurer Kim Kleintob, who said the Class of 1997 has been squirreling away money for four years to help afford a homecoming theme like this.

“This is something that will stand out in everybody’s minds.”

By the way, the Munchkins are being played by Girl Scouts, parents are performing the roles of the Scarecrow and the Witches, and the Yellow Brick Road is actually made of felt.

Making a pass: Farhaad Azimi became Rio Mesa High’s career passing leader last week during a 51-34 Channel League loss to Dos Pueblos.

Azimi, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior, is a three-year starter. He has passed for 2,167 yards. Kevin Hicks, who played from 1977-79, held the previous record with 2,045.

Azimi has passed for 632 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Rio Mesa will try for its first victory over Buena in 10 years on Friday night.

Fallout: Running backs Eric Mobley (Antelope Valley) and Jan Brown (Palmdale) are questionable this week with ankle and foot injuries.

Quartz Hill has lost running back Doug Carlton, who was expelled from school. Carlton had 23 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Input: Ethan Ruff, a starter at guard and defensive tackle for Calabasas, was cleared to play after missing two games with a back injury.

It appeared Ruff would miss the rest of the season after being injured on Sept. 27. After further examination, he was cleared to play Friday against Santa Paula.

Return event: Renee Bielling, who founded the Antelope Valley High girls’ soccer program in 1985, has been rehired by the Antelopes.

Bielling, 42, stepped down after the 1991-92 season. She returned to coach the Antelope Valley junior varsity last season.

Committed: Van Nuys High volleyball player Sharon Foster has committed to Eastern Kentucky.

Foster, a 5-9 outside hitter, chose the Colonels over Texas Christian and Montana State.

Dual role: Anthony Banovac will have none of that fumblerooski stuff. Rather than be sneaky, Banovac, a 6-2, 260-pound senior lineman for Crespi High, would prefer to take a handoff and plunge into the spotlight.

Banovac this season has starred at fullback as a short-yardage specialist and on stage in the lead role in the campus drama club’s performance of “Stalag 17.”

Banovac has given four performances in the school play and has carried six times for 23 yards--not including a two-point conversion run against Franklin.

“Ever since I was a freshman, I’ve been saying you can give me the ball,” Banovac said. “Actually, I’d kind of like to play quarterback.”

Acting, Banovac said, has a lot in common with football. “If you make a mistake on stage, you look like an idiot,” Banovac said.

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Football Top 10

Rankings of Valley-area high schools by sportswriters of The Times

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RK LW Team (League) REC. 1 2 Taft (Northwest Valley) 6-0 2 3 Oxnard (Channel) 5-0-1 3 4 Antelope Valley (Golden) 4-1 4 5 Thousand Oaks (Marmonte) 5-0-1 5 1 Westlake (Marmonte) 5-1 6 6 Hart (Foothill) 4-2 7 8 Notre Dame (Mission) 5-1 8 9 Newbury Park (Marmonte) 5-1 9 10 Palmdale (Golden) 5-1 10 NR Littlerock (Golden) 6-1

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