North Has Head Start With Lappin at Helm

Even for an all-star quarterback, an all-star football game is one of the more difficult things to prepare for. Proper execution on offense usually requires more time than the couple of weeks allowed for practice.

On this front, the North appears to have a head start as it prepares for the 38th North-South all-star prep football game tonight at Orange Coast College.

North Coach John deFries has four players, including quarterback Archie Lappin, who played for him at Loara.

“It is an advantage,” deFries said. “Archie understands all of our formations, knows all the plays. He can put guys in the right spots.”

Lappin also can elevate his own stature with a big game. Lappin, at 5-9, 172 pounds, was overlooked by college recruiters and is headed to Santa Ana College this fall. Friday’s game is a chance to show them what they missed.

Not that Lappin is making any predictions. “Knowing the system does help, but I still have to play,” he said.

There weren’t many county quarterbacks who played better last year. Lappin led Loara to an 8-4 record and into the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division V playoffs. He threw for 2,420 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. His 171.82 quarterback rating was fourth highest in the county.

He broke two school records that belonged to his father, Dean, who played at Loara from 1970-72 and is the Saxons’ offensive coordinator. In 1970, Dean had a 57% completion rate and averaged 9.8 yards per completion. In 1996, Archie completed 62% percent of his passes and averaged 10.9 yards per completion.

Lappin also rushed for 570 yards and had nine touchdowns in 107 carries.

He leaves Loara as the school’s all-time yardage leader at 5,349. And every season he improved on his totals. As a sophomore, Lappin had 187 yards in the one game he played. As a junior, he had 2,118 yards. Last year, he had 3,044 yards.

Although Lappin wasn’t expecting a flood of college offers, he was still disappointed he received no attention from recruiters.

“I figured although they like good stats, a lot of big schools are not looking for 5-9 quarterbacks,” Lappin said. “But I also know guys who did not have the stats I did but are 6-4, and they got scholarships.

“From their [recruiters’] point of view, I would feel the same way about me. You have to see me play to understand the way I play. The all-star game gives me an opportunity to show what I can do and so will Santa Ana [College].”

DeFries said Lappin should not have been bypassed.

“It’s hard to measure leadership qualities, but Archie has them,” deFries said. “People responded to his leadership. He’s an excellent athlete who has wonderful instincts. He has a great feel for the game. He never gets rattled.”

DeFries took a chance on Lappin in 1994, Lappin’s sophomore year.

Loara took El Dorado’s playoff berth when the Hawks had to forfeit games for using an ineligible player. In a first-round game against Canyon, starting quarterback Jim Kirkland was struggling to move the team in the first half. DeFries took a gamble and played Lappin--who had spent the regular season on the junior varsity squad--in the second half.

“We knew what he could do on the junior varsity level,” deFries said. “It was a matter of whether he could do it under varsity conditions. I can’t tell you how many people came up to me saying, ‘What are you doing putting in the sophomore?’ ”

Lappin rewarded deFries’ faith, helping Loara to a 10-9 victory. Even though Loara lost to El Toro in the quarterfinals, DeFries made Lappin his starting quarterback the next two seasons.

Lappin has never seen a North-South all-star game, but he is excited about Friday’s contest.

“I know of the tradition of the game,” Lappin said. “It is a big deal.”

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Best of the Preps

* Event: The 38th annual North-South football game

* Place: LeBard Stadium, Orange Coast College

* Date: Tonight

* Time: Gates open at 6. Game starts at 7:30

* Tickets: $7