Getherall Is Little Big Man

Joey Getherall might not be the size of Texas--Rhode Island is more like it--but he sure played like it during the California-Texas Shrine football game Saturday at Cal State Fullerton.

Getherall, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound receiver from La Puente Bishop Amat, caught a touchdown pass and punished Texas with several big punt returns during the second quarter to lead California to a 31-6 victory in front an estimated crowd of 7,000.

Getherall, who is bound for Notre Dame, was named the most valuable player for California.

“I didn’t know I’d get MVP,” he said. “The whole team deserves it.”

Getherall, who had 82 yards in punt returns during the first half, set up California’s first score when he reversed direction twice on a return that netted 16 yards.

Servite’s Greg Cicero then completed five passes that moved the ball to Texas 35, and Getherall capped the drive with a 35-yard touchdown reception.

Texas managed only four first downs during the opening half, two coming on penalties against California, and it fumbled four snaps from center, losing two.

The Texans also were intercepted in the opening half, a diving grab by San Francisco Riordan’s Terry Wood, and they suffered another setback on special teams when Long Beach Poly’s Marques Anderson blocked a punt inside the Texas five-yard line.

Derrell Daniels of Sylmar pounced on the ball at the four, and on the next play Damion Barton of Corona Centennial sprinted around the left side for a 14-0 lead with 4:35 left in the half.

Texas quarterback Sterlin Gilbert then lost another fumble on the ensuing series, giving California the ball at the Texas 24, and Rancho Cucamonga made the score 21-0 on a 12-yard draw.