Alemany football Coach Jim Bonds knows his...

Alemany football Coach Jim Bonds knows his team faces the meat of its schedule when it plays host to Bishop Amat tonight and travels to play Loyola at Glendale High next week in Del Rey League games.

But Bonds said the Indians (2-5, 0-2 in league play) have a strong leader in sophomore quarterback Casey Clausen, who has passed for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns with five passes intercepted.

Clausen, a transfer from La Canada, has taken a beating in some games, but Bonds said he has shown toughness and excellent vision when throwing downfield.

“For someone in his first year of varsity football he’s been a great surprise,” Bonds said. “But he’s still young and I’m going to have something to say to him after every play, whether it’s an 80-yard touchdown or an interception.”

Bonds predicts the 6-foot-3 Clausen will play Division I college football.

“He’s only 180 pounds and his lateral movement and arm strength need work but we’ll get him there,” Bonds said.

Add Alemany: Bonds said freshman slotback Deandre Scott, who has had a major impact with five rushing touchdowns and two touchdown receptions, has been lobbying to play tailback as a sophomore.

“He’s told me how he ran for 4,000 yards in Pop Warner last year and how that’s his position,” Bonds said. “We’ll look at him there but we’ll also continue to move him around the field.”

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Dressed to kill: La Canada High outside hitter Emily Dalbeck needs 13 kills to break the school’s season record. The 5-foot-10 senior is chasing the record of 237 set by Tiffany Neumeier in 1993.

Earlier this season, Dalbeck broke the school record for kills in a four-game match with 30 against Rosary.