Van Raaphorst Gets the Start

Redshirt freshman Mike Van Raaphorst will make his first start at quarterback Saturday since the 1995 San Diego Section semifinals, but this time his opponent will be No. 7 Washington, not Monte Vista High.

“We’re starting Mike,” USC Coach John Robinson said. “While John [Fox] has done, I think, really well, there have been parts of the game where he’s lost his focus.

“Mike’s getting the start because he’s done well. We have two quarterbacks. No one has been demoted.”

Fox, the starter the first seven games, was not at practice after the announcement.

“John Fox has the flu today. He’ll be back,” said Robinson, adding he expects both to play. Van Raaphorst missed two months of practice last season because of tendinitis in his right shoulder that later required surgery, but Robinson praised his progress in the summer and fall.

“He’s on time with his setups and is a quick thrower,” Robinson said. “His accuracy has improved a lot.”

As for how Fox took the news, Robinson said: “He’s a competitor. We told him he’s not the second-string quarterback. We have two.”

Van Raaphorst, who is 6 feet 5 and 220 pounds, passed for 2,207 yards as a senior at Helix High in La Mesa in 1995, completing 52% of his passes with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He played for cross-town Grossmont High as a sophomore and junior.

“I’m ready to get out there and get this game going,” Van Raaphorst said. “It’s a great opportunity for me. I want to go in and play well.

“I feel pretty confident. It was a good week.”

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Delon Washington will start at tailback after his 130-yard game last week and Rodney Sermons will start at fullback after scoring two touchdowns.