Royal Takes 1st Steps on Right Road

Royal High, 1-9 last season, is on the long road back to the top of the Marmonte League, a place the Highlanders haven’t been since winning the league title in 1991 behind quarterback Ryan Fien.

Fien’s brother, Braden, is at the helm now and has passed for 250 yard and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Royal’s ground game has been key to its victories over San Marcos and Granada Hills, however.

Last week, the Highlanders had a pair of 200-yard rushers for the first time as junior Steve Sheehan rushed for 218 in 26 carries and Bryant Phipps had 211 in seven carries.

The pair broke four long touchdown runs to break open a close game against Granada Hills.

“We’ve got twice as many wins as last year,” Coach Gene Uebelhardt said. “But it isn’t going to take much to be better than last year. We’ve got the ability to be good.”

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Another kick in the Wall: Birmingham High sophomore John Wall, a soccer goalie who has made 55-yard field goals under a rush during practice, might have the strongest leg in the region.

Accuracy is coming.

After making only two of four extra-point attempts in a season-opening victory over Canoga Park, he made both of his tries against Grant. Wall got his first shot at a field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter against the Lancers . . . from 50 yards.

The kick had plenty of distance, landing 10 yards beyond the end zone, but was wide left.

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Paraclete paranoia: Steve Hagerty, Paraclete’s football coach, claims to be concerned about his team’s game Friday against Bell-Jeff at Antelope Valley College.

Huh?

The Spirits (2-0) are viewed as contenders for a Southern Section title, while Bell-Jeff (0-2) has been outscored, 98-10, and appears to have little shot at the postseason. The teams play in Division XI.

Paraclete defeated St. Bonaventure, 42-16 in a season opener. The Seraphs then turned around and belted Bell-Jeff, 56-0.

Nonetheless, Hagerty said Paraclete vs. Bell-Jeff “could be a close game.”

“They may get six transfers this week,” Hagerty said. “We’ll play the first half with all we’ve got and evalutate it after that.”

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Getting complex: St. Francis figured to challenge Notre Dame’s four-year hold on the Mission League title. But the Knights (1-1) have started slow and Coach Bill Redell said he’s thinking of scaling back his offensive game plan.

“I think I might have put too much in their heads,” Redell said. “We’ve got more offense in than when I coached in the [United States Football League].”